POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that I do hereby  constitute and appoint
Steven S. Fishman,  Frank A. Washburn,  and George R. Mihalko,  and each of them
individually,  as my true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  with full
power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for me and in my name,  place,  and
stead in my capacity as a director of Pamida  Holdings  Corporation  to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Pamida  Holdings  Corporation  for the fiscal year
ended  February  2, 1997,  and to file such  Annual  Report,  with all  exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission,  granting unto such  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them individually and their  substitutes,  full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done in and
about the premises in connection with such Annual Report as fully to all intents
and purposes as I might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying and confirming
all that  such  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  or any of them,  or their or his
substitutes or substitute, lawfully may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have executed this Power of Attorney this 23rd day
of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ L. David Callaway, III
                                        L. David Callaway, III


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that I do hereby  constitute and appoint
Steven S. Fishman,  Frank A. Washburn,  and George R. Mihalko,  and each of them
individually,  as my true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  with full
power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for me and in my name,  place,  and
stead in my capacity as a director of Pamida  Holdings  Corporation  to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Pamida  Holdings  Corporation  for the fiscal year
ended  February  2, 1997,  and to file such  Annual  Report,  with all  exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission,  granting unto such  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them individually and their  substitutes,  full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done in and
about the premises in connection with such Annual Report as fully to all intents
and purposes as I might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying and confirming
all that  such  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  or any of them,  or their or his
substitutes or substitute, lawfully may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have executed this Power of Attorney this 24th day
of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Stuyvesant P. Comfort
                                        Stuyvesant P. Comfort


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that I do hereby  constitute and appoint
Steven S. Fishman,  Frank A. Washburn,  and George R. Mihalko,  and each of them
individually,  as my true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  with full
power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for me and in my name,  place,  and
stead in my capacity as a director of Pamida  Holdings  Corporation  to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Pamida  Holdings  Corporation  for the fiscal year
ended  February  2, 1997,  and to file such  Annual  Report,  with all  exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission,  granting unto such  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them individually and their  substitutes,  full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done in and
about the premises in connection with such Annual Report as fully to all intents
and purposes as I might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying and confirming
all that  such  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  or any of them,  or their or his
substitutes or substitute, lawfully may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have executed this Power of Attorney this 11th day
of April, 1997.


                                        /s/ M. Saleem Muqaddam
                                        M. Saleem Muqaddam


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that I do hereby  constitute and appoint
Steven S. Fishman,  Frank A. Washburn,  and George R. Mihalko,  and each of them
individually,  as my true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents,  with full
power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for me and in my name,  place,  and
stead in my capacity as a director of Pamida  Holdings  Corporation  to sign the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Pamida  Holdings  Corporation  for the fiscal year
ended  February  2, 1997,  and to file such  Annual  Report,  with all  exhibits
thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission,  granting unto such  attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each
of them individually and their  substitutes,  full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done in and
about the premises in connection with such Annual Report as fully to all intents
and purposes as I might or could do in person,  hereby  ratifying and confirming
all that  such  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  or any of them,  or their or his
substitutes or substitute, lawfully may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have executed this Power of Attorney this 21st day
of March, 1997.


                                        /s/ Peter J. Sodine
                                        Peter J. Sodini