The Ames Fan Club

We'll start with Ames first, since that is the subject of the site!!!

Welcome back AFC!!!!:)

i welcom Ames back With this somthing i saved from before:)

o and this

And hears my Ames/Kings soon to be hannafored:mad::flaming::mad::flaming::mad::flaming::mad::flaming::mad::flaming::mad::flaming::mad::flaming::mad::flaming::mad::flaming::mad::flaming:lol i love these new faces

lol try and take it easy one the faces. That is a nice Ames, but why is it distorted??

Now, come on guys...save the faces for other people..heh

hears a Ames picture from 1988 u can tell its from that year because on the movie listing belowe the ames sign

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears a Ames picture from 1988 u can tell its from that year because on the movie listing belowe the ames sign

Nice pic !!!

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears a Ames picture from 1988 u can tell its from that year because on the movie listing belowe the ames sign

Nice pic !!!

thank u :) i wish i knew were this ames store is:huh::info::question:

How many other companies did Ames buy out (HIlls, Bradless, etc) before, they too, went out of business.  How many Ames stores were they at the companies high point?

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by HoJofan206
How many other companies did Ames buy out (HIlls, Bradless, etc) before, they too, went out of business.  How many Ames stores were they at the companies high point?

Well Ames did NOT buy Bradlees

they bought:
*Zayre
*Hills
*Big N
thats all I know from this Website

they bought some of Bradlees locations when bradlees closed some stores in 1996 they also bought some Caldor locations too

QuoteOriginally posted by HoJofan206
How many other companies did Ames buy out (HIlls, Bradless, etc) before, they too, went out of business.  How many Ames stores were they at the companies high point?

they bought some of Bradlees locations when bradlees closed some stores in 1996 they also bought some Caldor locations too

Ames also acquired King's Department stores in the mid 80's.

hears the new ames hope u guys like it

QuoteOriginally posted by HoJofan206
How many other companies did Ames buy out (HIlls, Bradless, etc) before, they too, went out of business.  How many Ames stores were they at the companies high point?

in early 1990 after the 1988 Zayre buyout Ames had over 800 stores until the ch11 fileing

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears the new ames hope u guys like it

WOW COOL!:holysh:

DON'T FORGET THEIR SLOGAN!

"Bargains By The Bagful"

WE SHALL NEVER FORGET YOU AMES!

1958-2003:(

its 1958-2002 they were not around in 2003

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears a Ames picture from 1988 u can tell its from that year because on the movie listing belowe the ames sign

HEY WHATS "BASICS?"

(its the second sign down)

they seem to have an intersting logo

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears a Ames picture from 1988 u can tell its from that year because on the movie listing belowe the ames sign

HEY WHATS "BASICS?"

(its the second sign down)

they seem to have an intersting logo

ui guess it was or is a movie theater? or maby a store like Marshles or tj maxx

hears me posiong infron of Ames DEC 5th 2004

AMES bilbored

Nice!!!

QuoteOriginally posted by C. Fontaine
Nice!!!

thansk i dident know they did bill bordes:bounce:

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
AMES bilbored

COOL:D:cool: are there anymore billboards tht Ames did?

and did Caldor or Bradlees have billboards?

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
AMES bilbored

COOL:D:cool: are there anymore billboards tht Ames did?

and did Caldor or Bradlees have billboards?

i saw a Caldor Bilbored when i went to Sherwood Island witch was a Beach in CT there was a huge bulding that had it on there it was still there as of 2002 lol i think it might have been the head quaters:bounce:

How about a new concept for Ames..... !!:yup::yup:

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
How about a new concept for Ames..... !!:yup::yup:

nice pic ii would just change the logo well youre idea but i like it i have an idea to do that with a Caldor:bounce:

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
How about a new concept for Ames..... !!:yup::yup:

WOW COOL DID YOU DRAW THAT ZAYRE88?:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o

Yeah, i'm quite good :yup:

QuoteOriginally posted by Anonymous
Ames Supercenter!:insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane:

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by Anonymous
Ames Supercenter!:insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane::insane:

Can you PLEASE identitify who you are for the intelligent record?

can you PLEASE give the REASON for posting such mondane stuff!?:duh:

argh this Anonymous poster, that is if there is only one person here posting anonymously is really getting annoying!



LOL:insane::insane::insane::insane:

Look's who talking!  You & Caldor99 are the biggest morons I have ever seen with your constant smilies, way too many posts, & constant bashings.  You 2 idiots need to act more mature.  Then again, you're both teenagers who've probably never went to Ames or Caldor or Bradlees or any other defunct retail stores.

BTW, this is a different Anonymous poster.

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB
ANONYMOUS WANTS US TO STAY ON TOPIC SO IF ITS IN AMES IT MUST BE RELATED TO AMES!


okay how about this?

"AMES BARGAINS BY THE BAGFUL!"

related enough to Ames now, anonymous? :insane:

lol i think my picture of Ames sed it all LOL

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB
anonymous is going to hate this but....


heres my idea for Ames's new logo (if it was still around) in 2005

or as I like to call it AMES IN 2005!:yup::bigsmile:

lol for get him lol mean while that the BEST ames logo ive seen someone make yup them selfs:yup:

Originally posted by Anonymous
 

QuoteThen again, you're both teenagers who've probably never went to Ames or Caldor or Bradlees or any other defunct retail stores.

Hey!! I'm 13 years old, soon to be 14 and I HAVE been to Ames many many times and I remember them very well. The only reason why I've never been to Caldor or Bradless is because there were none in my Area!!

QuoteOriginally posted by 76&AmesfanmanBBTB
heres my idea for Ames's new logo (if it was still around) in 2005

or as I like to call it AMES IN 2005!:yup::bigsmile:

Here's my previous idea for a new Ames logo.  A mix of the usual logo with a "new Sears logo" touch ;)

Ok people..Let's all forget about this!! I don't want to see another topic turn to crap with all this bashing!! Just stop!!

PS- Zayre88 that's a sweet logo:roll:

yea your right mena while nice pic Zayer88 it looks kinda like the Sears logo there useing now:yup:

The Ames in East Greenbush NY, a current (this week) shot.

A closer up of the logo section:

QuoteOriginally posted by gshowman18
look just stop bouthing me ok so i dont spell good whatever and my post are not dumb mean while this place is a Ames topic not a bashing mebers topics if u wanna say something say something about Ames on hear if u wanna say something to me feel free to send a message to me k jus dont bash me k

People, you are all blowing this out of proportion.  I was not bashing.  I was just telling caldor99 how it is.  Also, I am sorry to both fontaine & jag.  Jag, I did not call you out.  I only called out that 76 guy & caldor99.  I'm sorry.  It's just that teenagers need to know how to post a proper message. [/quote]



lol first off its Caldor1999 lol and i dont see what im doing rong i know i post alot but its juat because i have alot to post and Info to shair and i know my spellings bad to and im gussing thats what u mean i nevre go over bord with the smileys so TELL ME what am i doing rong and i wasent warned or anything i know i did that thing about bashing u thats because i was mad at u for what u sed to me and i want an apolgy from u thats it im sorry for making a bashing post 4 u and all i want back from u is a sorry k and i still dont get what i have been doing rong:question:

The picture of that Ames with the pirate looking dude, is a former Hills location!

The Ames in Middletown was a former Hills location as well lol

QuoteOriginally posted by 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB
A painting by Christopher Bordenca called "Ames Is No Longer With Us" its nice to see someone also cares about Ames

BTW anyone know where this was painted?

It's the Ames in Franklin MA at the Horace Mann Plaza

http://www.amesfanclub.com/imageserver/massachusetts/franklin/franklin.htm

QuoteOriginally posted by 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB
An Ames in Middletown

that ames caught on fire recenlty

Another Ames sign and doors. Cinnaminson, NJ
(http://www.tomasher.net/retail/us130s-ames-clover2.jpg)

Ames in Cinnaminson, NJ. It is a former Clover as well.

American Ames!

here is my former ames in chicago on ashland ave:rolleyes:

QuoteOriginally posted by Amesdepartmentstores
here is my former ames in chicago on ashland ave:rolleyes:

What does that sign say? Swar? Its blurred.

QuoteOriginally posted by Amesdepartmentstores
here is my former ames in chicago on ashland ave:rolleyes:

It looks like a former Zayre that became an Ames.  The front top is like the one on that picture.

QuoteOriginally posted by 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy

QuoteOriginally posted by Amesdepartmentstores
here is my former ames in chicago on ashland ave:rolleyes:

What does that sign say? Swar? Its blurred.

problably says Swap O Rama LOL

The two Ames I know are now a Burlington Coat Factory that currently having there going out of business sale and a Big Lots.

Wait!!!!!!!    Burlington Coat Factory  is mclosing for good????????????????????????????????????

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
Wait!!!!!!!    Burlington Coat Factory  is mclosing for good????????????????????????????????????

No no no! Its just this one location. Not all of them.

QuoteOriginally posted by 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB
heres another logo idea for Ames reversing capitals with lowercase letters

Its really sad that this chain is gone.

I miss it.

In fact it feels Ames should still be in business!

NOT OUT OF IT!

What about this one? :insane:

Here's my idea of a modern Ames logo :roll:

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Here's my idea of a modern Ames logo :roll:

Atmes.:insane:

I once had this Ames toothbrush, but I can't find it anywhere. I bought it at Ames at sometime and used it until it got worn out and I remember I wanted to keep in because it said Ames on the handle, but I can't find it anywhere. It might be in my closet. I know its somewhere in my house.

HERE IS THE URL OF THE AMES IN GROVETON NH. IT IS SAID TO BE 44,000 square feet. it is out in the middle of nowhwere and still vacant

http://granitehighways.com/image.php?subject=lancaster_ames_20030628&zoom=yes

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
HERE IS THE URL OF THE AMES IN GROVETON NH. IT IS SAID TO BE 44,000 square feet. it is out in the middle of nowhwere and still vacant

http://granitehighways.com/image.php?subject=lancaster_ames_20030628&zoom=yes

thats a cool looking Ames and yes it is in the middle of no were to bad i cant save it dang copyright laws lol

Here is a picture I took today of the closed Burlington Coat Factory in Warminster which formerly was and Ames which was formerly a Caldor.

new ames

QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
new ames

80's. :insane:

Some Ames.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH this picture is sooooo funny :insane:

QuoteOriginally posted by 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH this picture is sooooo funny :insane:

Yeah that what was so great about Ames their humor was clever and casual but the company was serious about running their business and commitment to their customers.

