Gemco

Gemco was a chain of department stores that was owned by Lucky's, a renowned supermarket company. In the Eastern United States, it was known as Memco. It operated from the mid-60's until it's closing in early 1987. Many former Gemco sites are now Target stores. One original Gemco building that still stands unchainged since 1987 is the Downey,California location. It is a blue, abandoned building on Florence Ave. Karen Carpenter, of the famous Carpenters singing duo, lived about a quarter mile from the Downey Gemco. Legend states that she was getting ready to go to this particular store on the morning of February 4, 1983, when she tragically suffered a heart attack in her parents home and died.