Michael I. Monus - Early Years

Early Years

Monus was born into a prominent family on the north side of Youngstown, Ohio. His father, Nathan Monus (now retired), was a prominent businessman and the estranged younger brother of Mike and Al B. Monus (both deceased). Mickey's mother, Frances Tamarkin Monus, was a housewife. Mickey attended the Rayen School and University School, a boys preparatory school in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Monus returned to Youngstown, where he worked for a family business. His return coincided with the collapse of the community's core steel industry, and Monus became intrigued with the possibility of launching a retail enterprise whose operations stretched beyond the borders of his hometown. With business partner David Shapira, Monus launched a "deep discount" drugstore, whose strategy of aggressive buying provided customers with tremendous savings, if fewer selections.