View source for Thrifty PayLess

{{Short description|Defunct American drugstore chain}}
{{Distinguish|Thrift Drug|Payless ShoeSource}}
{{redirect|Pay Less Drug Store|other stores|Pay Less (disambiguation)}}
{{other uses|Thrifty (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Thrifty PayLess Holdings, Inc.
| logo = Thrifty PayLess logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_alt = 
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| trading_name = 
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| type = Holding company
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| industry = [[Retail]]/[[Pharmacy]]|
| fate = [[Takeover|Acquired]] by [[Rite Aid]]
| predecessor = <small>(merger of)</small> [[Skaggs Companies#Payless Drugs|PayLess Drug Stores]]<br/><small>(and)</small> Thrifty Corporation        <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successors = Rite Aid <!-- or: | successors = -->
| foundation = {{start date and age|1994|4}} (as Thrifty PayLess Holdings, Inc.)<br>[[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.         <!-- [if known: {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} in [city], [country] -->
| founder = <!-- or: | founders = -->
| defunct = {{end date and age|1996|10|15}} (as Thrifty PayLess Holdings, Inc.)<br>[[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.                             <!-- [if known: {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} in [city], [country] -->
| location_city = 
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| locations = 1,000+          <!-- Number of locations -->
| area_served = [[California]], [[Oregon]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], and [[Idaho]]
| key_people = 
| products = 
| brands = 
| production = 
| services = [[Pharmacy]], [[Distilled beverage|Liquor]], [[Cosmetics]], Health and Beauty Aids, General Merchandise, Snacks, 1-Hour Photo
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'''Thrifty PayLess Holdings, Inc.''' was a [[pharmacy]] holding company that owned the '''Thrifty Drugs''' and '''PayLess Drug Stores''' chains in the western United States. The combined company was formed in April 1994 when Los Angeles–based '''TCH Corporation''', the parent company of '''Thrifty Corporation''' and '''Thrifty Drug Stores, Inc.''', acquired the [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]] subsidiary '''PayLess Drug Stores Northwest, Inc.'''<ref name=lat-1993dec03>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-03-fi-63589-story.html |title=Kmart to Sell Payless Chain to THC Corp.: Merger: With $1-billion deal, Thrifty's parent firm will become the nation's second-largest drugstore retailer |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 3, 1993 |first=George |last=White}}</ref> At the time of the merger, TCH Corporation was renamed '''Thrifty PayLess Holdings, Inc.''' and Thrifty operated 495 stores, PayLess operated 543 stores.

In 1996, [[Rite Aid]] acquired 1,000 West Coast stores from Thrifty PayLess Holdings, creating a chain with over 3,500 drug stores.<ref name=lat-1996oct15>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-15-fi-53942-story.html |title=Rite Aid to Buy Thrifty Chain for $2.3 Billion: Retailing: More than 3,500 drugstores in 26 states would be created under the deal, the latest in the industry's consolidation trend. |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 15, 1996 |first=George |last=White}}</ref>

Thrifty PayLess, Inc. remained an active subsidiary of Rite Aid (owning stores purchased from Thrifty PayLess), as shown in the company's October 2023 [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] filings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bkdata.com/business-bankruptcies/trenton-newjersey/10-15-2023/thrifty-payless-19114|title=Thrifty PayLess, Inc. Files For Bankruptcy|date=October 15, 2023|access-date=October 16, 2023|website=BKData|language=en}}</ref> 

On May 5, 2025, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in 2 years, listing assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion. Rite Aid will sell all of its assets as part of its procedure, as it overcomes financial challenges such as debt, increased competition, and inflation, including Thrifty PayLess.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/rite-aid-intends-file-second-bankruptcy-announces-job-cuts-bloomberg-news-2025-05-05/|title=Rite Aid files for second bankruptcy in two years|first=Dietrich|last=Knauth|date=May 5, 2025|access-date=May 5, 2025|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref>

On June 27, 2025, Rite Aid received court approval to sell its [[Thrifty PayLess]] and [[Thrifty Ice Cream]] subsidiaries to Hilrod Holdings for $19.2 million. Hilrod Holdings is managed by [[Hilton Schlosburg]] and [[Rodney Sacks]], who are also top executives for [[Monster Beverage]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.fastcompany.com/91359796/rite-aid-thrifty-ice-cream-brand-sold-to-monster-energy-execs|title= Rite Aid’s Thrifty ice cream brand gets sold to a business entity linked to Monster Energy executives|first=Christopher|last=Zara|date=June 27, 2025|access-date=July 1, 2025|website=Fast Company|language=en}}</ref>

== History of PayLess ==
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2019}}
[[Image:Paylessdrugstores.png|thumb|right|Logo for PayLess Drug Stores.]]