Basically they were causual yet smart until they sadly made decisions that ended in putting them out of business.:(

yea heh  i do like that picture heh and ii do wish they were still around the 3rd anavrisrie is comming up of there GOB sales:(

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH this picture is sooooo funny :insane:

I changed it.

Bob's Discount night view transformed back to what the original Ames night view looked like.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Bob's Discount night view transformed back to what the original Ames night view looked like.

col pic zayre:cool::) can u try one with a caldor if u can heh

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
Bob's Discount night view transformed back to what the original Ames night view looked like.

col pic zayre:cool::) can u try one with a caldor if u can heh

Yesterday I went to Plattsburgh Ny and saw 2 vacant Ames on the same road. I heard they both operated until they closed!! I have a pictuer of these two Ames. I heard one was a Zayre and the other was Hills. The Zayre, said to be 75,000 square feet, now Ames was where the arrow that points site, and the HIll's now Ames was in the mall that is shown on the very left.

There was an Ames in the skyway plaza a couple miles away near downtown that closed in 1990. It had a few glass windows, so it must have been a king's before.

Why they kept the two Ames after the hill's acquision beats me.

I have a pic of the Plattsburgh Hills/Ames at Champlain Centre North mall. I'll post it later when I get it resized...hehe

Here's the pic of the former Hills/Ames at Champlain Centre North, in Plattsburgh, NY.

QuoteOriginally posted by amesman
Here's the pic of the former Hills/Ames at Champlain Centre North, in Plattsburgh, NY.

I saw it yesterday, but I did not see the outline of the lettering of Hills.

I hope you have more Ames pictures that you can post.

Here's another pic of the Plattsburgh, NY Champlan Centre Ames.

And, here's one more, and the last of the pictures I have for this location.

A former Hills? It reminds me of a Caldor because many Caldors had the doors on the side.

Yes, this was a former Hills location. Became Ames in 98, and closed in 2002 of course. Didn't last long as an Ames.

Ames closing. :(

tryu calling your fomer ames i did but i got nothing:(:(:( damn u hannaford!!!!!!! lol

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Ames closing. :(

that AMes was in saco maine. it was torn down and rebuilt into a larger and more modern Shaw's (it relocated from another and older part of the plaza)

I saw the outline of the lettering of Ames in East Greenbush NY. I saw that the one in Chicopee is Ocean state job lots. the one in plymouth nh (in my town) is becoming marshalls.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Ames closing. :(

that AMes was in saco maine. it was torn down and rebuilt into a larger and more modern Shaw's (it relocated from another and older part of the plaza)

I saw the outline of the lettering of Ames in East Greenbush NY. I saw that the one in Chicopee is Ocean state job lots. the one in plymouth nh (in my town) is becoming marshalls.

I'm guessing its a former Zayre. It looks like it.

hears my drawing of a new ames logo i still kida keeped the orgale look but with a lil something diffrent


i also made a Zayer logo to heh

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears my drawing of a new ames logo i still kida keeped the orgale look but with a lil something diffrent

i also made a Zayer logo to heh

It would be better if it was spelled right: ZAYRE and in the Zayre thread ;)

QuoteOriginally posted by niggakramer
Learn to spell "Zayre", moron.

We don't insult here at the Ames Forum. Just tell Cal about his typo without insulting him.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears my drawing of a new ames logo i still kida keeped the orgale look but with a lil something diffrent

i also made a Zayer logo to heh

It would be better if it was spelled right: ZAYRE and in the Zayre thread ;)

lol i get the r and the e mixed up lol sorry about that guys i remake it

QuoteOriginally posted by niggakramer
Learn to spell "Zayre", moron.

Hey, watch the insults! If you keep making those type of remarks, you won't be here long. Sorry, but that's our rules.

QuoteOriginally posted by niggakramer
Learn to spell "Zayre", moron.

o i dident nodice this post lol i guess i have better things to do with my time then look at a dumb post like that

and your gonna get in torble if u post more stuff like that

Hello Everyone! This is my first log in and offical posting so please bear with me... Anyways, I have recently traveled up the North Woods area of New Hampsire and discovered to untouched and 1980's style Ames. One was in Lancaster, NH on Route 2 near the Vermont/Canada Border. The other store was located off route 3 in Conway, NH. The Conway store I was able to catch serval photos of, the other store I was out of film, and ironically because Ames closed there was not another department store for 45 miles near Lancaster. The Lancaster store however was very 80's and deffinitely was not updated since the mid-late 1980's. It had red shopping carts on the side of the building in the weeds matching the red decor of the Ames inside and out. I am assuming the red carts were old Ames carts. I may be going up to the North Woods again soon, if so I will deffinitely get some awsome pictures for everyone. The Lancaster store is a gold mine of "Hayday" vintage Ames artifacts. This Ames obviously will be there probably for some time, because theres no competition in the area to take over the customers or property. This was probably one of Ames most profitable locations because Sprawl-Mart didn't compete with it. Anyways, as I figure out how to upload pics I will put those pictures on the blog. :)

Here is that North Conway Ames, 1 0ut of 3.

Here is 2 0f 3.

3 0f 3.

Thats all the pictures I have of the North Conway store. I'll keep everyone posted when I get the pictures of the Lancaster store. :)

wow nice pictures that ames looks to be keeped up to date

Nice pics!!! but they are too large

I passed by that Ames back in 2003 but i was not quick enough to take pictures of it.  I do remember how the "Northway" lettering looked like.  Exactly like the one at the Northway Mall in Albany featured at Deadmalls.

I love bahaus-type lettering on signs. It's sooo 70's. You guys are lucky you still have your former Ames. Mine (which was built in 1966 and was once a Hills) was demolished about a month ago. Long live the Clarence Mall Ames!! (RIP 1966-2005)

Oh, they demolished it? Was that the one on Transit Road? I wanted pictures of that when I was there in 2003...but we didn't have time..

Also, the Northway Mall sign in Albany is still there. The Lechmere logo was taken out of the sign though..

Yep, that was the one.:(

Hey Everyone! I just thought of something about Ames that you may not be aware of. If there is anyone who is a member to our club/forum from the Dutchess County area of New York's Hudson Valley you may know what I am about to talk about. On Route 52 in Fishkill next to  (the now closed)Grand Union plaza there was a Ames Shopping Center, with a Carvel Ice Cream Shop, Sears Repair Center, and tons of other little shops that are now closed. Carvel and the Sears are still at the location. The store closed around 1995. I am not positive on the date becuase I was pritty young, I can't remember as well as other stores, but im sure it was no later that 1995. The store was a one of a kind Ames museum. As a kid, I had some of the best memories of family gatherings and my coolest toys there. This Ames was the only store I ever saw that had a tire shop at that time, or as China*Mart calls it, a TLE (Tire, Loob and Exspress). I believe Ames actually owned the TLE. After the store closed, it sat empty until 3 months later a China*Mart Supercenter was built just down the road. This Ames store was one of 15 or so, stores that were overlapping other (stores that were performing well). These 15 stores were underperformers. I think, that the Fishkill store, was the best Ames store out of the entire New York division. I still can remember the last time I was in the store and every memory in detail. I can vividly remember the unique Ames signs "We are not going out of Business, This location is closing 4 out of 15". The main reason why they closed this store, was because they new China*Mart was moving next door. The store sat unlit, but in tack and untouched with the surrounding residential areas forced to look at a closed ghost store of a very alive Ames Corperation at that time. I believe the store opened in the early 1970's before the Dutchess Mall even opened. It was remodeled in the late 1980's. You could even look inside through the windows until the last few months before its destruction, then the windows were boarded up. Then just recently in 2004 well after the corperation closed, developers remodeled the property and subdivided the stores and the old Ames TLE. The only two original store fronts (even though extiriorly remodeled) that have survived the enemy of time is good old Sears and Carvel. I believe I have many family photos at my friends house when I was a child, who lived two houses down from Ames. I must have a photo open of the store somewhere. If I have one I will find it! I miss the days of going to that old Ames, once it left then it was like dominos, there goes Jamesway, Caldor, Service Merchandise, Mays, Bradlees, Wards, etc... Gone Out of Business... Long live AMES! Bargains by the Bag-Full!

I hope i'll find bargans by the bagfull. :) I am going to go through the thousands of my old pictures to try to see if I can find a pic of the old fishkill store. The picture above is NOT the store but a look-alike that looks alot similar to it. I found the picture on Yahoo, public pictures by typing in Ames. Well, the search continues... and hopefully I can dig up some more artifacts for all of us to share and enjoy. Be well my friends! :bounce:

QuoteOriginally posted by amesman
Oh, they demolished it? Was that the one on Transit Road? I wanted pictures of that when I was there in 2003...but we didn't have time..

Also, the Northway Mall sign in Albany is still there. The Lechmere logo was taken out of the sign though..

the northway mall is still there. I was in albany 3 weeks ago and the bj's is still on the sign and petco is too.

The Northway Mall is still there, but it is not a mall anymore. It is now a big box center with Target, etc. The old Lechmere, BJ's, Staples, Davids Bridal, and Cinemas are all thats left of the original mall. The rest is all new contruction.

Is lechmere still vacant? That store's been closed since like 1996.  Heck, the whole chain's been gone for about 8 years!

yep, thre Lechmere is still vacant. I have pics of it in the Lechmere thread. The only difference is, that now, the logos are gone..

QuoteOriginally posted by amesman
yep, thre Lechmere is still vacant. I have pics of it in the Lechmere thread. The only difference is, that now, the logos are gone..

I saw the lechmere vacant. the lettering was gone and the labelscar only showed and grass was shown grown in the parking lot.

back to the Ames topic, The ames in northway plaza in conway is still vacant. I wonder what it will become.

This Ames was in Ticordongoa New york, closed in one of the closigns in the 2nd bankrupocy, was 32,000 square feet. and a wal-mart superstore was across. Some ames next to the wal-mart (queensbuery new york, Brunswick maine) made it. Those ones were bigger. Ames that small (in the 300000s) of square feet were too small to carry crafts. The ones in Tilton NH and Walpole NH were that Size and so was champlain new york, The ames is the building on the west in the black.

this is some random ames

hey i went to see my loco ames in carmel NY its still there hannaford has nnot torn it down yet i took some great pics

hears a insode shot

the insdie is beeing gutted

theyhad rest rooms too

hears the old auto center used by ames

inside the auto bay

the back wasd kida messed up i had no luck of seeing a recving sign though

and one finaly goodby pic

(http://www.weisproject.com/images/store19_01.jpg)

Former Ames store in Millersburg, PA, obviously taken when the store was still open.

