Larry’s Discount Store
Merchant
1949-1959; 1962-1990
West Evans Street
Florence, SC
FAMILIES: Arazie
Larry’s Discount Store was founded in 1949 by Leon “Larry” Arazie (1916-1991), one of seven children born to Syrian immigrants, Samuel (1886-1956) and Rachel Arazie (1891-1997). Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Larry moved to Columbia, South Carolina with his sibling to build their business empire in 1937. With his siblings, Larry established Empire Linen Shop in 1938 and a children’s store called Tiny Tots Togs in 1940. In 1949, Larry and his wife Merle Mayfield Arazie (1917-1990) moved to Florence where Larry founded a discount store at 159 West Evans Street. There he sold housewares, linens, shoes, and accessories and bought gold, silver, and coins. After ten years in business, he closed his store only to reopen it three years later at 150 West Evans Street. In the mid-1980s he moved once more to 147 West Evans Street before retiring in February 1990. He passed six months later.
Main Image: 1980 advertisement for Larry’s Discount Store. Reprinted from the Florence Morning News, December 7, 1980.
Above Image: Newspaper clipping announcing Larry’s going out of business sale in 1959. Reprinted from the Florence Morning News, December 6, 1959.
Above Image: Newspaper clipping announcing the reopening of Larry’s Discount Store. Reprinted from the Florence Morning News, August 23, 1962.
Above Image: Newspaper clipping announcing Larry’s final going out of business sale. Reprinted from the Florence Morning News, November 11, 1989.