In 1932, L.J. Skaggs opened Payless Drug Stores in [[Tacoma, Washington]], which soon expanded across the western United States. Some stores were sold to his brother Samuel "L.S." Olnie Skaggs (then an executive at [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]]) along with some colleagues. L.J. Skaggs retained California PayLess Stores, which eventually became part of Thrifty PayLess. The remaining PayLess stores were renamed [[Skaggs Drug Stores]] in 1948, and Skaggs Drug Centers in 1965.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Peyton Hawes and William Armitage acquired a controlling interest in five drug stores in three communities in Oregon and Washington, which were named PayLess, and grew their [[chain store|chain]] through both acquisition and internal expansion. By 1984, PayLess Drug Stores was the largest independently owned and operated drug store chain in the United States.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}  It became a wholly owned unit of [[Kmart (United States)|Kmart]] in 1985,<ref name=lat-1985jan15>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-15-fi-7557-story.html |title=K mart to Buy Pay Less for About $500 Million |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 15, 1985 |first=Nancy |last=Yoshihara}}</ref> as part of the Kmart expansion program created by CEO Joseph Antonini. In 1986, there were 225 PayLess stores.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} By 1990, PayLess operated in nine western states before its parent company was acquired by Rite Aid and the stores rebranded.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

=== Acquisitions ===
* 1973 – Acquired Seattle-based House of Values and Portland-owned Gov-Mart Bazaar to form PayLess House of Values.
* 1976 – PayLess bought 22 Value Giant stores, the majority of which were located in [[Northern California]].
* 1980 – PayLess acquired PayLess Drug Stores of [[Oakland, California]], founded by Levi Justin Skaggs.
* 1987 – PayLess purchased 25 [[Osco Drug]] stores in California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
* 1990 – Acquired Pay Less of [[Tacoma, Washington]].
* 1992 – PayLess purchases 124 Pay'n Save stores in Washington, Alaska, Hawaii and Idaho from [[Pacific Enterprises]]

== History of Thrifty ==
[[Image:Thrifty brands.jpg|thumb|right|Thrifty was large enough to have their own brand of products.]]

In 1919, brothers Harry<ref name="lamag-thrifty-ice-cream-Borun">{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=Chris |title=How Thrifty Ice Cream Became a SoCal Institution |url=https://www.lamag.com/digestblog/thrifty-ice-cream-history/ |access-date=17 November 2021 |work=[[Los Angeles Magazine]] |date=4 November 2020 |quote=Dr. Raymond Borun is a retired physician in Brentwood. His father Harry and uncle Robert founded Thrifty Drug Stores in 1929}}</ref> and Robert Borun, along with brother-in-law Norman Levin, founded '''Borun Brothers''', a [[Los Angeles]] drug wholesaler. By 1929, the brothers opened their own Los Angeles retail outlets under the name '''Thrifty Cut Rate'''. The first store was located at 412 S. [[Broadway (Los Angeles)|Broadway]] in downtown Los Angeles, just across the street from the original [[The Broadway|Broadway Department Store]].<ref name=ocr-1989jun08-1>{{cite news |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/santa-ana/santa-ana-orange-county-register/1989/06-08/page-20 |title=New Drug Store Named Thrifty Vows Low Prices |newspaper=[[Orange County Register]] |date=June 8, 1989 |pages=A21–A22, A26 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

After opening five additional downtown area stores,<ref name=lat-1931may24>{{cite news |title=Drugstore Chain Opens Sixth Unit: Store and Second Floor of Broadway Structure Taken on Lease |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 24, 1931 |page=D2 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/162641302 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|162641302}}}}</ref> Thrifty opened their seventh store in the then recently completed [[Pellissier Building]] in the [[Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles|Mid-Wilshire district]], on [[Wilshire Boulevard]] and [[Western Avenue (Los Angeles)|Western Avenue]], in 1931. This was their first store outside of [[Downtown Los Angeles|downtown]],<ref name=lat-1931oct09>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Ad |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 9, 1931 |page=2 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/162498950 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|162498950}}}}</ref> and it was quickly followed by several new stores within a few miles of downtown.

By 1942, Thrifty Drug Stores operated 58 stores. By the time their 100th store opened in [[Studio City, Los Angeles|Studio City]] in 1950,<ref name=lat-1950dec08>{{cite news |title=Thrifty's 100th Store Opens in Studio City |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 8, 1950 |page=A11 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/166166839 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|166166839}}}}</ref> Thrifty ranged as far north as [[Santa Rosa, California]], and as far south as [[San Diego]]. Thrifty soon expanded outside California, opening a [[Las Vegas]] location in 1952.<ref name=lat-1952oct16>{{cite news |title=Las Vegas Gets Thrifty Store |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 16, 1952 |page=34 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/166401965 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|166401965}}}}</ref> In 1959, the chain expanded into the Pacific Northwest with a store in [[Eugene, Oregon]].<ref name=erg-1959oct15>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19591015&id=6RZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8eIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6893,2711216 |title=New Thrifty Drug Store Holds Grand Opening |newspaper=[[Eugene Register-Guard]] |date=October 15, 1959 |page=6B |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name=erg-1959oct05>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19591005&id=3xZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8eIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3934,839733 |title=Why We Picked Eugene For Our First Northwest Store |work=[[Eugene Register-Guard]] |date=October 5, 1959 |page=2A |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

Store grand opening events were always a large spectacle, with politicians as well as movie and television celebrities involved in the ceremonies. Actor [[Errol Flynn]] participated in the 1941 opening of the [[South Pasadena, California|South Pasadena]] store.<ref name=lat-1941aug24>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Drug Chain Opens New Branch |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=August 24, 1941 |page=F1 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/165246053 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|165246053}}}}</ref>

A neon Thrifty Drug Store sign is visible in the background of a scene from the 1954 Judy Garland version of ''[[A Star Is Born (1954 film)|A Star Is Born]]''.