From www.weisproject.com

QuoteOriginally posted by amesman
Here's another pic of the Plattsburgh, NY Champlan Centre Ames.

The plattsburgh newspaper said this store is to be torn down to rebuilt into a 126,000 retail space. Speculation is that it will be Target, but it has not been confirmed. I WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF THIS BECOMES TARGET.

The 80,000 square foot Ames (TAHT WAS ONCE HILLS AND THE ONLY HILLS IN NEW ENGLAND) in Lanesboro mass, just outside Pittsfield, in the berkshire mall is being rebuilt into a 126,000 square foot Target that will open in March 2006.

this Ames is in Northwood OHio. It was probably a Hills at one point.


Tom Shine of http://www.kimcorealty.com/propsearch/aerial.asp?PropertyID=0729&Choice=Map&state=OH&scheck=leasing&sk=LEASING&OInterestID=1

Heres something about the grand opening of an Ames store.

(http://www.storeykenworthy.com/userdocs/news/Newsletter_10.2003.jpg)
http://www.storeykenworthy.com/asp/news_details.asp?newsid=251

Liberty, NY.

(http://www.sc-democrat.com/archives/2002/news/08August/16/ames.jpg)
http://www.sc-democrat.com/archives/2002/news/08August/16/ames.html

Look at this! They did a test for firefighters on what to do during building collapse on this former Ames! > The Article. (http://federalvoice.dscc.dla.mil/federalvoice/040421/demolition.html)

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Look at this! They did a test for firefighters on what to do during building collapse on this former Ames! > The Article. (http://federalvoice.dscc.dla.mil/federalvoice/040421/demolition.html)

lol thats horrble to use a old store like that for a fire test:mad:

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Look at this! They did a test for firefighters on what to do during building collapse on this former Ames! > The Article. (http://federalvoice.dscc.dla.mil/federalvoice/040421/demolition.html)

lol thats horrble to use a old store like that for a fire test:mad:

Well yeah, but on the other hand we want trained firemen.

Just a quick note. The Ames building on Silver Spring Street was demolished and a Wal Mart is being built there. Also, just a correction. The Ames in South Attleboro Mass is where Burlington Coat Factory is now not the T J Maxx. The Ames was a former Zayre and during the 80's there was a riot there for Cabbage Patch Kids.
Also in 1984 an Ames was opened on Newport Ave in East Providence RI, it closed around 1989-1990 was vacant for a number of years and is now split amongst an A J Wright, a Chinese food restaurant and a Hancock Fabrics. This was an original Ames and not a conversion. I used to buy my Nintendo games there as well as Transformers.

My fake Ames Ad.

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Stroudsburg, Pa.


http://www.cbprre.com/smikels/Projects.htm

that ames must have been a fomer jamesway

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999

that ames must have been a fomer jamesway

Yeah, it was. I've never been to it in person, but you can just look at the building and think Jamesway.

well its over my ames is on its way to become hannaford sad to say this store currtley is home to seagules as seen in this picture o btw i recmoned not to feel them anything cause they wont levae u alone after that

there was soem work going on inside teh auto center

Block Island, RI.

(http://www.blockislandtimes.com/News/2002/1005/Front_Page/003p1_lg.jpg)
http://www.blockislandtimes.com/News/2002/1005/Front_Page/003.html

this Marshalls was the Ames in Plymouth New Hampshire.
The marshalls leased 28,000 square feet of the Ames space. Teh ames was Giant Department store, that opened in 1971, and replaced Giant in 1973.

this Ames was in Tilton nh. it was 32,000 square feet and opened in 1981.

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Block Island, RI.

(http://www.blockislandtimes.com/News/2002/1005/Front_Page/003p1_lg.jpg)
http://www.blockislandtimes.com/News/2002/1005/Front_Page/003.html

but this one is in Naragansett. the store is a mega marshalls.

Heres a picture of my former Ames in Lansdale PA.. Its now a Big Lots that opened in 2004. The Ames opened in the early 70's. It was red inside. It had the old Ames logo too. I miss that old store. It even had a Roy Rogers out in the parking lot. (Not pictured.)

(http://www.trefoilinc.com/images/hillcrest2.jpg)
http://www.trefoilinc.com/hillcrest.html

QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321
(http://www.weisproject.com/images/store19_01.jpg)

Former Ames store in Millersburg, PA, obviously taken when the store was still open.

From www.weisproject.com

That was most likely a Clover before.

Last November the Potsdam, NY location was turned into this Hacketts.

(http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper280/stills/v7544808.jpg)
Inside.
(http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper280/stills/7d7pv588.gif)
http://media.www.clarksonintegrator.com/media/paper280/news/2003/11/17/CampusNews/Hacketts.Opens.In.Potsdam.Brings.Shopping.Back.To.Town-559244.shtml?sourcedomain=www.clarksonintegrator.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com

Heres a pic of it when it was Ames.

(http://www.clarkson.edu/projects/nsfreu/tomlinss/potsdam/ames.jpg)
http://www.clarkson.edu/projects/nsfreu/tomlinss/potsdam/shopping.htm

This is a very nice picture of the Ames in Lancaster, NH. in 2003.

(http://shawsheen.com/images/lancaster_ames_20030628_small.jpg)
http://shawsheen.com/image.php?subject=lancaster_ames_20030628

Wheres this one?

(http://www.springhillrealtyinc.com/images/twpames081902.jpg)
http://www.springhillrealtyinc.com/

Pittsburg, PA.

(http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos/PH_2002-08-15_bams-a.jpg)
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/p_20013.html

Does anyone know where this one is too?

(http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos/PH_2002-08-15_pams-a.jpg)
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/p_20033.html

?, Virginia.

(http://www.truehearttreasures.com/graphics/ames3.jpg)
http://www.truehearttreasures.com/

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
This is a very nice picture of the Ames in Lancaster, NH. in 2003.

(http://shawsheen.com/images/lancaster_ames_20030628_small.jpg)
http://shawsheen.com/image.php?subject=lancaster_ames_20030628

this Ames was actually in groveton (a part of northumberland that is the town north of Lancaster) new hampshire. it opened in 1971 and was 44,000 square feet. it is still vacant. it is out in the middle of no where.

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Rocky Hill, Ct.

(http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos/PH_2002-08-15_bams-a.jpg)
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/p_20013.html

this Ames is not in rocky hill connecticut. the store is in pittsburg pennsylvania. the article said it is in teh waterworks mall. It seems that that store was a hill's.

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Does anyone know where this one is too?

(http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos/PH_2002-08-15_pams-a.jpg)
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/p_20033.html

the article said it is in North Huntingdon Township. it seems that store was once a hills.

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Wheres this one?

(http://www.springhillrealtyinc.com/images/twpames081902.jpg)
http://www.springhillrealtyinc.com/

This Ames is in Ticonderoga, NY as well.  These are all in the store locator!:)

hears my ames as of dec its not on teh way to become hannaford:no:

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears my ames as of dec its not on teh way to become hannaford:no:

Are they taking it down anytime soon?

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears my ames as of dec its not on teh way to become hannaford:no:

Are they taking it down anytime soon?

in dec 2004 hanaford bought this locations and they havent done much work on it untill now it was a really nice ames to it was a kings before that it also was one of the few to have auto centers in it it also had a clock on the bulding too a d a cafe and  rest rooms

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Last November the Potsdam, NY location was turned into this Hacketts.

http://media.www.clarksonintegrator.com/media/paper280/news/2003/11/17/CampusNews/Hacketts.Opens.In.Potsdam.Brings.Shopping.Back.To.Town-559244.shtml?sourcedomain=www.clarksonintegrator.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com

Funny thing - when you go to the store's website (http://www.hackettsonline.com/locations.html) it shows only 3 locations - Ogdensburg, Massena and Canton - and not the one in Potsdam) - wonder what happened?

QuoteOriginally posted by gomer
I CAN'T TELL IF THAT THING PUSHING THE CART IS A MAN OR  A WOMAN, MIGHT BE A HERMIE>

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Rocky Hill, Ct.

(http://www.pittsburghlive.com/photos/PH_2002-08-15_bams-a.jpg)
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/p_20013.html

this Ames is not in rocky hill connecticut. the store is in pittsburg pennsylvania. the article said it is in teh waterworks mall. It seems that that store was a hill's.

Thats a woman I'm pretty sure.

Seabrook, NH.

Bangor ME., a former Woolco.

(http://www.geocities.com/zayre88/ames-bangor2.jpg)
http://www.geocities.com/zayre88/P_woolco.html

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
Bangor ME., a former Woolco.

(http://www.geocities.com/zayre88/ames-bangor2.jpg)
http://www.geocities.com/zayre88/P_woolco.html

Jeez,

      A formerr Woolco....another store in the 'Mall of the Sky'.

Ellenstown, Ny.

From Ames message board member, theoldames.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
this Ames was in Tilton nh. it was 32,000 square feet and opened in 1981.

The same one as an Ames. What was that closed down supermarket originally? Just a wild guess but a Grand Union?

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
this Ames was in Tilton nh. it was 32,000 square feet and opened in 1981.

The same one as an Ames. What was that closed down supermarket originally? Just a wild guess but a Grand Union?

its A&P

Ames store from 1998:

1st ames store:
Edit: I've been told this is actually the  Portland St store in St Johnsbury VT

Article to match

Title: THE WAY IT WAS ,  By: Stankevich, Debby Garbato, Discount Merchandiser, 00123579, Mar1998, Vol. 38, Issue 3
Database: MasterFILE Premier

Ames 40th Anniversary 1958-1998
THE WAY IT WAS


Contents
1-800-AMES
COUNTING THE BEANS
LET THEM DO IT
What's Changed: Retail sales by channel, 1960
Some Things Don't Change (Much)

As Ames celebrates its 40th anniversary, former chairman and founder Milton Gilman talks about how Ames evolved and why it survived the overstored 1990s.

Milton Gilman can tick off the names of 1960s Northeastern discount chains and their executives with the speed and accuracy of a play-by-play sports announcer. But like some of the greatest names in sports, the majority of these retailers played their last game more than just a few seasons ago.

Rocky Hill, CT-based Ames Department Stores is one of the few that continues to come to bat.

Gilman, the chain's former chairman/chief executive officer and the only surviving founder of the 40-year-old discount chain, believes the Northeastern retailer's prosperity stems from a lot more than the luck of an entrepreneurial family that scraped together its pennies to open a store in rural Southbridge, MA. Rather, he says Ames' survival stems from hard work and more than a little intuition.

