ABC Stores
ABC Stores is a privately-held, family-owned retail chain founded in 1964, operating 82 stores across Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and Las Vegas that sell Hawaiian-themed merchandise, souvenirs, apparel, jewelry, and gifts primarily to tourists and visitors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ABC Stores does
ABC Stores is a privately-held retail company (legal entity MNS, Ltd.) founded in 1964 by Sidney and Minnie Kosasa on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu. The company operates 82 physical retail stores across the Hawaiian Islands (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island), Guam, Saipan, and Las Vegas, alongside a BigCommerce-hosted e-commerce platform shipping domestically and internationally (including Japan). Its core product assortment spans Made-in-Hawaii categories (Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, Hawaiian snacks, local cosmetics and suncare), Hawaiian apparel and surfwear, Aloha jewelry, and island home goods and souvenirs, augmented by exclusive licensed merchandise (Hello Kitty & Friends, Doraemon). The customer base is primarily tourists and visitors to Pacific destinations, with secondary segments in local residents and corporate/organizational bulk buyers.
The business model is direct-to-consumer retail through physical stores (open 6:30 AM to 1 AM, 365 days a year) and online, supplemented by restaurant operations (Basalt in Waikiki, Lineage in Wailea, Maui), grocery market concepts (Island Gourmet Markets, Island Country Markets, Honolua General Store, Dukes Lane Market & Eatery, Sueoka Store), and the Island Deli fresh-food concept. Monetization is one-time unit-priced retail transactions across all channels, with ancillary revenue from gift cards, the Gold Card tiered loyalty rewards program, and Special Services bulk/custom B2B orders. The company is family-owned under the Kosasa family with no disclosed external investors, ranks 37th among Hawaii businesses, and holds the #1 position in Hawaii for macadamia nuts, suncare products, and souvenirs.
Strategically, ABC Stores has extended its brand from a single Waikiki convenience outlet into a multi-vertical Pacific retail platform over 55+ years, layering restaurants, fresh markets, e-commerce, and loyalty on top of its core tourist-retail footprint. Geographic expansion to Las Vegas signals intent to test the model in new travel destinations, while the absence of disclosed AI/ML, APIs, or proprietary technology indicates a traditional retail operating model heavily reliant on physical-store execution and tourism volume.
ABC Stores firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ABC Stores
- Legal name
- MNS, Ltd.
- Website
- https://abcstores.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- ABC Stores is a privately-held, family-owned retail chain founded in 1964, operating 82 stores across Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and Las Vegas that sell Hawaiian-themed merchandise, souvenirs, apparel, jewelry, and gifts primarily to tourists and visitors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ABC Stores industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tourist Convenience Retail
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), General Merchandise Retailers (455)
- SIC
- Retail-Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores (5940), Retail-Variety Stores (5331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Board Game & Puzzle Specialty Retailers (CRALALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor & Sporting Goods-Focused Catalog Department Store Retailers (CRAGAIAG), Electronics & Appliances-Focused Catalog Department Store Retailers (CRAGAIAD)
Keywords
Where ABC Stores is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
ABC Stores business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Retail Store Sales: Revenue generated from physical retail stores selling Hawaiian-themed merchandise including snacks, apparel, cosmetics, jewelry, home goods, and souvenirs to tourists and visitors across Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and Las Vegas locations.
- E-commerce Online Sales: Online store platform allowing customers to purchase products for delivery, with shipping within the US and internationally to Japan and other countries.
- Restaurant Operations: Revenue from company-owned restaurants including Basalt at Dukes Lane Market & Eatery (Waikiki) and Lineage Restaurant (Maui, Wailea).
- Special Services / Bulk Orders: Bulk and custom orders for corporate events, weddings, schools, churches, and organizations including custom gift baskets and large-quantity product orders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail merchandise pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
ABC Stores product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ABC Stores operates a network of 82 retail stores across Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and Las Vegas selling Hawaiian-themed merchandise including souvenirs, snacks, apparel, cosmetics, jewelry, and home goods to tourists and visitors. The company also operates restaurant and market concepts (Lineage, Basalt, Dukes Lane, Island Deli, Island Gourmet Markets, Honolua General Store) and supports e-commerce sales with domestic and international shipping. Additional services include the Gold Card Rewards Program and Special Services for bulk and custom corporate/event orders.
