Pay 'n Pak began in 1962 and was founded by Stan Thurman, an electric and plumbing supply retailer from Longview, Washington.

In 1969, Pay 'n Pak merged with Eagle Electric & Plumbing, a company run by Thurman protégé David Heerensperger.

[1] Shortly thereafter, Stan Thurman was voted out and Heerensperger became the chairman of the company until 1989 when he left to form Eagle Hardware & Garden.

At the time of a hostile corporate raid attempt in 1987, Pay 'n Pak had 112 stores in the Western United States.

Pay 'n Pak was also a sponsor of an unlimited hydroplane racing team from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and won the points championship from 1973-1975.