Auto Works
Unlike other drug stores, Perry diversified by carry non-traditional items such as automotive parts like brakes, shocks, exhaust systems, and carburetors in their drug stores as early as 1975.[35][36] By 1978, Perry had 15 of its 56 stores, all in lower Michigan, carrying auto parts.[37]
A few years later, Perry decided to open standalone auto part stores called Auto Works. By March 1983, three stores had been opened in Michigan and Chicago, with plans to open 20 more.[38] Perry's entry into the auto parts retailing space kicked off similar efforts from Rite Aid, Dart Drug, and Hook's.[39]
In July 1983, Perry signed a letter of intent to acquire Indianapolis-based Fleenor's Inc. with its chain of 50 auto part stores in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.[40][41] After the acquisition was finalized, the Fleenor Auto Supply stores were rebranded FAS Auto Works.[42] In 1984, Perry acquired 25 stores in the St. Louis area, expanding the company into Missouri for the first time. The acquisition included the 22-store Jack Lampert-Singer Super Auto Parts chain and three stores operated by Pappy's Discount Auto Stores.[43][11][10] In October, Perry acquired Corvair Auto Parts with its chain of 46 auto part stores in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia. This transaction brought its store total to 150, which was more than the number of drug stores it owned.[44]
By May 1985, all FAS Auto Works and Corvair Auto Works stores were rebrand to just Auto Works.[47] However, for the first time in company history, Perry lost money in 1987, reporting $7.9 million in losses on sales of $726 million. Auto Works proved to be a bigger strain on resources than anticipated, and it would require even more investment to be profitable. The company had also taken on a heavy debt load to build the Auto Works chain and overpaid on acquisitions.[48]
Perry sold its Auto works division with its 252 stores in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Missouri and West Virginia to Northern Automotive in Northern Automotive for $51 million in February 1988.[49]
After five years of ownership, Northern Automotive failed to turn the ailing chain around and subsequently sold Auto Works' 159 retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and West Virginia to Hahn Automotive Warehouse in November 1993 for $13 million in cash.[50][51]
Hahn finally closed Auto Works with its 53 stores in August 1997 after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[52]
A.L. Price
A.L. Price was a deep-discount health and beauty aids retailer with sixteen locations in the Detroit area that was started in 1983.
A.L. Price had 16 stores at the beginning of 1990.[53] In April 1990, Perry Drug Stores announced that it has plans to sell off 14 of its 16 A. L. Price locations for $14.8 million and convert the remaining two into Perry Drug stores, as part of a decision to focus entirely on the drugstore chain itself.[54][55] In March 1993, the chain, under new management, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At the time of the filing, A.L. Price had 12 stores.[56] As one of the creditors, Perry initially announced that it plans to buy all 12 stores back for $2 million plus inventory,[57] but latter change the number to 11 and increase the purchase price to $10.8 million[58]
