Pamida history

Sweeping changes in the ownership of Pamida and in its management lay ahead, though, beginning in 1981, when the nearly 20-year era of Witherspoon and Wegener leadership came to an end.

After these changes were effected, Pamida once again became a publicly owned company in 1990, enabling it to raise much needed cash.

More intensive efforts to relieve the nagging problems associated with Pamida's debt were taken in March 1993, when the company restructured its debt, ceding it greater financial stability and providing it with sufficient means to continue expansion.

Several former Fisher's Big Wheel stores were also acquired in 1994.

Future plans called for bolstering apparel, jewelry, and accessories sales, which accounted for 22 percent of sales in 1995, with a long-term objective set at increasing the apparel mix to 28 percent of total sales.

In 1999, Shopko Stores, Inc. purchased Pamida for $110 million, operating it as a separate division within Shopko.

In 2000, ShopKo Stores, Inc. acquired Place's and converted the stores into Pamida stores.

In 2005, ShopKo Stores, Inc. was purchased by an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a private investment firm.

In 2007, Pamida was separated from ShopKo, and subsequently reestablished its corporate headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.