Bob's Stores is a chain of approximately 35^[1] American retail stores owned by TJX Companies, the largest off-price retailer in the world. Founded as Bob's Surplus in Middletown, Connecticut, by Bob Lapidus in 1954, the chain expanded gradually until it was acquired by TJX in 2003.^[1][2] The chain targets moderate to high-income customers with a selection of footwear, workwear, teamwear, and activewear.^[1][3] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The interior of a typical Macys department store. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Framingham is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 66,910, making it the most populous town in Massachusetts. ... Drawing of a self-service store. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on a Web server, usually accessible via the Internet or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML, that is almost always accessible... In commerce, a retailer buys goods or products in large quantities from manufacturers or importers, either directly or through a wholesaler, and then sells individual items or small quantities to the general public or end user customers, usually in a shop, also called store. ... The TJX Companies, Incorporated (NYSE: TJX) is an off-price department store chain based in Framingham, Massachusetts in the United States. ... Drawing of a self-service store. ... Nickname: Forest City Coordinates: NECTA Hartford Region Midstate Region Incorporated (town) 1651 Incorporated (city) 1784 Consolidated 1923 Government type Mayor-council Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano Area    - City 42. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

History

In 1954, Bob Lapidus opened Bob's Surplus on Main Street in Middletown, Connecticut.^[2][4] His original business strategy was to "Treat all customers with respect and dignity and they will return again and again".^[2] As Bob's Surplus increased in popularity, its location was hindering its growth; in 1962, Lapidus moved the store to a larger building across the street.^[2] In 1967, the store was forced to move again after a fire destroyed the building.^[2]

In 1975, the second Bob's Surplus was opened in Enfield, Connecticut; the third store was opened in Hamden, Connecticut, in 1981.^[2] The chain renamed itself to simply "Bob's" in 1985, and began changing its marketing strategy by emphasizing quality and adding casual activewear to its list of products.^[2][5] In 1990, the chain had expanded to five stores; that year, it was acquired by the Melville Corporation (now CVS Corporation).^[2][4] Bob's expanded rapidly under the corporation; by March 1, 1996, the chain had grown to 34 stores across the northeastern United States. During this period, Melville considered Bob's Stores a key company, stating that they were spending time to "lay a solid base for rapid expansion [for Bob's Stores] in the years ahead".^[5] Despite the growth, Bob's Stores remained most popular in its origin state of Connecticut.^[5] Enfield (CT) Shaker Village Enfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. ... Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. ... Melville Corporation, formerly based in Rye, New York, was a large retail holding corporation incorporated in 1922 as the Melville Shoe company by Ward Melville. ... CVS/pharmacy is a pharmacy and convenience store chain in the United States. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1997, Melville sold all of its chains except CVS Pharmacy; Bob's Stores was sold to the chain's management and Citicorp Venture Capital.^[2][4][6] In 1999, the upper executive level of the chain experienced numerous changes in personnel while many in the company became concerned with competition from stores like Kohl's.^[6] However, Bob's focus on sports team-related apparel was considered a strength during this period; one Bob's executive stated that the lack of a consistent national sports champion in the late 1990s hurt larger chains more than they hurt Bob's Stores, because consumers were more interested in regional teams (which the chain supplies).^[6] In 2000, Bob's Stores created its first website.^[2] A typical CVS/pharmacy CVS Corporation, NYSE: CVS is the largest pharmacy chain in the United States, based on store count. ... Look up Management in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Citibank was founded in 1812 as City Bank of New York. ... Kohls Corporation (NYSE: KSS) is a department store chain headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. ... A sport consists of a normal physical activity or skill carried out under a publicly agreed set of rules, and with a recreational purpose: for competition, for self-enjoyment, to attain excellence, for the development of skill, or some combination of these. ...

In 2003, Bob's Stores went bankrupt.^[7] In late 2003, TJX Companies outbid companies such as Dick's Sporting Goods and bought the chain for $113 million.^[7][8] TJX expressed interest in Bob's Stores because it shared similar characteristics to other TJX chains, including large stores and similar brands.^[7] Although there were also numerous differences between Bob's Stores and TJX's other chains, one expert felt that this would help diversify TJX's lineup.^[7] 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... Dicks Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) is the largest full-line sporting goods retailer in the world. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

References

The TJX Companies, Incorporated (NYSE: TJX) is an off-price department store chain based in Framingham, Massachusetts in the United States. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 24 is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• BJ's Wholesale Club
• Home Club
• Zayre

BJs Wholesale Club, Inc. ... For the former US home improvement store, see HomeBase. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

External links

• TJX Companies Official Website
• Demographics breakdown for the company website