During the 1950s, a Thrifty commercial jingle played on numerous radio stations in Southern California:
<blockquote><poem>
Save a nickel, save a dime.
Save at Thrifty every time.
Save a dollar and much more,
at your Thrifty Drug Store!<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.boulevardsentinel.com/10-2009.htm |title=Looking Back |newspaper=Boulevard Sentinel |date=October 2009 |volume=13 |issue=6 |first=Joe |last=Walker |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227011604/http://www.boulevardsentinel.com/10-2009.htm |archive-date=2013-12-27 }}</ref>
</poem></blockquote>

Until the early 1980s, every Thrifty store featured a [[tube tester#Self-service tube testers|self-service tube tester]], usually located near the cosmetics display case. Vacuum tubes were still used in a wide variety of consumer electronics such as TVs and radios, and the local Thrifty store was a convenient place to test them and purchase replacements. Thrifty published a brochure helping customers diagnose which tubes might be responsible for various TV malfunctions. The brochure also provided numbered stickers to aid consumers in reinstalling working tubes in their correct sockets.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}{{original research inline|date=June 2021}}<!-- https://troutunderground.com/Tube-Testers-Self-Service/  https://www.ebaman.com/index.php/remository/ELECTRONICS/Test-Equipment/Various-Equipment/MERCURY-MODELS-204-202-201-TUBE-DATA/  http://www.tuberadios.com/eico660/   https://archive.org/details/mercury_mercury_990_tube_tester_tube_charts_1968_sm     -->

In the early 1970s, Thrifty's parent began to diversify outside the drug store industry  through the acquisition of [[Big 5 Sporting Goods]], a [[sporting goods]] chain, in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/big-5-sporting-goods-corporation-history/|title=History of Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation – FundingUniverse}}</ref>

Thrifty expanded into general merchandising by the gradual acquisition of [[The Akron]] chain, 40% in 1976,<ref name=lat-1976apr10>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Drugs Buys 40% Interest in Akron Stores |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 10, 1976 |page=C11 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/157968817 |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|157968817}}}}</ref> increasing to 90% the following year,<ref name=wwd-1977mar08>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Drug Reportedly Increased Akron Holdings |newspaper=[[Women's Wear Daily|WWD]] |date=March 8, 1977 |page=28 |volume=134 |issue=46 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}} [https://www.proquest.com/docview/1699838947/ Link]{{subscription required}} via [[ProQuest]].</ref><ref name=wwd-1977mar10>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Increases Stock In The Akron |newspaper=[[Women's Wear Daily|WWD]] |date=March 10, 1977 |page=16 |volume=134 |issue=48 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}} [https://www.proquest.com/docview/1699838084/ Link]{{subscription required}} via [[ProQuest]].</ref> and eventually to 100%.

Thrifty's parent, Thrifty Drug Stores Co. Inc., became Thrifty Corp. in 1977 to better reflect the parent company's expansion into non-pharmacy businesses through the purchase of companies such as Big 5 Sporting Goods and [[The Akron]].<ref name=lat-1977jan26>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Drug Votes Name Change; Dividend Boosted |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 26, 1977 |page=E15 |last=Yoshihara |first=Nancy |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/158230019 |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|158230019}}}}</ref>

During the 1980s, Thrifty further diversified by entering into several joint ventures with [[Herbert Haft]] and his East Coast–based [[Dart Drug]] that would introduce [[Crown Books]] and [[Trak Auto]] to the West Coast. Thrifty acquired 50% ownership of Crown and had opened several bookstores in the Los Angeles area in 1981.<ref name=ct-1981jul22>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1981/07/22/page/41/article/industry-report |title=Discounter here? The Plot thickens |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=July 22, 1981 |first=Charles |last=Storch}}</ref><ref name=lat-1981jun16>{{cite news |title=Thrifty to Buy 50% of Crown Books |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 16, 1981 |page=e4 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/152803191 |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|152803191}}}}</ref>  In 1983, Thrifty acquired 50% ownership in Trak and also opened several of the auto parts stores in the Los Angeles area,<ref name=wp-1983feb10>{{cite news |title=Dart Drug to Spin Off Part of Trak Auto Chain |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=February 10, 1983 |page=B1 |first=Rudolph A. Jr. |last=Pyatt |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/138077221 |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|138077221}}}}</ref>

In Washington State, Thrifty went by the name of Giant T since the Thrifty name was in use by another chain of drug stores.  The name was later changed to Thrifty in 1984.{{citation needed|date=November 2023|reason=Probably true, but the dates could be incorrect due to deteriorating memories of aging persons of the distant past.}}