"We were hungry enough to be successful," says Gilman, a former fabric wholesaler who, at 79, still actively follows Ames' stock performance when not attending opera or computer classes. "Hard work was the number one thing. It was a 24-hour-a-day job, and common sense was an awful lot of it. Today, they have machinery and it's not the same thing. We didn't have SKUs. for example. So if we brought in ladies' skirts, we'd bring in a few dozen at a time and re-order as they sold."

The idea behind opening a discount store in the bare bones space that once housed the Ames Worsted Textile Factory was to take the low margin concept that retailers like Kings had made successful in urban areas and bring it to rural America. After mortgaging their family's farm, the Gilmans opened their doors for the first time on March 13, 1958.

"A lot of people have gone down the tubes since then, but 1958 was the infancy of self-serve stores," notes Gilman, who retired from Ames in 1981. "While Kings, Zayre and Arlans were already in business, we wanted to see if we could bring something to small communities that was needed, which was a self-service store with limited mark-ups.

"Back then, markups at chain stores like Sears, JCPenney and Montgomery Ward were about 35, and department stores like Macy's, Gimbels and Saks were a little higher," he adds. "You did have variety stores such as Kresge, Woolworth and Neisner. There were loads of them. But their merchandise only went up to a particular point. Then, the discounter came in and went for a 20 to 30 percent markup, making available to the customer whatever merchandise he could at much less."
1-800-AMES

The area in which Gilman and his two brothers, Irving and Herb, worked hardest--and a factor which Milton Gilman believes significantly differentiated Ames from some other discounters of the day--was the level of communication that developed between the corporate office and stores. This was arduous task in an age where airline deregulation, advanced computer technology and fax machines were further off than the lunar landing.

"We had 800 lines and managers telephoned into the main office twice a day," says Gilman. "Every afternoon at four or five they had to call and give me a register reading, which I would compare with the one from the year before. The next morning, they had to give me finals from the day before.

"At the same time the manager called this in, he would tell what merchandise was needed," he adds. "This all told me what was happening and allowed us to micromarket. We did this without computers. This is one of the reasons for our success that you didn't get in some of the guys that went out of business. I still have the records that were phoned up to me." As the chain grew, field managers would handle many store calls.

The image Gilman paints of his early store managers was also somewhat avant-garde for the day. While store managers were paid a bit higher than their peers at other chains, the Gilmans' hands-on involvement with every store eliminated the problem of stores operating in a vacuum, with managers being "untouchable" people who could not always be relied on to record and relay accurate information. This was sometimes a problem in the 1960s and 1970s.

"We tried to recruit people or steal them," says Gilman. "We had to pay a little more, but we had to get them. We never allowed untouchable managers. We had a great guy who ran operations and was very demanding. But if a person got into trouble, he'd be the first one there. A lot of retailers didn't treat people right. They didn't realize they weren't doing this. It wasn't anything we deliberately did--that was just us.

"We also established a warmth in our stores, which you can do in a small area," he adds. "My mother and father were with us in our first store. We were open Saturday night and everyone came in like it was a town meeting. This permeated through our first 25 stores."

Working on a tight budget, Gilman says he would spend whole days driving from store to store. Since Ames' focus was on rural areas which had never been served by a large retail operation, he would log hundreds of miles a day.

"I would travel at night, after the stores closed," he adds. "It wasn't unusual for me to drive up to Buffalo at four, five in the morning, get there at 11 or 12, work a few hours and drive back."
COUNTING THE BEANS

For the Gilmans, frugality may have been the mother of invention. In addition to driving countless miles, they cut corners wherever possible, expanding the chain slowly and keeping a cash reserve.

"Most successful discounters ran tight ships," says Gilman. "The ones that have gone down were loosely managed and not watching their pennies. They were trying to get too big, too soon. They weren't conservative enough. This hurt us badly. Vendors would be careful because some of these companies had hurt them."

All of Ames' early stores, for example, were set up in empty factory buildings, using inexpensive fixtures and tables. To keep the customers' interest, merchandise would constantly be rotated. In a rural community, a consumer would come to the store two or three times a week, says Gilman.

Avoiding debt was a major tenet through Milton Gilman's tenure. But when Ames acquired Zayre shortly thereafter, he believes this philosophy went straight to hell in a hand bucket.

"We pinched every penny, growing steadily but very slowly," says Gilman. "We never allowed ourselves to get into debt. Arlens got into serious trouble, Kings got into trouble. Zayre was fortunate to sell down to Ames and send Ames out the tubes, but that was after I was gone. They were losing $200 million a year and Ames paid $800 million. My brother Herb did not want that, but the board overrode it. We had $100 million in cash when I left.

While the Zayre deal may have been Ames' biggest blunder, the retailer did successfully avoid the mistake that some other Northeastern regional chains did not: It never lost sight of who its customer was, namely, the lower/middle income shopper. This customer, notes Gilman, was nowhere near as gullible as some thought in the 1950s and 1960s when it came to quality, pricing and value.

"I think the consumer was always smart about what they were buying," says Gilman. "I never went for the feeling that the consumer was a dope. A lot of guys went down the drain. But I thought the consumer was smarter than I was."
LET THEM DO IT

Like many discounters of the day--including the defunct Times Square Stores and Modell's Shoppers World--Ames' early philosophy was to lease many departments to outside companies specializing in particular product areas.

Today, this practice is frowned upon in most cases because it is too costly and does not give the host retailer full departmental control. But in the 1960s, it was viewed as a frugal and smart way for a burgeoning discounter to offer a full array of product categories.

"We went through distributors whenever we could," says Gilman. "We needed a lot of help, especially since distributors would come in and do inventory counts. We were paying a very small penalty for using these people, since we didn't have to hire our own people to do the counting. It's different today, since everything in inventory goes on computer."

In the 1960s, buying, in many cases, was also done by outsiders. While the Gilmans did attend some trade shows and later put together a formal, in-house buying group, it was cheaper to use a representative buying office when seeking product in other geographic markets.

"Later on, we depended on buyers, merchandise men and assistant buyers and it became a different world," says Gilman. "But then, we would have the buying office find what we wanted and pay them a fee."

Wal-Mart, which began operation in 1962, also had a strong following among lower/middle income consumers. But while many of its philosophies were similar to those of Ames, Gilman believes Sam Walton's access to more capital allowed the retailer to expand at a much faster rate.

"Sam had spent a few days with us to see what we were doing," says Gilman. "There was very little difference between his stores and ours in the early 1960s. Their stores were really junk houses when they started, offering the cheapest merchandise. I remember being in one in St. Louis and thinking he better do something to clean up those stores. But he had money to build his own stores and own his own real estate, which we didn't."

Gilman also looks closely at Joe Ettore, Ames' current chairman. Gilman believes that Ettore, a 36-year veteran of regional discount retailing, played a major role in restoring Ames to its financial splendor two years ago. A big part of Ettore's success came from sticking to the Gilmans' original concept.

"I've never met Joe, but I think he's a mixture of the old and the new," says Gilman. "I have a lot of respect for him, because he took that company that was floundering very badly and has been showing a nice picture in the last two years.

"I'm glad to see them successful," he adds. "I think Joe set out to run it the way we used to. He is conservative but has a lot of common sense. He's given the customer what they wanted at a good value and he has a good team around him. No one person can do it alone."

Gilman is also enthusiastic about some of the non-discount type retailers that have become major players in the last 10 to 15 years. "Inventories have become much broader," he says. "The inventories Home Depot carries are phenomenal. I just try to count the dollars in that store. Wal-Mart is great too. And I like Target, especially the way they show the goods, and the cleanliness of those goods. Then, you have your specialty stores like Sports Authority."

Most of the successful chains Gilman ticks off, however, did not achieve their growth in the overstored 1980s and 1990s by inviting the whole town to hang out in the aisles on Saturday night. But while Gilman concedes that the past two decades have become ferociously competitive, he still believes there is room for smart entrepreneurs.

"What we did in 1958 is still possible," he says. "If you go back in history, every 25 to 30 years there's been somebody that's come up with something different in retail. I'm glad I don't have to do it anymore. But there are a lot of stores I go into that excite me. I wish I was 25 or 30 years younger."

QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321
1st ames store:

Wow!  That is one of the St. Johnsbury locations I just posted!!!

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
this Ames was in Tilton nh. it was 32,000 square feet and opened in 1981.

The same one as an Ames. What was that closed down supermarket originally? Just a wild guess but a Grand Union?

IT was a&P fods. this ames was too small to carry crafts.

QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321
1st ames store:

I was at that location before along time ago like in the early 90s.

I went to Augusta maine 3 days ago and saw the Ames still vacant.

New Ames logo.

this ames was in waterville as of January 4, 2006. It is said part will become dollar tree.

QuoteOriginally posted by storehistoryguy
New Ames logo.

this ames was in East greenbush. I saw it vacant last summer and it had no lettering.

this ames was in laurel maryland and was 81,550 squrae feet and is now a roomstore and opened 1972

from http://www.kimcorealty.com/propsearch/aerial.asp?PropertyID=0214&Choice=Map&state=MD&scheck=leasing&sk=LEASING&OInterestID=1

Anyone have the scoop on the Ames in Fort Plain, NY?? Drove over that way, and saw the Large Ames sign near the road still Present, this store was tucked away from view, so I was unable to tell if it was still there.

here is the Ames in Richmond hwy alexandria virginia that was a zayre. there were 2 in alexandria. it waas like 80000 sf.

from Gale Curcio of www.alexandriagazette.com/ article.asp?archive...

here is the former Ames in ithaca new york in the pyramid mall

from http://www.pyramidmg.com/portfolio/pyramid_mall.asp

yet still nothing new at my ames since i was last there

ames is in toledo and was hill's.

from http://www.storetrax.com/stx/showProperty.do

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames is in toledo and was hill's.

from http://www.storetrax.com/stx/showProperty.do

I'm pretty sure this store used to be a Woolco too.

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames is in toledo and was hill's.

from http://www.storetrax.com/stx/showProperty.do

I'm pretty sure this store used to be a Woolco too.

ya it probabaly was a woolco from the looks of it. it said it was 103,000 square efet and built 1968.

this ames is in gallien ohio

from http://www.nrdc.com/nrdc/default.aspx?page=Projects&tab=Photos&id=328&photoindex=2

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
this ames is in gallien ohio

from http://www.nrdc.com/nrdc/default.aspx?page=Projects&tab=Photos&id=328&photoindex=2

Looks to be roral their.

here is what may happen to former ames in augusta.

