1962 was probably the most important year in history for the American retail industry. Within a four month interval, four of the nation's most important discount chains began business.

The first Kmart opened -in Garden City, Michigan- March 1. On May 1, Target's first location came inline in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Roseville, Minnesota. The Woolco chain opened their first store -in the southern environs of Columbus, Ohio- June 6. Lastly, Wal-Mart Discount City started up -in Rogers, Arkansas- on July 2.