Thrifty Corp. itself was acquired by [[Pacific Enterprises|Pacific Lighting]], the parent of [[Southern California Gas]], in 1986.<ref name=lat-1986may29>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-29-fi-7799-story.html |title=Pacific Lighting Will Buy Thrifty Corp. in Stock Swap: $885-Million Deal Links Parent of Southern California Gas and Operator of State's Biggest Discount Drugstore Chain |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 29, 1986 |first=Martha |last=Groves}}</ref><ref name=nyt-1986may29>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/29/business/utility-will-buy-drug-chain.html |title=Utility Will Buy Drug Chain |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=May 29, 1986 |first=Nicholas D. |last=Kristof}}</ref> In 1988, Thrifty acquired [[Pay 'n Save]] and [[Bi-Mart]].<ref name=lat-1988may14>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-14-fi-2842-story.html |title=Thrifty to Buy All 147 Pay 'n Save Stores for $232 Million in Stock |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 14, 1988 |first=George |last=White}}</ref> Following the acquisition, all Thrifty stores in Washington state were renamed to Pay 'n Save.<ref name=sr-1988aug24>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19880824&id=tlpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=te8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4988,6243907 |title=Thrifty Stores Converting |newspaper=[[Spokesman-Review]] |date=August 24, 1988 |page=B3 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> In 1992, Pacific Enterprises, formerly Pacific Lighting, sold Thrifty Corp. to investment bankers [[Leonard Green & Partners]] for $275 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1992/05/22/Thrifty-chains-to-be-sold-for-275-million/2471706507200/ |title=Thrifty chains to be sold for $275 million |date=May 22, 1992 |first=Dave |last=McNary |work=[[United Press International]]}}</ref>

Thrifty closed all their Arizona stores in 1992 and withdrew from the state.<ref name=kdm-1992oct29>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=932&dat=19921029&id=_tlPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rFMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6627,542515 |title=22 Thrift Drug Stores in Arizona closing |newspaper=[[Kingman Daily Miner]] |date=October 29, 1992 |page=2 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

== Thrifty Ice Cream ==
<!-- linked from redirect [[Thrifty Ice Cream]] (please add anchor if section name is changed, per [[WP:TARGET]]) -->
[[File:Thrifty ice cream - Circus Animal Cookies on cake cone.jpg|thumb|right|Single scoop of Circus Animal Cookies ice cream on a cake cone. Note the distinctive (mostly) cylindrical shape (relatively flat top and sides) of the scoop of ice cream that is typically served at Thrifty ice cream dispensaries located in Rite Aid (and formerly at Thrifty Drug) stores.]]

The Thrifty name and logo live on through '''Thrifty Ice Cream''',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yelp.com/questions/rite-aid-what-are-the-thrifty-ice-cream-flavors/wdJMD12G2Mxhsnots6aF5A|title = Rite Aid — Ask the Community — What are the Thrifty Ice Cream flavors?}}</ref> sold in West Coast Rite Aid locations and various ice cream shops in the southwestern United States<ref name=lvi-20121022>{{cite news |url=http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2012/oct/22/beloved-thrifty-ice-cream-returns-las-vegas/ |title=Beloved Thrifty Ice Cream returns to Las Vegas, sans pharmacy |website=Vegas Inc |date=October 22, 2012 |first=Eli |last=Segall |access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref> and over 200 across Mexico.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://heladosthrifty.com.mx/ |title=Helados Thrifty - El Helado Ganador ahora en Mexico! |access-date=2014-10-03 |archive-date=2014-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085358/http://heladosthrifty.com.mx/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rite Aid preserved the Thrifty Ice Cream brand because it won numerous awards in its history,<ref name=bw-2011jul13 /><ref name=ocr-2010jun01>{{cite news |url=http://fastfood.ocregister.com/2010/06/01/nostalgia-wins-in-best-ice-cream-poll/62997/ |title=Nostalgia wins in best ice cream poll |newspaper=[[Orange County Register]] |date=June 1, 2010 |first=Nancy |last=Luna |access-date=October 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926194119/http://fastfood.ocregister.com/2010/06/01/nostalgia-wins-in-best-ice-cream-poll/62997/ |archive-date=2013-09-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and remained well known for its affordable prices, quirky flavors, and iconic cylinder-shaped scoops.<ref name="thrifty-ice-cream-scoop">{{cite web |title=Thrifty Stainless Steel Cylindrical Ice Cream Scoop |url=https://www.riteaid.com/shop/thrifty-stainless-steel-cylindrical-ice-cream-scoop-1ct |website=[[riteaid]] |access-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207101946/https://www.riteaid.com/shop/thrifty-stainless-steel-cylindrical-ice-cream-scoop-1ct |archive-date=December 7, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=lvi-20121022 /> Popular Thrifty flavors include longtime hits Chocolate Malted Krunch, Butter Pecan, Medieval Madness, Mint 'N Chip, and Rocky Road, as well as more recent introductions such as Circus Animal Cookies, made with real [[Mother's Cookies]].<ref name=bw-2011jul13>{{cite web |url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110713005340/en/Rite-Aids-Thrifty-Ice-Cream-Announces-Flavors |title=Rite Aid's Thrifty Ice Cream Announces New Flavors, Products |date=July 13, 2011 |website=[[Business Wire]] |publisher=Business Wire |access-date=September 30, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name=sgvt-2011jul13 />

