Ames was a chain of discount stores based out of Rocky Hill, Connecticut in the United States. The chain went bankrupt in 2002, and all stores were closed that year. ... The Town of Southbridge is a city[1] in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Rocky Hill is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States with a population of 17,966 as of the 2000 census. ... A discount store is a retail store offering a wide range of products, many branded, at discounted prices. ... Rocky Hill is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States with a population of 17,966 as of the 2000 census. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

History

Beginnings

Ames began in 1958 when two Connecticut brothers, Milton and Irving Gilman, opened their first store in the Ames Worsted Textile Co. mill in Southbridge, Massachusetts. At its height, Ames was the nation's sixth-largest discount retailer with annual net sales of $2.2 billion, operating 452 stores in 19 states, including the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and the District of Columbia. Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Largest metro area Hartford Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,543[2] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km)  - % water 12. ... The Town of Southbridge is a city[1] in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... The U.S. Southern states or The South, known during the American Civil War era as Dixie, is a distinctive region of the United States with its own unique historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... ...

Ames's original business strategy brought discounting to the smaller towns and rural areas of the Northeast. The company's success in serving a largely rural customer base in smaller, less-competitive markets resulted in consistently strong financial performance and steady growth combining acquisitions and an aggressive store-building program through the late 1980s. Northeast is the ordinal direction halfway between north and east. ... Sign in a rural area in Dalarna, Sweden Qichun, a rural town in Hubei province, China An artists rendering of an aerial view of the Maryland countryside: Jane Frank (Jane Schenthal Frank, 1918-1986), Aerial Series: Ploughed Fields, Maryland, 1974, acrylic and mixed materials on apertured double canvas, 52... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Purchase of Zayre and First Bankruptcy

The older red logo on the vacant Ames store in Seabrook, New Hampshire in 2005. This location is also a former King's store.

In 1988, Ames doubled its store base for the second time in three years by acquiring the 392-store Zayre discount chain. Saddled with increased debt and hampered by the additional cost of converting those stores to Ames stores, the company suffered a significant reduction in profitability in late 1989 and early 1990. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Seabrook is a town located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 7,934. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...

In April 1990, Ames filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. One of the causes of the bankruptcy appeared to be Ames's policy of extending consumer credit to almost anyone who asked without checking their credit rating in an attempt to increase their market share. This often resulted in their giving credit cards to customers who were already in debt to them, and they tended to attract high risk borrowers who tended to default on their debt payments. During their bankruptcy, Ames closed 370 stores. This article or section needs additional references or sources to improve its verifiability. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code which governs the process of reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. ... Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code governs the process of reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. ... Credit as a financial term, used in such terms as credit card, refers to the granting of a loan and the creation of debt. ... A credit rating assesses the credit worthiness of an individual, corporation, or even a country. ... Market share, in strategic management and marketing, is the percentage or proportion of the total available market or market segment that is being serviced by a company. ... A credit card system is a type of retail transaction settlement and credit system, named after the small plastic card issued to users of the system. ... For other uses, see Debt (disambiguation). ...

Emergence from Bankruptcy and Acquision of Hills

After successfully emerging from bankruptcy on December 30, 1992, the company returned to profitability in 1993 and improved its operating performance. Net income increased to $17.3 million for 1996 (fiscal year ended January 25, 1997), compared with a net loss of $1.6 million for fiscal 1995. Income before other charges and gains for the fiscal 1996 year was $33.3 million, compared with $6.9 million in the prior fiscal year, a $26.4 million improvement. During the 1990s, Ames was also known for moving into many former discount stores, such as taking over old Bradlees, Caldor, Montgomery Ward, Venture, and Jamesway store locations. Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, put into administration - see text) in the UK. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organizations to pay their... is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Montgomery Ward (later known as Wards) was an American department store chain, founded as the worlds first mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward. ... Venture can refer to; Venture - a Canadian business television show on the CBC network. ... Jamesway was a chain of discount department stores that was founded in Jamestown, New York, in 1961. ...

Ames, which bought Hills Department Stores of Massachusetts in 1998, became the nation's fourth-largest discount retail chain behind Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target. Its stores, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest, employed about 22,000 people. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Target Stores is a division of Target Corporation. ... Northeast is the ordinal direction halfway between north and east. ... The Midwest is a common name for a region of the United States of America. ...