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/2371645.shtml
 

Friday, January 27, 2006

New tenants coming for Turnpike?


By GARY REMAL
Staff Writer

Copyright ? 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
   E-mail this story to a friend
 
AUGUSTA -- Turnpike Mall is poised to lure two major retailers to the former Ames department store building.

Peter Carbone -- managing partner of Taurus New England Investments LLC, the Boston investment company that owns the Western Avenue shopping center -- said he hopes to make an announcement on the tenants in coming weeks, and to have the stores open for holiday shopping later this year.

He refused to identify the stores now, saying that would jeopardize final negotiations.

"We have been meeting with city officials for a rather large tenant to come in and occupy the former Ames space," Carbone said Thursday. "It's a large, regional retailer everybody will be familiar with. They would actually be splitting the store in two with another retailer that owns them, and completely redoing the space."

Carbone anticipates the popular, large stores would encourage other, smaller retailers to fill in the mall's few vacancies.

Once full, he said, the size of the shopping center would not increase, but a restaurant could be built within the parking area.

Carbone said the 460,000-square-foot Augusta Crossing, planned just across Interstate 95 from Turnpike Mall, may have helped persuade the new retailers to take a look at Augusta.

"I'd say that has something to do with it, because there's evidence that Augusta is underutilized by retailers and there's enough demand coming from in and around the city of Augusta that more retailers can come in," he said. "Retail likes retail. It's no secret retailers like to have others around them, then they try to outperform each other."

Augusta Crossing -- with Lowe's and Target as anchors -- is scheduled to open in fall 2007.

Augusta Code Enforcement Director Richard Dolby confirmed that he has had meetings with Taurus officials. He, too, declined to name the stores.

"They were looking at whether to refurbish that building -- or to take it down to the slab and cut holes in it for new piping then building new," Dolby said. "But I don't think the footprint (of the building) would change."

The new tenants Carbone hopes to sign were attracted to the chance to move in quickly to an existing shopping center and taking advantage of established traffic patterns, he said.

He said 50 to 60 percent of his firm's business ventures are within the metropolitan Boston area. But he said Taurus recently completed a large development deal in Vermont and the firm is looking more at investments in northern New England now.

"We've been keeping an eye on Augusta and places like Bangor and other places in Maine," Carbone said. "I think we all look very favorably on doing business in Maine whenever there's an opportunity."

Turnpike Mall currently offers major retailers Sears, TJ Maxx, Petco, Sam Goody and Olympia Sports.

; a host of smaller shops including Maine Made & More, Cardsmart and GameDay; and a number of specialty kiosks.

Gary Remal -- 623-3811, Ext. 518

gremal@centralmaine.com

i went to teh carmel ames again they took down the paper that was covering the windows and  the auto center dore was unlocked so was teh fortn EN  so i would have been able to get in but i didnet wanan set off anything teh fron en had chains on them but there was no lock and it weas easy to take off

there are the dores

hears anouter h pic

anoutehr fround pic again

the back has gotten all messy now

i hd no luck finding a recving sign

hears teh auto center with the windows poped out

hears anoutehr pic

hears anouther ames update im gussing hannaford is not moveing in after all

the auto center was still lit up though

Norfolk, VA (Now an apartment building)

OK - Here are three shots of the East Greenbush (Rensselaer) Ames plaza, taken 2/27/06.  
The first shows the Ames and you can see the curtains that were put up by CSC, who is now using the building as offices/storage.

The other 2 show the rest of the plaza, inculding the 3rd one which was the former ShopRite

Here are a couple shots showing the former Ames (previously Caldor) in the Crosstown Plaza on Route 7 in Schenectady.  One half has been turned into Best Fitness, the other half will open (Sunday) as Price Rite (A Shop Rite owned Aldi-style store which is currently at the opposite end of the plaza in a former Price Chopper - apprently this new space is larger).

Here's a picture of the former Latham Ames (previously Bradlees, now Bon Ton).

QuoteOriginally posted by BillyGr
Here are a couple shots showing the former Ames (previously Caldor) in the Crosstown Plaza on Route 7 in Schenectady.  One half has been turned into Best Fitness, the other half will open (Sunday) as Price Rite (A Shop Rite owned Aldi-style store which is currently at the opposite end of the plaza in a former Price Chopper - apprently this new space is larger).

thats the look my caldor had mines the white on the wall

The top shot shows the Hudson (Greenport) Ames auto center - it is located on the end of the building.  As noted previously while Ames was here it was leased out and operated (hence the newer looking signs) - it looks like someone is working in there, maybe to open it again?

The second shot shows the Ames itself (no, the building doesn't bend - I just had to do several shots to get the whole thing in as you can't get far back anymore since they built a new CVS out by the road).  The left hand portion (including the auto center) is currently vacant (and is fairly large, mostly hidden behiond blank wall).  The middle part is the Yankee $1 store (this is the original entrance, and the doors they use are not original, but in the same spot as one of the doors {Ames had separate entrance & exit sets - those are about where the exit (left) ones were.  The right part is Peebles, and has been completely redone (with the stone columns and front - as Ames the entire roof looked like the left part does, except brown (See photo in the store locator).

The third group is the Catskill store, formerly a Jamesway showing the sign (for now) and what's left of the builiding (which is being torn down, along with the rest of the plaza, to make a Super Walmart).

here is the ames in university mall in south burlington and it was a zayre that was 82,500 sf

from www.topics-mag.com/.../ where-to-buy.htm

here is the old ames in the dead lockport mall. ames was hills. the mall I hear is dead!1


from James Neiss of http://www.niagara-gazette.com/business/images_sizedimage_082163206/resources_photoview

QuoteOriginally posted by Anonymous
here is the old ames in the dead lockport mall. ames was hills. the mall I hear is dead!1


from James Neiss of http://www.niagara-gazette.com/business/images_sizedimage_082163206/resources_photoview

I POSTED THIS ABOVE. at times I gotta remember to put my username and password.

hears teh ames in pawling ny

hhears the carmel ames again with all the cars in the parking lot u would think that this store was still open

hears a cool pic of it

Thirsty?:insane:

here is the former ames in troy ny. It is awful looking.

former ames in schenectady ny. it was a caldor and the ames opened summer 2000. wow it did not last long.

here is the former ames in latham ny. it was bradlees before.

here is the former ames in glenmont ny. it is under construction as of march 21, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the former ames in glenmont ny. it is under construction as of march 21, 2006.

glenmont store with construction aroudn it. what is going on?

former ames in oneonta ny.

here is the former ames in norwich ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the former ames in norwich ny

or was this the former ames in norwich ny

former ames in new hartford. it was a zayre once!!! an d 68,000 sf and opened 1980.

former ames on oneida ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames on oneida ny

more former ames in oneida ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames on oneida ny

more former ames in oneida ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames on oneida ny

more former ames in oneida ny

oneida  ny

foremr ames in rome that closed a long time ago

former ames in liverpool ny was it here

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames in liverpool ny was it here

or is the ames here?

here is the former ames in syracuse! in the carousel mall. it was a hill's.

ames in shop city shopping center on teale road. was it here?

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames in shop city shopping center on teale road. was it here?

the ames above this picture, this picture and the one below where in syracuse in shop city shopping center on teale road. was it here?

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames in shop city shopping center on teale road. was it here?

the ames above this picture, this picture and the one below where in syracuse in shop city shopping center on teale road. was it here?

this is in shop city shoppign center in syracuse. was it here?

here is the former ames in syracuse ny in fairmount shopping center. it was a zayre that opened in 1989.

here is a former ames in cortland ny. it closed in 1990 or 1991. it was a zayre!!!!! and has been vacant for 15 yeras now. it is off 81 in riverside plaza.

here is the former ames in cortland ny on 278. there was 2 ames in cortland at one time.

here is the ames in dewitt ny that was a hills.

Ok, Time out. Where are you getting your information from?? Are you assuming things?? This P&C was Formerly a Tops, which was built from the ground up a few years years ago. THIS WAS NEVER AN AMES!! If I remember, Ames would have been farther up the road, on the opposite side. Or it may have been up near where I am living, but I can assure you that Ames was never where you said it was.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
foremr ames in rome that closed a long time ago

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is a former ames in cortland ny. it closed in 1990 or 1991. it was a zayre!!!!! and has been vacant for 15 yeras now. it is off 81 in riverside plaza.

dosent look liek it clsoed 15 years agot u can stil see teh labe scar maby it clsoed in 1993 or maby it clsoed in 1999 or 2000 or 2001 maby

Nice locations Dan!  I'll verify these and get them up!

Amenia - TSC seems to Ames in NY.  This one has become Tractor Supply and Family Dollar.

Catskill - Previously reported by BillyGR, demolished and now awaiting Super Wal-Mart.  Small plaza built in rear.

Highland - Previosly sent in as well.  Mid-Section still intact, though to the left there is now TSC and right, a dollar store.

Hudson - Another popularly reported one thanks to Amesman and BillyGR.  Snagged receiving sign part of an Ames cart.  Also photographed an old car wash on the side of the building, anyone know if it was part of Ames at one time?

Hyde Park - Another previously reported one.  Now looks to be a major local hangout of kids, judging by major vandalism and burnout marks, and a large group when we arrived.  Rear is also a mess, big dumping ground with no receiving sign, probably already stolen.

Kingston - previously sent in, property in very nice condition.  Had a side entrance, was able to get the receiving sign from this one too.

Liberty - Another victim of TSC and dollar stores.  Small remnant of Ames entrance with some empty Ames space to the far right.  Receiving sign scar still on rear wall.

Monticello - After doing some asking around, Cassie and I determined this is the former site of Ames.  Building muct have been demolished or renovated, because there is no more sign of Ames here.

Napanoch - Mucho exploring here.  Previously reported by Scott there is a flea market operating inside, which has generally the entire store opened up.  Had access to employee area with lockers, bathrooms, and small kitchenette.  Found an A+ pin in a wall, and a cache of A+ employee program cards.

New Paltz - Not much here.  Becoming a Super Stop & Shop.  Ames sign still on plaza's road sign.

Great Barrington, MA - A rare find, uncharted Ames territory!  After going in back and grabbing the receiving sign, we were informed the building was owned by and used as storage for BigY.  Cassie and I asked the manager there if we could take a look around with my camera.  He semmed interested, but we were told to come back later in the week so he could OK it with BigY corporate first.  Although we did get permission to photograph andything and everything else we wanted to outside of the doors!

