 "Legendary Delivery" | |
| Company type | Grocer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1987 (Los Angeles, California) |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Products | Deli, frozen foods, general grocery, snacks, liquor |
| Website | pinkdot.com |
Pink Dot is a quick delivery prepared-to-order grocery store based on theSunset Strip inWest Hollywood, California. The store has appeared in several movies and television shows, includingHBO'sEntourage.[1]
Entrepreneur Bill Toro founded the chain in 1987 with the purchase of a singleliquor store. His idea to create a delivery-based operation arose from numerous complaints he observed about the traffic inLos Angeles.[2] Pink Dot is a privately owned corporation with Toro retaining 30% control.[2]
In 1996, Pink Dot was referred to as a rapidly expanding grocery delivery company in aLos Angeles Times story that noted the store guaranteed delivery within 45 minutes for a service charge of $9.99.[3] Orders were filled from five warehouses.[3] Company executives at the time predicted home delivery would become a "big part of the changing face of retail."[citation needed]
As Pink Dot prepared to expand intoOrange County, the company phased out its signature polka-dotted, propeller-toppedVolkswagen Beetle delivery cars after market tests showed that Orange County residents wanted their purchases delivered in more low-profile vehicles.[4]
Pink Dot partnered with order takers such as the now-defunctKozmo.com, which went defunct in the bursting of thedot-com bubble, as a way to expand the product line into items such asCompact Discs andpharmaceuticals.[5]
In 2008, Pink Dot announced a partnership withFord Motor Company and began using theFord Transit Connect, a delivery system that Pink Dot president Sol Yamini described as "room service for your home."[1]
In 2019, Pink Dot partnered withPostmates to extend its offerings to app users.[6]