Product overview
ABC Stores is a retail chain offering a diverse portfolio of island-themed products across multiple categories, primarily serving the Hawaii tourism market. The core offering includes Made in Hawaii products (Kona coffee, Hawaiian snacks, local cosmetics), Hawaiian Apparel (aloha wear, surfwear, casual apparel for all ages), Aloha Jewelry (sterling silver, pearls, fashion jewelry), and Island Home & Gifts (chocolates, souvenirs, home décor, beach essentials). The company also operates exclusive licensed merchandise programs (Hello Kitty & Friends, Doraemon) and has expanded into restaurant concepts (Lineage Restaurant Maui, Basalt Waikiki, Dukes Lane Market & Eatery, Island Deli). Additional services include a Gold Card Rewards Program, Gift Cards, and Special Services for bulk/custom orders. The portfolio is distributed across 82 physical stores in Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and Las Vegas, with an e-commerce platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Island Gourmet Markets: Fresh and wholesome grocery market operations
- Island Country Markets
- Honolua General Store
- Lineage Restaurant
- Basalt
- Dukes Lane Market & Eatery
- Island Deli
- Sueoka Store
Products and services
- Made in Hawaii Products
Companies that use ABC Stores
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ABC Stores technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ABC Stores partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
ABC Stores competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Avolta (formerly Dufry): Avolta is the world's largest travel retail operator with stores in airports, cruise lines, and tourist destinations worldwide. Comparable to ABC's tourist-retail and souvenir/gift/snack model at scale, though Avolta is airport/cruise-port focused while ABC is resort/beach-area focused.
- WHSmith: WHSmith operates convenience and specialty retail in airports and travel hubs globally, including Hawaii and the Pacific. Overlaps with ABC in travel-convenience, gifts, snacks, and souvenirs, but with a stronger news/books/convenience tilt.
Direct peers
- 7-Eleven: 7-Eleven is the dominant convenience store chain with extended hours and high-traffic locations, directly comparable to ABC Stores' convenience-store positioning near tourist areas with snacks, beverages, and everyday items. ABC is smaller and more tourist/souvenir-specialized, but competes for the same impulse convenience purchase occasions.
- Hudson Group: Hudson operates travel convenience and specialty retail stores in airports and transportation hubs across North America. Comparable to ABC's tourist-area, high-foot-traffic, souvenir/snacks/apparel model, though Hudson's footprint is airport-centric rather than beach/resort-area.
- Paradies Lagardère: Paradies Lagardère operates specialty retail, dining, and convenience concepts in airports and tourist destinations, including Hawaii. Direct overlap with ABC's mix of souvenirs, gifts, snacks, and travel essentials sold to visitors in captive high-traffic locations.
- Maui Divers Jewelry: Maui Divers Jewelry is a Hawaii-based jewelry retailer with multiple island locations primarily in tourist areas. Directly comparable to ABC's Aloha Jewelry category and overall tourist-area retail strategy in Hawaii.
- International Shoppes: International Shoppes operates duty-free and travel retail at major US airports including Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. Directly comparable to ABC's tourist-retail, souvenir, and convenience model in the Hawaii market, though International Shoppes is airport-focused.
Others
- Hawaiian Host Group: Hawaiian Host is a major Hawaii-based chocolate and macadamia nut producer whose products are sold heavily through ABC Stores. Comparable as a Made-in-Hawaii supplier and brand partner, and a partial substitute for ABC's souvenir/snack assortment via direct and online channels.
- ABC (Associated Buying Company) / Locally focused convenience chains: Various local and regional Hawaii convenience and souvenir retailers compete with ABC Stores for tourist spend. Comparable assortment and tourist-area positioning, but smaller scale and narrower geographic footprint than ABC's 82-store Pacific network.
Regional players
- Foodland Super Market: Foodland is a Hawaii-based grocery chain serving local residents with Made-in-Hawaii products. Comparable to ABC's Island Gourmet Markets, Island Country Markets, and convenience-grocery crossover, but with a local-resident focus rather than tourist focus.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ABC Stores social profiles
Digital presenceABC Stores compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ABC Stores financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ABC Stores leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ABC Stores subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries8 records
ABC Stores funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ABC Stores M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ABC Stores
What does ABC Stores do?
ABC Stores operates a network of 82 retail stores across Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and Las Vegas selling Hawaiian-themed merchandise including souvenirs, snacks, apparel, cosmetics, jewelry, and home goods to tourists and visitors. The company also operates restaurant and market concepts (Lineage, Basalt, Dukes Lane, Island Deli, Island Gourmet Markets, Honolua General Store) and supports e-commerce sales with domestic and international shipping. Additional services include the Gold Card Rewards Program and Special Services for bulk and custom corporate/event orders.
Is ABC Stores a public or private company?
ABC Stores is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was ABC Stores founded?
ABC Stores was founded in 1964. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is ABC Stores based?
ABC Stores is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does ABC Stores make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Store Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Online Sales, restaurant Operations and special Services / Bulk Orders.
Who are ABC Stores's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Avolta (formerly Dufry) and WHSmith. Direct peers are 7-Eleven, Hudson Group, Paradies Lagardère, Maui Divers Jewelry and International Shoppes. Others are Hawaiian Host Group and ABC (Associated Buying Company) / Locally focused convenience chains. Foodland Super Market is listed as a regional player.
Does ABC Stores have an API?
No public API is recorded for ABC Stores.
What industry is ABC Stores in?
ABC Stores's product category is Tourist Convenience Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALALAA, Board Game & Puzzle Specialty Retailers, with a secondary code of CRAGAIAG, Outdoor & Sporting Goods-Focused Catalog Department Store Retailers. Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5940.