Thrifty Ice Cream counters located within Rite Aid stores sell hand-scooped ice cream in single-, double- or triple-scoop servings on sugar, cake, or waffle [[Ice cream cone|cones]]. The ice cream also comes pre-packaged in 1.75-quart (56&nbsp;oz) "sqrounder" cartons ("kind of square, kind of round")<ref name=sgvt-2011jul13>{{cite news |url=http://www.sgvtribune.com/business/20110714/thrifty-ice-cream-launches-new-flavors-pint-size-containers |title=Thrifty Ice Cream launches new flavors, pint-size containers |newspaper=[[San Gabriel Valley Tribune]] |date=July 13, 2011 |first=Daniel |last=Tedford |access-date=October 1, 2014}}</ref> and 1-pint cartons. Thrifty traditionally sold packaged ice cream by the half gallon in simple, waxed-paper boxes formed by folding interlocking flaps; these distinctive brick-like boxes were phased out in early 2008.<ref name=sgvt-2011jul13 /><ref name=ivdb-2011jul14>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailybulletin.com/business/20110715/thrifty-ice-cream-to-sell-smaller-packages-new-flavors |title=Thrifty Ice Cream to sell smaller packages, new flavors |newspaper=[[Inland Valley Daily Bulletin]] |date=July 14, 2011 |first=Daniel |last=Tedford |access-date=October 2, 2014}}</ref>

Like most early-twentieth-century drug stores featuring an in-store grill and soda fountain, Thrifty initially purchased ice cream from local suppliers.  However, as Thrifty constantly opened new stores and expanded rapidly throughout Los Angeles, it became increasingly difficult to secure a steady supply of high-quality ice cream at a low price. To meet the demand created by their new stores, the Boruns decided in 1940 to produce their own ice cream by purchasing [[Borden (company)|Borden Ice Cream Company]]'s existing [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] factory for $250,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=250000|start_year=1940}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref name=lat-1940sep22>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Buys Ice Cream Plant for Own Production |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 22, 1940 |page=E3 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/165103609 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019140518/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/165103609.html |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |id={{ProQuest|165103609}}}}[https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/385520158/ Alternate subscription link 2]{{subscription required}} via [[Newspapers.com]].</ref><ref name=lat-1989jun07>{{cite news |title=Retailer Bought Its Own Plant to Satisfy L.A. Craving for Ice Cream |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 7, 1989 |page=A4 |access-date=October 1, 2014 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1218233150 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210070013/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/1218233150.html |archive-date=February 10, 2015 |id={{ProQuest|1218233150}}}} [https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/405673482/ Alternate subscription link 2]{{subscription required}} via [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>

Thrifty replaced the Hollywood plant in 1976 with a larger, 20,000-square-foot facility located on 3&nbsp;acres in [[El Monte, California]]. Intended to supply the then-existing 450 Thrifty stores as well as outside purveyors, the new facility was initially capable of producing 16&nbsp;million gallons of ice cream annually.<ref name=lat-1989jun07 /><ref name=ocr-2010sep14>{{cite news |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ice-266481-cream-thrifty.html |title=Sneak peek: Inside Thrifty Ice Cream factory |newspaper=[[Orange County Register]] |date=September 14, 2010 |first=Nancy |last=Luna |access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name=lat-1976may30>{{cite news |title=New Ice Cream Plant To Open In El Monte |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 30, 1976 |page=F8 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/157980639 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212738/https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/157980639.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |id={{ProQuest|157980639}}}} [https://latimes.newspapers.com/newspage/383376283/ Alternate subscription link 2]{{subscription required}} via [[Newspapers.com]].</ref> In 2010, the plant produced ice cream for 599 Rite Aid stores across California, as well as wholesale customers such as [[Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour]] and [[Costco]], which accounted for 40% of sales. The reborn Farrell's franchise tested a hundred brands before reselecting Thrifty as its supplier and winning the [[Orange County Register]]'s 2010 Best Ice Cream contest.<ref name=ocr-2010sep14 /> Thrifty makes its ice cream using a [[flash freezing|flash-freeze]] technique in the manufacturing process to minimize the size of ice crystals.<ref name=ivdb-2011jul14 /><ref name=ocr-2014aug19>{{cite news |last=Valdespino |first=Anne |date=August 19, 2014 |title=A blast from the future: High tech vs. low tech ice cream |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ice-632108-cream-flavors.html |newspaper=[[Orange County Register]] |access-date=October 5, 2014 }}</ref> The final product is frozen at &minus;60 degrees<!--presumably F, but source is unclear--> for at least a day before leaving the factory.<ref name=sgvt-2011jul13 />

