Business · Stock markets · published 2026-10-10 · via 24/7 Wall St.

Two Fired Handy Dan Executives Went On to Build Home Depot and Billion-Dollar Fortunes

Handy Dan dismissed Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank in 1978, along with a third executive, Ron Brill. Marcus and Blank later co-founded Home Depot with Ken Langone and Pat Farrah after raising about $2 million from investors. Home Depot grew into a massive retailer, while Handy Dan closed in 1989 and Marcus and Blank each accumulated fortunes exceeding $10 billion.

Expanded Detail

On April 14, 1978, Handy Dan dismissed CEO Bernie Marcus, 48, finance vice president Arthur Blank, 35, and Ron Brill. The chain was part of Daylin, which brought in turnaround executive Sanford Sigoloff and filed Chapter 11 in 1975; Handy Dan was excluded from that filing. Accounts of the firings differ, citing power struggles, control disputes, or Sigoloff’s resentment.

Marcus and Blank then started over in Atlanta with Ken Langone and Pat Farrah. Their first two stores opened in Doraville and Decatur, Georgia, on June 22, 1979, each over 60,000 square feet. That year ended with three stores, 200 employees, $7 million in sales, and a loss. Home Depot went public in September 1981 at $12 a share.

Count words: First para: On(1) April2 14,3 1978,4 Handy5 Dan6 dismissed7 CEO8 Bernie9 Marcus,10 48,11 finance12 vice13 president14 Arthur15 Blank,16 35,17 and18 Ron19 Brill.20 The21 chain22 was23 part24 of25 Daylin,26 which27 brought28 in29 turnaround30 executive31 Sanford32 Sigoloff33 and34 filed35 Chapter36 11 37 in38 1975;39 Handy40 Dan41 was42 excluded43 from44 that45 filing.46 Accounts47 of48 the49 firings50 differ,51 citing52 power53 struggles,54 control55 disputes,56 or57 Sigoloff’s58 resentment.59

Second: Marcus60 and61 Blank62 then63 started64 over65 in66 Atlanta67 with68 Ken69 Langone70 and71 Pat72 Farrah.73 Their74 first75 two76 stores77 opened78 in79 Doraville80 and81 Decatur,82 Georgia,83 on84 June85 22,86 1979,87 each88 over89 60,00090 square91 feet.92 That93 year94

Context

Home Depot’s scale could affect hundreds of thousands of workers, homeowners, contractors, and investors through employment, store access, and housing-related demand. The founders’ later philanthropy may also shape civic and cultural institutions. Handy Dan’s disappearance may illustrate how corporate restructuring can disrupt local retail jobs, while the larger societal impact may come from the durable company built after the firings. Count: Home1 Depot’s2 scale3 could4 affect5 hundreds6 of7 thousands8 of9 workers,10 homeowners,11 contractors,12 and13 investors14 through15 employment,16 store17 access,18 and19 housing-related20 demand.21 The22 founders’23 later24 philanthropy25 may26 also27 shape28 civic29 and30 cultural31 institutions.32 Handy33 Dan’s34 disappearance35 may36 illustrate37 how38 corporate39 restructuring40 can41 disrupt42 local43 retail44 jobs,45 while46 the47 larger48 societal49 impact50 may51 come52 from53 the54 durable55 company56 built57 after58 the59 firings.60 U

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.

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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “In 1978, A California Home Improvement Chain Called Handy Dan Fired Two Of Its Senior Leaders. Nearly Five Decades Later, Those Two Men Each Built A Fortune Of Over $10 Billion, And Handy Dan Has Been Out Of Business Since 1989.” Browse more stories.