Si L. Bercutt; Builders Emporium Founder

Si L. Bercutt, who opened the first Builders Emporium store 45 years ago in Van Nuys, has died at an Encino hospital. He was 84.

A longtime North Hollywood resident, Bercutt died Wednesday of complications of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, said his wife, Ruth Bercutt.

Born in Russia, Bercutt and his family escaped to Romania during the Russian Revolution. He came to the United States as a teen-ager and lived in Tulsa, Okla. In 1934, his family moved to California, where he and his sister owned a food market in Los Angeles. He later owned a food market in Paso Robles, returning to the Los Angeles area in 1946.

Seeking relief from the long hours of the grocery trade, Bercutt opened Builders Emporium on Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys in August, 1946.

The motto of the store, a forerunner of the modern do-it-yourself hardware store, was “Everything to build anything.” It was named by his wife who got the idea from shopping at The Emporium department store in San Francisco.

In the early 1950s, Bercutt sold the store, yet continued to attended ribbon-cutting ceremonies for many new stores at the invitation of the new owners. Builders Emporium is now a division of the Wickes Corp., with 108 stores in four states.

After selling the store, Bercutt went into the property management business. He was active in the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, American Red Magen David for Israel and was a member of the Lions Club.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years; son, Richard Leigh Bercutt of Fairfield, Iowa; a daughter, Sharon Lynn Bercutt of Sherman Oaks; a brother, Maurice Bercutt of Los Angeles; and a granddaughter, Leigh Anna Burchman of San Francisco.

A funeral is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Hillside Memorial Park, 6001 W. Centinela Ave., in Culver City.

Hillside Mortuary is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be made in Bercutt’s name to any organization benefiting causes in Israel.