Thrifty ice cream has won numerous gold medals at the [[Los Angeles County Fair]] and [[California State Fair]] since 1948. Reporting on Thrifty's thirteenth consecutive gold at both fairs in 1961, the Torrance Herald explained that ice cream at these "two widely acclaimed competitions" is judged on flavor, body, texture, sanitation, color, and packaging.<ref name=th-1961sep21>{{cite news |url=https://libarch.torranceca.gov/archivednewspapers/Herald/1961%20Aug%2020%20-%20Dec%2014/PDF/00000304.pdf |title=Thrifty Drug Ice Cream Wins 13th Annual Honor |newspaper=Torrance Herald |date=September 21, 1961 |page=8 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093555/http://www.torranceca.gov/archivednewspapers/Herald/1961%20Aug%2020%20-%20Dec%2014/PDF/00000304.pdf |archive-date=2014-10-06 |url-status=live }}</ref> Thrifty has won gold medals at the L.A. County Fair every year since 1952.<ref name=lat-1989jun07 /><ref name=sbi-2011jul13>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.com/news/2011/jul/13/rite-aids-thrifty-unveils-new-lineup-celebrate-nat/ |title=Rite Aid's Thrifty Unveils New Lineup to Celebrate National Ice Cream Day: New Thrifty Lineup Just in Time for Presidentially Designated National Ice Cream Day on July 17 |newspaper=[[Santa Barbara Independent]] |date=July 13, 2011 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref><ref name=las-1949oct06>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Ice Cream Awarded 1st Prize At L.A. County Fair |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Sentinel]] |date=October 6, 1949 |page=A6 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|562161664}}}}</ref><ref name=th-1960sep15>{{cite news |url=https://libarch.torranceca.gov/archivednewspapers/Herald/1960%20Aug%204%20-%20Dec%208/PDF/00000404.pdf |title=Thrifty Ice Creams Win Gold Medal |newspaper=Torrance Herald |date=September 15, 1960 |page=18 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006090214/http://www.torranceca.gov/archivednewspapers/Herald/1960%20Aug%204%20-%20Dec%208/PDF/00000404.pdf |archive-date=2014-10-06 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=lbpt-1952aug28>{{cite news |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/long-beach-press-telegram/1952-08-28/page-15 |title=Ice Cream Test Results Listed |newspaper=[[Long Beach Press Telegram]] |date=August 28, 1952 |page=15 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> In 1988, Thrifty ice cream received a total of 24 gold medals at the L.A. County Fair, more than any other competitor.<ref name=lat-1989jun07 /><ref name=ocr-1989jun08-2>{{cite news |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/santa-ana/santa-ana-orange-county-register/1989/06-08/page-23 |title=Thrifty Ice Cream: A Family Affair For Nearly 50 Years |newspaper=[[Orange County Register]] |date=June 8, 1989 |page=A24 |access-date=October 5, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

Many recipes have remained unchanged for over 50 years, and real pieces of fruit and cookie are used along with [[Real California Milk]].<ref name=bw-2011jul13 /><ref name=ocr-2010sep14 /> Thrifty ice cream contains 10.25% [[butterfat]], compared to 12–16% butterfat in premium rivals costing twice as much.<ref name=ocr-2010sep14 /> As recently as 1974,<ref name=lat-1974oct24>{{cite news |title=1974 Thrifty Ad |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 24, 1974 |page=A13 |access-date=October 7, 2014 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/157550750 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|157550750}}}}</ref> a single scoop could be purchased for just a nickel.<ref name=lat-1969nov03>{{cite news |title=Thrifty Seeking to Broaden Image in Low-Key Campaign: Thrifty Opens Campaign to Wide |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=November 3, 1969 |page=D12 |last=Rossman |first=Martin |access-date=October 5, 2014 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/156420251 |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|156420251}}}}</ref> The price increased to $0.10 by 1976,<ref name=lat-1976apr08>{{cite news |title=1976 Thrifty Ad |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=April 8, 1976 |page=F20 |access-date=October 7, 2014 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/157978981 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|157978981}}}}</ref> to $0.15 by 1981,<ref name=lat-1981sep24>{{cite news |title=1981 Thrifty Ad |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 24, 1981 |page=K38 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/152907445 |url-access=subscription |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |id={{ProQuest|152907445}}}}</ref> to $0.35 by 1991,<ref name=lns-1991jul10>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19910710&id=f5szAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sjIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=1992,1000172 |title=Ice Cream: Here's the scoop |newspaper=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]] |date=July 10, 1991 |page=1 |first=Jeff |last=Traverso |access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref> to $1.29 by 2010,<ref name=ocr-2010sep14 /> to $1.69 by 2011,<ref name=lw-2011jun13>{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/restaurants/30-scoops-in-30-days-rite-aid-day-9-2381736 |title=30 Scoops in 30 Days: Rite Aid (Day 9) |newspaper=[[LA Weekly]] |date=June 13, 2011 |first=Elina |last=Shatkin}}</ref> to $1.79 by 2013,<ref name=law-2013sep11>{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/squidink/2013/09/11/5-great-old-school-la-ice-cream-places?showFullText=true |title=5 Great Old-School L.A. Ice Cream Places |newspaper=[[LA Weekly]] |date=September 11, 2013 |first=Jim |last=Thurman |access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref> and to $1.99 by 2018.<ref name="lat-2018may18" />

For many decades, Thrifty Drug Stores was using the extremely low price that it was charging customers for a single scoop of ice cream that was usually eaten inside the store as a [[loss leader]] to entice those customers to bring their entire families into the store on a regular basis to eat ice cream that was sold at or below cost while those same customers browse the aisle (while eating) and usually find other items to purchase before leaving the store.<ref name=lat-1969nov03 />

Unlike other ice cream shops, the Thrifty Drug Stores (and later Rite Aid) scoop shops has always used an iconic ice cream scoop that produced flat-top cylindrical scoops (see above photograph). The scoops was not sold to the general public until 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://lamag.com/featured/thrifty-ice-cream-scooper |title=Thrifty Is Finally Selling Its Signature Cylindrical Ice Cream Scoopers |first=Chris |last=Nichols |date=October 11, 2019 |magazine=[[Los Angeles Magazine]]}}</ref> A writer for [[Food & Wine]] wrote that the unique scoop "is the last ice cream scoop you'll ever buy."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/thrifty-ice-cream-scoop-review-11736683 |title=I've Been Using This Ice Cream Scoop for 10 Years, and I’m Never Going Back |first=Jennifer |last=Zyman |date=May 17, 2025 |magazine=[[Food & Wine]]}}</ref>

