Adray's

Adray's was the name of two appliance and electronics store chains based in Southern California, one at 1809 W. Chapman Avenue in the City of Orange run starting in 1968 by Lou Adray, which the Los Angeles Times described as an "institution",[1] and another run by his relatives, operating in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Lou Adray–run store

Lou Adray was Lebanese- or Syrian-American, born Lottfie (orig. Lutfie) in 1933 in Dearborn, Michigan to parents that census records show as having come from "Syria" (at the time of immigration Syria included what is now Lebanon), and died in 2017 at his Anaheim Hills home.[2][3]

Adray's (Orange) departments included major appliances, photographic, television and video, office equipment, stereos and housewares. It claimed to keep overhead to a minimum and minimized display space, providing them only for some televisions and major appliances.[4] It closed abruptly in December 1998,[1] due to bankruptcy.[5] The Good Guys and Circuit City had opened competing locations in Orange by that time.

Adry-Mart–run chain

Another Adray's store — in fact, a chain — was run by other members of the Adray family, including CEO Isaac Hakim in 1996.[6] Van Nuys-Based Adry-Mart Inc. operated the "other" Adray's in Los Angeles and Ventura counties — an 18-year battle between two parts of the family.[7] Locations of the Adry-Mart–run chain included Canoga Park, Lakewood, Torrance, Van Nuys, Ventura, at 5575 Wilshire Blvd. in the Miracle Mile, and 11201 W. Pico in West Los Angeles.[8] By 1996, the Adry-Mart–run chain had closed the 5th of its 10 stores and stopped selling computers, citing competition from the Good Guys and Circuit City.

Lawsuit

Lou Adray won the exclusive right to use the Adray's name when a suit was settled in 1997.[9]

References
  1. Earnest, Leslie (December 11, 1998). "Adray's Abruptly Closes After 30 Years". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. record for Lutfie Adray from 1940 U.S. census, familysearch.org
  3. Obituary of "Lou" Adray, Orange County Register, January 5, 2018
  4. Adray's advertisement, Los Angeles Times, May 10, 1996.
  5. Earnest, Leslie. "Inventory Auction Planned at Former Adray's Store", Los Angeles Times, Orange County Business section, page C9.
  6. "Adray's closes 5th of 10 stores". Los Angeles Times. March 27, 1996. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  7. Beebe, Barton (30 October 2014). Trademarks, Unfair Competition, and Business Torts. p. 92. ISBN 9781454824107. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  8. "Ad for Adray's (Los Angeles)". August 10, 1991. p. 147. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  9. Granelli, James S. "Adray's Wins Long Fight for Name's Sake", Los Angeles Times, June 13, 1997, page D1 and D5.
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