Barker's Discount Department Stores

As one of the first hard goods discounters, and with creative promotions, the initial store, in Orange, Connecticut, grew quickly with a wide variety of products for the home arranged in a supermarket style.

Barker's invested heavily in imports which they purchased directly from manufacturers, which played a major role in their discounting plans.

They had departments featuring furniture, electrical, hardware, clothing, health and beauty aids, records, books, TV's, camera's, automotive, camping, bicycles, garden, etc.

As one of the first hard goods discounters and with creative price and entertainment promotions, Barker's grew quickly from its $20,000 initial investment.

Paul Panagrosso was one of the founding employees who was instrumental in designing and setting up the initial store that would then grow into a multimillion-dollar regional empire.

Only the stores in Louisiana, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands retained the Barker's name.

KDT Industries, under a reorganization plan, would finally close all Louisiana Barker's stores on October 24, 1982.