Thrifty achieved [[Kosher certification]] for its ice cream products in 1994.<ref name=lat-1995oct19>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-19-fo-58599-story.html |title=A Higher Authority: Overseeing the Kosher Boom |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 19, 1995 |first=Joseph |last=Hanania}}</ref>

Since 1995, Bon Suisse, a [[Poway]], California–based company, has held an exclusive license to use the Thrifty brand name and sells 800,000 gallons of Thrifty ice cream in the Southwest US, Mexico, Latin America, and the Middle East.<ref name=ht-bonsuisse>{{cite web |url=http://heladosthrifty.com.mx/bon-suisse/ |title=Bon Suisse |website=Helados Thrifty |language=es |access-date=October 2, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=<!--undated--> |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074235/http://heladosthrifty.com.mx/bon-suisse/ |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> In May 2018, Bon Suisse bought close to 800,000 gallons of Thrifty ice cream a year to redistribute through restaurants, hotels, ice cream dipping stations, grocery stores and a few prisons located in California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico.<ref name="lat-2018may18" />

In May 2014, Helados Thrifty, the licensed purveyor in Mexico, had 184 locations<ref name=vo-2014may14>{{cite news |url=http://vallartaopina.net/2014/05/15/thrifty-ice-cream-toda-una-experiencia-para-los-sentidos/ |title=Thrifty Ice Cream, toda una experiencia para los sentidos |newspaper=Vallarta Opina |date=May 15, 2014 |language=es |access-date=October 2, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006104555/http://vallartaopina.net/2014/05/15/thrifty-ice-cream-toda-una-experiencia-para-los-sentidos/ |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> in the northern and central Mexican states of [[Baja California]], [[Baja California Sur]], [[Sonora]], [[Sinaloa]], [[Jalisco]], [[Colima]], [[Nayarit]], and the [[State of Mexico]].<ref name=ht-historia>{{cite web |url=http://heladosthrifty.com.mx/historia/ |title=Historia |website=Helados Thrifty |language=es |access-date=October 2, 2014 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=<!--undated--> |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074909/http://heladosthrifty.com.mx/historia/ |archive-date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> There are plans to expand throughout Mexico via the sale of additional franchises. All Thrifty ice cream sold in Mexico is produced by the El Monte, California, plant.

In October 2015, [[Walgreens]] announced that it will acquire Rite Aid, but said that it had not yet made a decision whether it would continue to carry any product line that is sold by Rite Aid, which is not currently distributed by Walgreens. Thrifty Ice Cream customers were concerned that Walgreens would discontinue carrying their beloved ice cream.<ref name=lat-2015oct28>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-qa-walgreens-rite-aid-20151028-htmlstory.html |title=What customers need to know about Walgreens' takeover of Rite Aid |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=October 28, 2015 |first=Samantha |last=Masunaga}}</ref><ref name=cbs-2015oct27>{{cite news |url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/10/27/fate-of-thrifty-ice-cream-on-many-peoples-minds-amid-giant-pharmacy-merger/ |title=Walgreens' Purchase Of Rite Aid Has People Screaming For Thrifty Ice Cream |website=[[CBS]] |date=October 27, 2015 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref>

After the Walgreens deal was not approved by regulators, it was announced on Feb. 20, 2018 that [[Albertsons]] and Rite Aid will merge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.albertsons.com/albertsons-cos-and-rite-aid-merge/|title=Albertsons Cos. and Rite Aid Merge|website=Albertsons|language=en|access-date=2018-02-22}}</ref>

In May 2018, Albertsons announced that it plans to sell the Thrifty branded ice cream at its groceries stores (such as [[Vons]] and [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]]), but the announcement left many questions unanswered, such as would it keep the Thrifty manufacturing facility in El Monte, would it continue to use its current ice cream manufacturing recipes, would it keep the in-store scoop shops or would it keep the current price structure.<ref name="lat-2018may18">{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrifty-ice-cream-20180518-htmlstory.html |title=Thrifty ice cream — a portal to childhood — is being sold to Albertsons. What does that mean for its future? |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 18, 2018 |last1=Reyes-Velarde |first1=Alejandra |last2=Masunaga |first2=Samantha |name-list-style=amp |quote=The drugstore chain has changed hands several times. In 1986 it was bought by Pacific Enterprises, the operator of Southern California Gas Co., and then in 1992 ... investment group Leonard Green & Partners snapped it up. Rite Aid acquired the chain in 1996...Poway, Calif., dairy supplier Bon Suisse Inc. buys close to 800,000 gallons of Thrifty ice cream a year and parcels it out to locations in California, Arizona, Nevada and Mexico: restaurants, hotels, ice cream dipping stations, grocery stores and even a handful of prison commissaries.}}</ref> Some Thrifty Ice cream customers are concerned that Albertsons may sell the plant and that the "new" Thrifty Ice Cream would be identical to the Lucerne and Signature Select store brands but just packaged in a different box.<ref name="lam-2018may21">{{cite news |url=https://www.lamag.com/digestblog/thrifty-ice-cream-sold/ |title=Thrifty Ice Cream Will Soon Have New Owners and Changes May Be in Store for the Nostalgic Brand |magazine=[[Los Angeles Magazine]] |date=May 21, 2018 |first=Brittany |last=Martin}}</ref>

