We were on vacation in Hawaii. As we left our hotel room, walking down the main street called Kalakaua Ave., we noticed a very nice and bright store called the ABC store. It was an open front store so that you could just walk in off the sidewalk. No doors to open. Inside you could find anything you would possibly need. There were cosmetics, clothing, snacks, liquor and wine, tolietries, over the counter drugs, souvenirs and other essential vacation items. As we walked down the street we noticed that on almost every block there was an ABC store! Why are there so many we wondered? Well on every block there was a different hotel . Those visitors might need something they forgot or just grab a quick snack for going to the beach. So there was a store , a convenience store, right there for each of them. But this is not your regular convenience store by any means.
The stores are owned by Sidney and Minnie Kosasa. Sidney grew up working in his parents grocery store in Honolulu . He received his degree in Pharmacy at the University of California at Berkeley, in 1942. In 1949 , Sidney opened his first Drug store. Soon he had a chain of drug stores. When on a trip to Miami Beach, he noticed that the visitors were going to the local convience stores to buy products instead of shopping at the hotel stores. Hotel stores generally charge a higher price for their items. He had dreamed that one day Waikiki would be like Miami Beach, busy with tourists. That is when the concept for the ABC store was formed. In 1964, Sidney opened his first store in Waikiki. He would have a store with anything you would need at fair prices. Deciding on a name wasn’t hard, he wanted it to be a name that would be easy to remember. ABC. Pretty simple ! If you ask what ABC stands for you will get different answers. Some say it stands for “Another Block Covered” or maybe “Aloha Bring Cash”.
Today there are ABC Stores on every major island in the State of Hawaii, 37 alone in Waikiki! The ABC concept has been exported to Guam, Saipan, and Las Vegas. ABC Stores employs more than 900 Associates. Almost all the stores open 365 days a year from 6:30AM to 1:00AM. Ranked among the largest Hawaii businesses, ABC Stores sells more macadamia nuts, suncare products, souvenirs and other visitor-related products than anyone else in the state.
When you enter an ABC store in Hawaii they greet each customer with “Aloha”. It’s a friendly and bright store. You want to stay and look at everything. In fact, my husband and I love to visit as many of the stores in Waikiki that we can. We stop at each shop and look at every shelf. You will be surprised that they may look alot alike but you might find something different at each one. I especially love all the fresh fruits and sushi. Yes, sushi, fresh daily! They have a program that requires you to save your receipts for free gifts. You can get free coffee mugs, calendars , ABC bags and other items just for shopping there. Many tourists will make a trip to the ABC store as a last stop before leaving for the airport to buy chocolate covered macadamia nuts or Kona coffee.
If you ever get the chance to see an ABC store make sure you stop in. It’s a very unique place!
