Edward G. Nalbandian (December 29, 1927,
Belmont, Massachusetts
Belmont is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a western suburb of Boston and is part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, its population was 27,295, an increase of 10.4% from 2010.
H ...
– February 22, 2006, Los Angeles) was the owner of Zachary All Clothing in Los Angeles, a store he opened in the 1950s at 8700 W.
Pico Boulevard[ in the Pico-Robertson District, then moved to 5467 ]Wilshire Boulevard
Wilshire Boulevard ( wɪɫ.ʃɚ is a prominent boulevard in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, extending from Ocean Avenue (Santa Monica), Ocean Avenue in the city of Santa Monica, California, Santa Monica east to Grand Avenue (Lo ...
(just west of La Brea Avenue) in the Miracle Mile shopping district.
Career
In the 1950s and 1960s, Nalbandian became a minor celebrity, making frequent appearances in (often live-streamed) commercials for his store and even on talk shows such as ''The Tom Duggan Show''. In most of these commercials, he would repeat variations on statements such as "Come on down to 5-4-6-7 Wilshire Boulevard" and that the suits at his store came in "cadet, extra short, regular, long, extra long and portlies".
In one commercial, Nalbandian said of his low prices, "My friends all ask me, 'Eddie, are you kidding?' And I tell them no, my friend, I am not kidding." This inspired the Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...
song ''Eddie, Are You Kidding?'' from the album ''Just Another Band from L.A.
''Just Another Band from L.A.'' is a live album by The Mothers, released in 1972. It was recorded live on August 7, 1971, in Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles. A notable inclusion on this album is "Billy the Mountain", Frank Z ...
'' (1972), as well as Mark Volman
Mark Randall Volman (born April 19, 1947) is an American vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the 1960s rock band The Turtles, and, along with his bandmate and friend Howard Kaylan, a member of the 1970s rock ...
's monologue to the audience in the track ''Once Upon a Time'' from the album '' You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1'' (1988).
The store's concept was that the salesmen were in fact first are foremost professional tailors, and of everyday low prices.[
In later years Nalbandian's son took over the store's operation.]Walgreens
Walgreens is an American pharmacy store chain. It is the second largest in the United States, behind CVS Pharmacy. As of March 2025, the company operated more than 8,700 stores in the U.S.
Walgreens has been the subject of a number of lawsuit ...
drug store.
Personal life
Nalbandian was of Armenian-American descent from Boston area.[
]
References
External links
''Los Angeles Times'' obituaryForest Lawn, Hollywood, Cemetery Grave
*Link to interview with Nalbandian
1927 births
2006 deaths
Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California
American people of Armenian descent
{{History of Retail in Southern California