In August 2018, Rite Aid announced that it had decided to call off its proposed merger with Albertsons and remain independent for the moment.<ref name="nyt-2018aug08">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/business/rite-aid-albertsons-merger.html?pagewanted=all |title=Rite Aid and Albertsons Agree to Call Off Merger in Face of Opposition |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=August 8, 2018 |first=Michael |last=Corkery}}</ref>

In May 2019, Rite Aid announced that it had expanded the distribution of prepackaged 48-ounce containers of Thrifty branded ice cream in up to eight out of 23 available flavors to Rite Aid stores in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.<ref name="bw-2019may13">{{cite press release |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190513005529/en/ |title=Rite Aid Expands Availability of Thrifty Ice Cream to Pacific Northwest: Thrifty Ice Cream Now Available in Idaho, Oregon and Washington in 48-ounce Containers and Up to Eight Flavors |work=[[Business Wire]] |date=May 13, 2019 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->}}</ref> At the time of the announcement, there are no plans to sell ice cream by the scoop at those new stores outside of California. Two months later, Rite Aid announced that they plan to expand the distribution of Thrifty Ice Cream in 48-ounce pre-packaged containers to select Rite Aid stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania on a trial basis starting in July.<ref name="sn-2019jul03">{{cite news |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/center-store/rite-aid-s-thrifty-ice-cream-heads-east |title=Rite Aid's Thrifty Ice Cream heads east: Brand favorite makes debut outside West Coast |magazine=Supermarket News |date=July 3, 2019 |first=Russell |last=Redman}}</ref>

Thrifty Ice cream teamed up with [[Chuck E. Cheese]] to launch a cross-promotional Birthday Cake ice cream flavor in the fall of 2024 that was sold exclusively at 350 Rite Aid retail pharmacies in California and 34 Chuck E. Cheese fun centers in Southern California.  Each container included 500 free e-tickets that were redeemable at participating Chuck E. Cheese fun centers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thrifty-ice-cream-debuts-birthday-140000635.html |title=Thrifty Ice Cream Debuts New Birthday Cake Flavor in Collaboration with Chuck E. Cheese |date=September 30, 2024 |work=[[Yahoo Finance]]}}</ref>

The October 2023 Rite-Aid Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing resulted in the closure of 31 Rite Aid locations in California that had Thrifty Ice Cream scoop counters.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2023-10-20/thrifty-ice-cream-counter-bankruptcy-filing-closing |title=A future with fewer Thrifty Ice Cream counters looms in SoCal |first=Stephanie |last=Breijo |date=October 20, 2023 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> After filing for bankruptcy a second time in May 2025, Rite Aid announced plans to close all of their stores with scoop shops within their former Thrifty Drug Stores territory while auctioning off the Thrifty Ice Cream El Monte factory, the Thrifty brand, plus related intellectual property in an June 20 auction. Until the auction has happened, the fate of the brand remains unknown.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/food/rite-aid-thrifty-ice-cream-store-closures-rcna210068 |title=The Future of This Popular Ice Cream Chain Remains Uncertain Amid Rite Aid Closures |date=May 30, 2025 |first=Gina |last=Vivinetto |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newsweek.com/thrifty-ice-cream-rite-aid-bankruptcy-locations-2078517 |title=Cult-Favorite Ice Cream Chain to Close Over 500 Stores Nationwide |date=May 29, 2025 |first=Hugh  |last=Cameron |magazine=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref>

== Notes ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050129103707/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_v23/ai_3359900 Pay Less to jump $1 billion sales hurdle in 1984 Discount Store News,  July 23, 1984]
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n15_v27/ai_6513200 Pay Less changes mix, closes Wonder World units - Annual Industry Report, part 2 Discount Store News,  July 18, 1988]{{Dead link|date=September 2013}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080622215427/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3374/is_n8_v19/ai_19374390 Thrifty PayLess.  Drug Store News, April 28, 1997]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Thrifty-PayLess-Inc-Company-History.html History of Thrifty PayLess] (prior to acquisition by Rite Aid)
* [http://heladosthrifty.com.mx/ Thrifty Ice Cream Mexico] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085358/http://heladosthrifty.com.mx/ |date=2014-10-06 }}
* [https://www.riteaid.com/thrifty Thrifty Ice Cream @ Rite Aid]
* [http://www.ocregister.com/video/v/586313636001/news-food-latest A look inside the Thrifty ice cream plant (video)]

{{History of Retail in Southern California}}
{{Rite Aid}}

[[Category:Rite Aid]]
[[Category:Skaggs family]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2025]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1919]]
[[Category:Defunct pharmacies of the United States]]
[[Category:Pay 'n Save]]
[[Category:Retail companies disestablished in 1998]]
[[Category:Health care companies based in California]]