I'll have these and everyone elses locations up very shortly!

here is the FORMER AMES (THAT WAS A ZAYRE) IN MADAWASKA MAINE!!!!!!!!! IT closed in 1996 when they closed all the aroostook county stores (plus skowhegan); due to less canadians crossing the border; in march 1996. It was a zayre that opened 1972 and was probably 44,000 sq.ft. IT probably had the red lettering notice how it looks like the ones in saco and south portland. it was in this plaza near neighborhoods and downtown madawaska.

QuoteOriginally posted by powersbt
Ok, Time out. Where are you getting your information from?? Are you assuming things?? This P&C was Formerly a Tops, which was built from the ground up a few years years ago. THIS WAS NEVER AN AMES!! If I remember, Ames would have been farther up the road, on the opposite side. Or it may have been up near where I am living, but I can assure you that Ames was never where you said it was.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
foremr ames in rome that closed a long time ago

I thought something said that the Ames / zayre was in the freedom plaza.

the ames in orono maine that was 53,000 sq.ft.

here is the sign of the ames in cicero in the pen cann mall.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the sign of the ames in cicero in the pen cann mall.

ames in cicero in pen cann mall. it was a hill's. it seems to be nothing as of may 25, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the sign of the ames in cicero in the pen cann mall.

ames in cicero in pen cann mall. it was a hill's. it seems to be nothing as of may 25, 2006.

cicero ny

here is the former ames in oswego ny that is now  half tractor supply

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the former ames in oswego ny that is now  half tractor supply

sign for oswego

here is what was the ames in Rumford maine. I have pictures of this stoer when I wbent to its closing in 2002, but i have to digitize it and the lettering of the ames was red and the inside had hte old zayre checkouts. amazing this one was a zayre because it was in the same kind of location ames would be, it was a smaller town and rural. again this ames in rumford was a zayre and it was 44,000 sq.ft. and opened 1973.

rumford store

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what was the ames in Rumford maine. I have pictures of this stoer when I wbent to its closing in 2002, but i have to digitize it and the lettering of the ames was red and the inside had hte old zayre checkouts. amazing this one was a zayre because it was in the same kind of location ames would be, it was a smaller town and rural. again this ames in rumford was a zayre and it was 44,000 sq.ft. and opened 1973.

rumford store

this rumford store as you notice looks like the ones in madawaska, saco and south portland maine. saco and madawaska opened 1972, south portland opened 1973

rumford.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what was the ames in Rumford maine. I have pictures of this stoer when I wbent to its closing in 2002, but i have to digitize it and the lettering of the ames was red and the inside had hte old zayre checkouts. amazing this one was a zayre because it was in the same kind of location ames would be, it was a smaller town and rural. again this ames in rumford was a zayre and it was 44,000 sq.ft. and opened 1973.

rumford store

this rumford store as you notice looks like the ones in madawaska, saco and south portland maine. saco and madawaska opened 1972, south portland opened 1973

rumford.

rumford sign

here is the former skowhegan Ames that was 49,000 sq.ft. and was part of the roudn where all the aroostook county stores closed; it closed 1996; and k-mart closed the same year k-mart did, as wal-mart opened. notice the S labelscar

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the former skowhegan Ames that was 49,000 sq.ft. and was part of the roudn where all the aroostook county stores closed; it closed 1996; and k-mart closed the same year k-mart did, as wal-mart opened.

skowhegan

former ames in newport maine that was 43,000 sq.ft. and opened early 1985 and closed in fall 2001, as the round of 47 stores which occurd just before the 2nd bankruptcy. well a super wal-mart is down the road. the labelscar shows.

here is more of the old ames in newport maine

here is the former bangor one that was in the airport mall. it opened 1998 and was a rich's. the store was 77,000 sq.ft.

here is the old ames in bangor maine that was a zayre. it clsoed 1999 and was 60,000 sq.ft. I was there when it said coming soon tj maxx n more, back in 1999.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the old ames in bangor maine that was a zayre. it clsoed 1999 and was 60,000 sq.ft. I was there when it said coming soon tj maxx n more, back in 1999.

this bangor one was on broadway.

here is what was the ames in houlton maine and it was 48,000 sq.ft. and closed in 1996 when all the other aroostook county ones closed.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what was the ames in houlton maine and it was 48,000 sq.ft. and closed in 1996 when all the other aroostook county ones closed.

houlton

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what was the ames in houlton maine and it was 48,000 sq.ft. and closed in 1996 when all the other aroostook county ones closed.

houlton

houlton one sign.

here is the 60,000 sq.ft. Ames that closed in presque isle maine in 1996 when all the aroostook county ones closed. it is between the mall and wal-mart on rt. 1. There was a zayre in presque isle. was it the zayre location?

here is what I beleive was the former zayre in presque isle. this iga seemed to have been the old zayer and is 50,000 sq.ft. and this zayre was one of the first 13 stores that opened between 1956 and 1960 (portland pine tree opened 1957). well Ames closed stores in 4 overlapping places and the overlapping places i kenw of where Ellsworth, BRunswick and sanford.

here is the ames building in caribou maine (IT WAS THE NORTHERN MOST REAL AMES; but the madawaska one became the northern most one when it bought zayre out). this store closed in early 1996 when all the aroostook county stores closed and was off rt. 1 and 53,000 sq.ft. this one and houlton opened 1983.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the ames building in caribou maine (IT WAS THE NORTHERN MOST REAL AMES; but the madawaska one became the northern most one when it bought zayre out). this store closed in early 1996 when all the aroostook county stores closed and was off rt. 1 and 53,000 sq.ft. this one and houlton opened 1983.

caribou

here is the former ames building in madawaska maine (THE NORTHERN MOST AMES) as i said it was a zayre and all the aroostook county stores where HOulton, Presque isle, caribou and madawaska.

here is the Ames millinocket maine store!! it was 49,000 sq.ft. and nearly 50,000 sq.ft. just around its closing, it was then the northern most ames in maine. It is still vacant as of May 22, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the Ames millinocket maine store!! it was 49,000 sq.ft. and nearly 50,000 sq.ft. just around its closing, it was then the northern most ames in maine. It is still vacant as of May 22, 2006.

more millinocket store (the town is a mall town and 70 miles north of bangor 10 miles esat of 95 off exit 244)

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the Ames millinocket maine store!! it was 49,000 sq.ft. and nearly 50,000 sq.ft. just around its closing, it was then the northern most ames in maine. It is still vacant as of May 22, 2006.

more millinocket store (the town is a mall town and 70 miles north of bangor 10 miles esat of 95 off exit 244)

millinocket sign.

here is the old 43,000 sq.ft. ames in dover-foxcroft maine that opened in 1983 and became shaw's 2 years ago.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the old 43,000 sq.ft. ames in dover-foxcroft maine that opened in 1983 and became shaw's 2 years ago.

sign of the dover-foxcroft one

here is what was ames in calais maine and is the eastern most ames. it was 44,000 sq.ft. and opened 1983.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what was ames in calais maine and is the eastern most ames. it was 44,000 sq.ft. and opened 1983.

calais ames

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what was ames in calais maine and is the eastern most ames. it was 44,000 sq.ft. and opened 1983.

calais ames

calais ames

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what was ames in calais maine and is the eastern most ames. it was 44,000 sq.ft. and opened 1983.

calais ames

calais ames

sign in calais

here is what was ames in ellsworth maine and opened april 1983 and the 3rd ames in maine and was 65,000 sq.ft. and was king's.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what was ames in ellsworth maine and opened april 1983 and the 3rd ames in maine and was 65,000 sq.ft. and was king's.

sign ellsworth

here is what was the Zayre in ellsworth maine and it was just down the road from the Ames. the zayre opeend 1964 and was 55,000 sq.ft. and closed early 1990 (As did presque isle) when ames closed overlapping stores. shaw's expanded the building. this ames in ellsworth that was zayre was one of the 4 overlapping stores in maine

belfast maine sign

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
belfast maine sign

here is what is Ames in belfast maine and the store was 43,000 sq.ft. it became bob's and now ocean state job lots. it opened early 1984. it was the only store like that in belfast and now everyone has to go 30 minutes to ellworth or rockland. they tried putting a wal-mart in belfast at one point.

here is what is now the old Ames in rockland maine. The store was 78,000 sq.ft. and a zayre that opened 1987. I also went to the store when it was an ames back in 2001 and have pictures of it.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is what is now the old Ames in rockland maine. The store was 78,000 sq.ft. and a zayre that opened 1987. I also went to the store when it was an ames back in 2001 and have pictures of it.

old rockland one

here is what is what was ames in wiscasset maine. the store opened 1985 and was 43,000 sq.ft. and shaw's replaced it like over 2 years ago. the ames had no sign. I have pictures of it when it was ames and I went there back in 2001.

It doesn't like Shaws changed the exterior much of the above store...and the parking lot hints that it's not a very profitable store either [depending on when the pic was taken]

QuoteOriginally posted by MBZ321
It doesn't like Shaws changed the exterior much of the above store...and the parking lot hints that it's not a very profitable store either [depending on when the pic was taken]

I went by this shaw's at 9:15 am on MAy 24, 2006 and the place must have zoning ordinances against the remodeling and there being no room to expand to the usual 60,000 to 70,000 sq.ft.

hears my ames as of june 27th 2006 i toook a peek thoyugh the windows evrey thing has be striped insied but not much work as been done i dont think hannaford wnats to move in hear they might open in the old grand unnion though

wile i was there i did happen to see a ames cart for teh first tome in 4 years heh

the back

ful view

the clocks were right on time yes this ames did have one heh

here is the vacant Ames in carmel ny as of july 22, 2006. Nothing is being done to it.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the vacant Ames in carmel ny as of july 22, 2006. Nothing is being done to it.

more carmel store

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
here is the vacant Ames in carmel ny as of july 22, 2006. Nothing is being done to it.

more carmel store

ames in carmel sign

vacant ames in east hartford as of july 20, 2006. it was 80,000 sq.ft. and a zayre.

what was ames in vernon ct and it was a caldor and 93,000 sq.ft.

old ames in manchester Ct that lasted for 3 years (like vernon) and was a caldor and it was 80,000 sq.ft.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
old ames in manchester Ct that lasted for 3 years (like vernon) and was a caldor and it was 80,000 sq.ft.

