Scolari's Food and Drug is an independently owned supermarket chain based in Sparks,

Nevada Nevada ( ; ) is a state in the Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th-most extensive, ...

. The company currently operates two stores in northern Nevada, but previously operated more locations in northern Nevada and northern

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. The company also franchises one

Save-A-Lot Save A Lot Food Stores Ltd. is an American discount supermarket chain store headquartered in St. Ann, Missouri, in Greater St. Louis. It is a subsidiary of Onex Corporation with about 900 independently owned and operated stores across 32 st ...

Store in

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, Nevada.

History

The chain was founded in the Central Coast region of California in 1947 by Joe Scolari (now run by sons Joey & Jerry Scolari). In 1982 it purchased the Warehouse Markets chain of Reno, Nevada; they have since moved their base of operations to Nevada, where the bulk of their stores are located. In 1991 they changed their corporate name to Scolari's Food and Drug to reflect their expanding role.

Lucky Stores Lucky Stores is an American supermarket chain founded in San Leandro, California, in 1935. Lucky is currently operated by Albertsons in Utah and Save Mart Supermarkets in Northern California. In 1998, Lucky's parent company, American Stores, ...

bought all Scolari's markets in California in the late 1970s; the terms of sale prohibited the Scolari family from using the store name in California for 20 years. Two small grocery/deli stores on the Central Coast continued operations as J.J.'s Food Company. In 2010, Scolari's announced the closure of its longtime distribution facility in Sparks. Scolari's subsequently announced a supply agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers. In August 2010, Scolari's closed the Sak 'N Save Store in

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, less than two years after converting the store from the Scolari's banner. In March 2011, Scolari's announced the closure of the pharmacy inside its Reno location on Lemmon Drive. In May 2011, Scolari's discontinued the Club Card program, making sale prices accessible to all customers. As customer spending was no longer tracked via the club card, Scolari's also ceased its Friendship Fund, a program that gave 1% of total purchases to a non-profit organization of the participating customer's choice. In April 2012, Scolari's announced the closure of its four remaining California locations, citing the economy as well as logistical challenges for these stores being distant from their base of operations in the Reno area. In July 2014 Scolari's closed its store in Sparks at Disc Drive and planned to close their store in south Reno at South Virginia Street in October 2014. In March 2018, it was announced that supermarket chain Raley's agreed to purchase six of Scolari's northern Nevada stores for an undisclosed amount. The deal included Scolari's locations in Tonopah,

Yerington Yerington is a city in Lyon County, Nevada, United States. The population was 3,048 at the 2010 census. It is the current county seat of Lyon County, with the first county seat having been established at Dayton on November 29, 1861. It is nam ...

, Fernley, and two locations along with a Sak 'N Save store in Reno. The Scolari's stores would be rebranded as Raley's locations. With the Raley's acquisition, Scolari's was left with just two stores: one in Sparks and one in Sun Valley.

References

{{Supermarkets of the United States American companies established in 1947 Retail companies established in 1947 Supermarkets of the United States Companies based in Reno, Nevada 1947 establishments in California