Expansion into Chicago

In 2000, Ames moved into Chicago by acquiring all but one of the seven Goldblatt's department stores. 1 Other locations included former Venture and Builders Square stores, making for a total of 11 stores. The company hoped to target the low-income and ethnic consumer, using techniques that were proven successful. "The stores are generally on the South Side of Chicago, which has a low income base," a Ladenburg Thalmann analyst Beder said. 2 Before the opening day, a television marketing campaign showed cheery Ames employees working while singing "My Kind of Town," a song that strongly referred to Chicago. Billboards read, “Our Kind of Town, Your Kind of Discount Store”. On September 21, 2000, Ames opened eight of its Chicago stores and opened the others shortly thereafter. A few months later, Ames opened a few additional stores. 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... Goldblatts was a chain of local Chicago discount stores that is now defunct. ... Venture can refer to; Venture - a Canadian business television show on the CBC network. ... Builders Square was founded as a big-box home improvement retailer headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Second bankruptcy

In March 1999, Ames closed 8 stores. In November 2000, Ames closed 32 stores, with 31 of them being the newly acquired Hills Department Stores. In August 2001, Ames closed another 47 stores. The company also filed for bankruptcy protection on August 20, 2001. In November 2001, Ames closed 16 more stores and a distribution center. In December 2001, Ames closed 54 additional stores, leaving the chain with only 333 stores. Ames closed another 6 stores in June 2002. March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code which governs the process of reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. ... is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Look up November in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... A distribution center for a set of products is a warehouse or other specialized building with refrigeration or air conditioning which is stocked with products to be re-distributed to retailers or wholesalers. ... Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

On August 14, 2002, Ames executives announced it would close all 327 stores in the chain and wind down business. "Continued softness in sales, combined with tightening terms and slower shipments from our suppliers, have reduced our funds availability below critical levels," Ames chairman and CEO Joseph R. Ettore said about Ames' decision to go out of business. Analysts generally believe that debt related to the acquisition of Hills Department Stores caused the bankruptcy. is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, put into administration - see text) in the UK. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organizations to pay their...

Locations

New York

Blasdell was a hills now is vacant Position within Erie County. ... For the landform that extends above the surrounding terrain and that is smaller than a mountain, see the article on mountain. ...

Brockport now a wal mart Brockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 8,103. ... Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ...

Carmel now a Hannaford Carmel may refer to: // Barri del Carmel, district in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Carmel, Indiana, city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States Carmel, New York, town located in Putnam County, New York, USA Carmel, Western Australia, suburb of Perth, Western Australia Carmel Hamlet, New York, hamlet located in... Hannaford may refer to more than one thing. ...

Catskill was a Jamesway now is a wal mart Catskill can refer to either: The Catskill Mountains in New York State The Village of Catskill, New York The Town of Catskill, New York This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Jamesway was a chain of discount department stores that was founded in Jamestown, New York, in 1961. ...

Hudson was a kings now is a pebbles Hudson refers to: Persons named Hudson Brett Hudson (1953–), American musician, singer, and songwriter, one of the Hudson Brothers Ernie Hudson, (1945–), American actor and playwright Garth Hudson (1937–), Canadian musician George Hudson (1800–1871), English railway financier George Hudson (1867–1946), English entomologist Karl Hudson-Phillips (1933–), Trinidadian lawyer... Look up kings in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Pebbles may refer to: Pebble, a small rock Perri Reid (b. ...

Latham was a Bradlees now is a Bon Ton The following people with the surname Latham have articles in Wikipedia: John Latham (1740 - 1837) - English physician, naturalist and author. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. ...

Palatine Bridge was a Bradlees now vacant Palatine Bridge is a village in Montgomery County, New York, United States. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Schenectady was a Caldor now is a price rite and best fitness Schenectady is a city located in Schenectady County, New York, of which it is the county seat. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Lockport lockport mall was a hills now is vacant Lockport is the name of several places In Canada: Town of Lockport, Manitoba. ...

See also

• Bradlees
• Caldor

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

External links

• A Fan Club Dedicated To Ames
• An Ames overview with link to pictures