ames in manchester sign

vacant ames in west hartford as of july 21, 2006. it was caldor and last 3 years and 81,000 sq.ft. it is 1 - 2 muiles from westfarms mall and not far from the hartford like. the parking lot is in bad shape.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in west hartford as of july 21, 2006. it was caldor and last 3 years and 81,000 sq.ft. it is 1 - 2 muiles from westfarms mall and not far from the hartford like. the parking lot is in bad shape.

west hartford

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in west hartford as of july 21, 2006. it was caldor and last 3 years and 81,000 sq.ft. it is 1 - 2 muiles from westfarms mall and not far from the hartford like. the parking lot is in bad shape.

west hartford

west hartford

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in west hartford as of july 21, 2006. it was caldor and last 3 years and 81,000 sq.ft. it is 1 - 2 muiles from westfarms mall and not far from the hartford like. the parking lot is in bad shape.

west hartford

west hartford

west hartford

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in west hartford as of july 21, 2006. it was caldor and last 3 years and 81,000 sq.ft. it is 1 - 2 muiles from westfarms mall and not far from the hartford like. the parking lot is in bad shape.

west hartford

west hartford

west hartford

no labelscar shows for ames, but for the rainbow logo.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in west hartford as of july 21, 2006. it was caldor and last 3 years and 81,000 sq.ft. it is 1 - 2 muiles from westfarms mall and not far from the hartford like. the parking lot is in bad shape.

west hartford

west hartford

west hartford

no labelscar shows for ames, but for the rainbow logo.

sign the ames barley shows in it.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in west hartford as of july 21, 2006. it was caldor and last 3 years and 81,000 sq.ft. it is 1 - 2 muiles from westfarms mall and not far from the hartford like. the parking lot is in bad shape.

west hartford

west hartford

west hartford

no labelscar shows for ames, but for the rainbow logo.

sign the ames barley shows in it.

sign in west hartford

what ames is now in bloomfield Ct and that was a 81,000 sq.ft. zayre that opened  early 70s.

vacant ames in naguatuck CT as of july 21, 2006 and it is out in the middle of nowhere, the plaza.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in naguatuck CT as of july 21, 2006 and it is out in the middle of nowhere, the plaza.

ames is not on the sign in naguatuck ct

what is now the former 81,550 sq.ft. Ames in southington Ct (it was a zayre that opeend 1969)

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now the former 81,550 sq.ft. Ames in southington Ct (it was a zayre that opeend 1969)

southington one

what is now the newington Ct one (it was 79,000 sq.ft. and a zayre opened 1987)

ames sign in rocky hill CT (off the hwy)

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames sign in rocky hill CT (off the hwy)

vacant rocky hill CT one as of july 20, 2006.

Check out this 1985 article about Ames which mentions Herbert Gilman. Ames Article (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_v24/ai_3810943)
Heres another from 1984 which mentions Zayre and King's as well. Ames Article (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_v23/ai_3143272)
Another from 1990 about closings. Ames Article (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n12_v29/ai_9176525)

How old is the Rocky Hill location?  The store seems to be in very good condition and I also wonder if you have pics of the interior?

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

here is this: The mardens is replacing the ames in madawaska. it said the building is 57,000 sq.ft.

http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=138237


here is the picture I have of the madawaska one on this: http://69.93.241.194/~amesfan/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1&page=11 on 24/6/2006 at 21:31

this ames is tunkhannok ny:saint::boring:

this ames was in tunkhannok ny:bouncing::bouncing:

here is the former zayre ames in concord nh:rolleyes:

here is a former ames in va:rolleyes::mrpink:

and the former zayre ames in bangor me:holysh::holysh:

Yesturday I was down at Center Point Plaza in Warminster Pa. with my digital camera and took some pictures of the old Caldor/Ames/Burlington. It was a Caldor 1975-1999, Ames 2000-2002 and Burlington Coat Factory 2003-2005. I worked there when it was Caldor in the early ninties for about a year and a half. The buildng was a beige color when it was Caldor and Ames. Burlington painted it the way it is now.

Another view.

Burlington scar.

When Caldor was there that used to be a clock. Ames took it down in 2000 and put up the palm tree pictures. It was creaper then fixing it I guess. The clock broke around 1995.

Around the back and side the Ames green overhangs are still there. There were different ones there when it was Caldor that were brown, orange and yellow like the Caldor rainbow.

Back.

Another nice view of the back.

The doors. The radiator on the right has been there since the 70's.

Heres the space I parked in when I worked at Caldor.

Not a great picture but this is inside. Burlington ruined it. They took down the ceiling tiles and tore down the walls. When Caldor was here it was all yellow, orange and brown. Ames made it green.

vacant ames in merdien Ct as of august 4, 2006. it was a zayre and 78,000 sq.ft. A LOT OF THESE AMES' need to be filled!!!!!!!!!!! but there is in a lot of places no one to because of their sizes and a lot of chains want at least 100,000 sq.ft. to their stores or a lot of chains are already there.

meriden ct

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in merdien Ct as of august 4, 2006. it was a zayre and 78,000 sq.ft. A LOT OF THESE AMES' need to be filled!!!!!!!!!!! but there is in a lot of places no one to because of their sizes and a lot of chains want at least 100,000 sq.ft. to their stores or a lot of chains are already there.

meriden ct

meriden ct

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in merdien Ct as of august 4, 2006. it was a zayre and 78,000 sq.ft. A LOT OF THESE AMES' need to be filled!!!!!!!!!!! but there is in a lot of places no one to because of their sizes and a lot of chains want at least 100,000 sq.ft. to their stores or a lot of chains are already there.

meriden ct

meriden ct

meriden sign

what is now the old ames in middletown CT

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now the old ames in middletown CT

look at what plaza ames was in in middletown ct

former 48,000 sq.ft ames in malone ny that closed in 1996.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former 48,000 sq.ft ames in malone ny that closed in 1996.

malone ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former 48,000 sq.ft ames in malone ny that closed in 1996.

malone ny

malone ny

82,000 sq.ft. ames in massena ny that was a hills.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
82,000 sq.ft. ames in massena ny that was a hills.

former hills / ames in massena ny

old one in massena ny and what it is now and it was 60,000 sq.ft. and a few miles from the mall and moved in 1999 to the hills.

former ames in potsdam ny

canton ny ames

former ames in ogdensburg ny and 48,000 sq.ft. and cloesd 1996.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames in ogdensburg ny and 48,000 sq.ft. and cloesd 1996.

ames ogdensburg ny

old 48,000 sq.ft. ames in gouverneur ny. the wisebuys has kb toys, hardware and payless inside!!!

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
old 48,000 sq.ft. ames in gouverneur ny. the wisebuys has kb toys, hardware and payless inside!!!

gouverneur

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
old 48,000 sq.ft. ames in gouverneur ny. the wisebuys has kb toys, hardware and payless inside!!!

gouverneur

sign of gouverneur

old ames on north st in watertown ny and in the western edge of town. 56,000 sq.ft.

the one in watertown ny on arsenal st on the eastern edge of 81 and was zayre and moved to the old hills in the mall in 1999.

what is now ames in watertown ny in salmon pond mall in old hills.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now ames in watertown ny in salmon pond mall in old hills.

ames in pulaski ny

former ames in oswego ny and was 44,000 sq.ft.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames in oswego ny and was 44,000 sq.ft.

sign of oswego ny one

the one in cicero ny that was 80,000 sq.ft. adn a hills

lowville ny ames

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
lowville ny ames

lowville

the 30 something sq.ft. ames in tupper lake ny (near lake placid and lake sarnac)

vacant ames in carthage ny that closed in 2002 and one of the smaller ones

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in carthage ny that closed in 2002 and one of the smaller ones

carthage sign

former 42,000 sq.ft. ames in sarnac lake ny, waht is now in its spot and waht was this ames like?

ticonderoga old ames that closed in 2001 round and 32,000 sq.ft.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ticonderoga old ames that closed in 2001 round and 32,000 sq.ft.

ticonderoga ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ticonderoga old ames that closed in 2001 round and 32,000 sq.ft.

ticonderoga ny

ticonderoga

what is now in the ames in middlebury vt and 48,000 and opened 1975 or 1974. i have pictures of it when it was ames that I took in 2002.

the 65,000 sq.ft. ames in medford mass vacant as of april 21, 2006 and was one of the first zayre stores in 1957.

dedham mass in the old 80,000 sq.ft ames

Wow Dan, your on a roll!  These will be great to add to the locator!

ames in ithaca ny that closed in 1990 and 78,000 sq.ft. and across the mall.

former ames / hill's in ithaca ny in the pyramid mall, as of march 23, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames / hill's in ithaca ny in the pyramid mall, as of march 23, 2006.

former ames / hill's in ithaca

vacant ames in painted post ny (near corning), as of march 23, 2006.

vacant ames / hill's in horseheads / elmira ny as of march 23, 2006.

old ames / zayre in elmira ny that closed in the 1990 bankruptcy.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames / hill's in ithaca ny in the pyramid mall, as of march 23, 2006.

former ames / hill's in ithaca

i wonder what the inside looks liek was thsi a bcan entrance to ames?

old ames / zayre in endwell (or endell) ny (near binghamton) as of march 23, 2006.

vacant ames in binghamton ny (in the outskirts), as of march 23, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in binghamton ny (in the outskirts), as of march 23, 2006.

binghamton ny

old ames in vestal ny (near  binghamton) as of march 24, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
old ames in vestal ny (near  binghamton) as of march 24, 2006.

vestal ny

old ames in sayre pa that closed in the march 2002 wave. as of march 24, 2006.

the ames / hill's in williamsport pa

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
the ames / hill's in williamsport pa

williamsport pa old ames

former ames in lewisburg pa as of march 24, 2006.

vacant ames / hill's in bloomsburg pa in the columbia mall that opened in fall 1988, as of march 24, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames / hill's in bloomsburg pa in the columbia mall that opened in fall 1988, as of march 24, 2006.

vacant bloomsburg one

vacant ames / hills in kingston pa (near wilkes barre) as of march 24, 2006 and they want to demolish it into lowe's and it was like 83,000 sq.ft.

vacant ames / hills in wilkes barre pa as of march 24, 2006 and the hills opened 1986 and was 83,000 sq.ft. and is down the road from the mall.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames / hills in wilkes barre pa as of march 24, 2006 and the hills opened 1986 and was 83,000 sq.ft. and is down the road from the mall.

ames sign wilkes barre

ames in tunkhannock pa (what it is now)

what is now ames in monticello ny

what is now ames in newburgh ny (the ames there was a 74,500 sq.ft. zayre)

what is now ames in fishkill ny (They closed this one in teh 1990s)

Ames sign in catskill ny as of march 25, 2006 and it was demolished then.

what is now ames in hudson ny

demolishion and sign of the Ames in Rutland Vt in green mountain plaza as of may 30, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
demolishion and sign of the Ames in Rutland Vt in green mountain plaza as of may 30, 2006.

rutland vt one as it is demolished as of may 30, 2006.

waht is now the old ames in queensbury / glens falls ny store and it was next door to wal-mart and 70,000 sq.ft zayre that opened 1968. I have pictures of it when it was vacant as ames that I took 2 yrs ago.

what is now in the old ames in hudson falls ny and the old sign is still there, as of may 30, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in the old ames in hudson falls ny and the old sign is still there, as of may 30, 2006.

hudson falls ny

former ames in gloversville ny (near johnstown) that was a zayre and 78,000 sq.ft. (zayre opened 1985) and vacant as of may 31, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
former ames in gloversville ny (near johnstown) that was a zayre and 78,000 sq.ft. (zayre opened 1985) and vacant as of may 31, 2006.

gloversville sign

vacant ames in palatine bridge ny (45 minutes west of albany ny and off rt.90)

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in palatine bridge ny (45 minutes west of albany ny and off rt.90)

palatine bridge ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in palatine bridge ny (45 minutes west of albany ny and off rt.90)

palatine bridge ny

palatine bridge ny as of may 31, 2006.

what is now in the ames in hamilton ny

vacant ames in Chittenango ny (not far from syracuse) as of may 31, 2006. and 60,000 sq.ft.

what is now in the ames in baldwinville ny (or baldwinsville)

what is now in the Ames in auburn ny

what is now in the old ames in waterloo / seneca falls ny that closed in 1996.

what is now in the old ames in penn yan (or pen yan) ny

what is now in the old ames (once a 78,000 sq.ft. zayre that opened in 1988) in Canandaigua ny that closed in the march 2002 round.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in the old ames (once a 78,000 sq.ft. zayre that opened in 1988) in Canandaigua ny that closed in the march 2002 round.

Canandaigua ny

vacant ames in newark ny as of june 1, 2006.

what is now in the old ames in webster ny that closed in the 1990s.

what is now in the old Ames (once zayre) in henrietta ny that closed in 1996 and 69,000 sq.ft. and near rochester.

what is now in Ames (once zayre) in greece ny that closed in  1996.

what is now in the old ames in Geneseo ny

what is now in the old ames in warsaw ny that closed in the 1996 round.

what is now in the old ames in batavia ny that closed in 1996. (the red building with the yellow Value lettering)

the vacant ames in Albion ny as of june 2, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
the vacant ames in Albion ny as of june 2, 2006.

albion ny

vacant ames in Macedon ny, as of june 1, 2006.

vacant ames in medina ny as of june 2, 2006.

what is now in ames in brockport ny taht closed when the rest of the chain did

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in ames in brockport ny taht closed when the rest of the chain did

the ames that was a zayre that closed in early 1990, this is in brockport ny, as there was already a zayre down the road.

Ames in lockport ny that closed in 1996.

Ames in lockport ny that was a zayre and closed in early 1990 as there was an ames down the road.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
Ames in lockport ny that was a zayre and closed in early 1990 as there was an ames down the road.

zayre / ames lockport ny

vacant hill's / ames in lockport ny in the dead lockport mall, as of june 2, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant hill's / ames in lockport ny in the dead lockport mall, as of june 2, 2006.

vacant hill's / ames in lockport ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant hill's / ames in lockport ny in the dead lockport mall, as of june 2, 2006.

vacant hill's / ames in lockport ny

vacant ames / hill's lockport ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant hill's / ames in lockport ny in the dead lockport mall, as of june 2, 2006.

vacant hill's / ames in lockport ny

vacant ames / hill's lockport ny

vacant hill's ames lockport ny

ames / zayre in niagara falls ny (That was 78,000 sq.ft.) that closed in 1996.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames / zayre in niagara falls ny (That was 78,000 sq.ft.) that closed in 1996.

or the ames / zayre in niagara falls was here

vacant ames / hill's in niagara falls ny as of june 2, 2006. and it closed in the march 2002 round.

What is now in the old ames / hill's in north Tonawanda ny

what is now  in Tonawanda ny in young plaza and it was 70,000 sq.ft.

what is now in the old Ames that closed in 1992 in north Tonawanda ny and it was down the road form the hill's turned Ames.

vacant ames / hill's in buffalo ny on delaware ave, as of june 3, 2006.

what is now in the old ames in clarence / williamsville ny ames in the Clarence mall, as of june 3, 2006.

vacant ames in cheektowaga ny as of june 3, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in cheektowaga ny as of june 3, 2006.

vacant cheektowaga ny store

vacant Ames in South Cheektowaga (Depew) ny as of june 4, 2006.  it is near buffalo ny

vacant ames in eggertsville (or eggerstown) section in Amherst ny and it closed in early 2001 when 32 did AND IT WAS A HILLS. man there were too many hills around buffalo.

vacant ames in buffalo ny on lake st as of june 3, 2006 and the hill's labelscar was barley visable and it closed in 2001 or early 2002.

vacant ames in hamburg ny (it was orginally an ames), as of june 4, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in hamburg ny (it was orginally an ames), as of june 4, 2006.

vacant hamburg

what is now in the old 50,000 sq.ft. ames in springville ny that closed in 1998.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in the old 50,000 sq.ft. ames in springville ny that closed in 1998.

more springville

vacant ames in Chaffee / arcade ny as of june 4, 2006 and it is 30 minutes from buffalo south and east of rt. 90.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in Chaffee / arcade ny as of june 4, 2006 and it is 30 minutes from buffalo south and east of rt. 90.

ames sign in Chaffee / arcade ny

vacant ames in east aurora ny as of june 4, 2006.

vacant ames in alden ny as of june 4, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in alden ny as of june 4, 2006.

ames alden ny as of june 4, 2006.

vacant ames in collins ny as of june 4, 2006 and it closed march 2002 round and was 32,000 sq.ft.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in collins ny as of june 4, 2006 and it closed march 2002 round and was 32,000 sq.ft.

collins ny

what is now in the old ames in west seneca ny

what is now in the old ames in derby ny

what is now in the old ames / zayre in dunkirk ny and it closed like 1992 or 1993 and 78,000 sq.ft. An Ames that was always an Ames in dunkirk closed when it became Zayre, I cannot find exactly where the ames was, but am sure to have gone by it.

what is now in the old ames / hill's in dunkirk ny that closed in march 2002 and was across the ZAyre turned ames.

vacant ames in trexlertown pa (outside allentown) as of june 11, 2006.

old ames in Brodheadsville pa

what is now the old Ames / hill's in erie pa on elm st and the ames closed in march 2002 along with the other one in erie.

vacant ames / hill's in erie pa as of june 5, 2006 and it is outside the mall and closed in march 2002.

what is now in the old ames / Hill's in willoughby ohio

what is now in the old ames / hill's in mentor ohio

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in the old ames / hill's in mentor ohio

 ames / hill's mentor iho

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in the old ames / hill's in mentor ohio

 ames / hill's mentor iho

ames hill/s mentor ohio

what is now in the old ames / hill's in parma oh (ALL THE AMES AROUND CLEVELAND closed march 2002 and before)

what appears to be an old ames in wickliffe ohio

what appears to be an old ames in garfield heights ohio

what is now in the old ames / hill's in north olmsted ohio

in north randall ohio this appeared to be an ames.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
in north randall ohio this appeared to be an ames.

appears to be an old ames in north randall oh

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
in north randall ohio this appeared to be an ames.

appears to be an old ames in north randall oh

what appears to be an old ames in north randall oh

former ames in bradford pa as of june 9, 2006

what is now in the former ames in bethlehem pa that replaced the old caldor in 1999.

what is becoming of the old ames / Hill's in olean ny  it was 80,000 sq.ft. and being replaced by a relocating jc penny.

there was an ames that closed in teh 1990s in olean, I probably went by it and where exactly where it was I am trying to find out

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is becoming of the old ames / Hill's in olean ny  it was 80,000 sq.ft. and being replaced by a relocating jc penny.

there was an ames that closed in teh 1990s in olean, I probably went by it and where exactly where it was I am trying to find out

olean ny

vacant ames in wellsville ny as of june 9, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in wellsville ny as of june 9, 2006.

wellsville ny

vacant ames in danville ny as of june 9, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in danville ny as of june 9, 2006.

danville ny

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
vacant ames in danville ny as of june 9, 2006.

danville ny

danville n y

old ames in delhi ny as of june 9, 2006.

what is now in the old ames in wells maine

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in the old ames in wells maine

ames sign dollar tree wells.

what is now in the old ames / zayre in laconia / belmont nh. (zayre was originally where blockbuster section is)

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in the old ames / zayre in laconia / belmont nh. (zayre was originally where blockbuster section is)

back of the old ames in belmont / laconia nh

ames lewiston me as of march 4, 2006.

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames lewiston me as of march 4, 2006.

ames lewiston

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames lewiston me as of march 4, 2006.

ames lewiston

lewiston me ames

what is now in the old ames in champlain ny

Well I think Dan has us all beat when it comes to seeing the most Ames locations!

here is the ames in augusta me  drawing:saint::saint:

Here's the old Troy, New York store. It was Bradlees before being Ames(like the Latham store), and is now a Big Lots.

Here's the former Ames in Latham. Formerly Bradlees, now a Bon Ton.

There was a Ames were I lived in Jacksonville, FL, it was a former Zayre's store. I dont remember it that well though. I know my dad worked for that Zayres when he was younger.

As acting ceo of Team Products International, retailing veteran Joe Ettore would like to see the company expand its array of licensed goods in hardware, automotive and housewares while simultaneously exploring new licensing opportunities.

Ettore, the former ceo of Ames and more recently a consultant with Focus Management Group, took over as interim ceo at TPI in August. The company hired Ettore to assist with a financial turnaround and restructuring to better meet customer needs.

"We have terrific licenses," said Ettore of TPI's lines that include products under the brands Coleman, Sunbeam, Emerson and Rawlings.

I took these pictures myself and digitized them.


1. top. Vacant 80,000 sq.ft. Ames in Dedham mass that was 80,000 sq.ft. I took this picture in 2003.

2. below the top picture - vacant Ames in Woburn mass and was a zayre. It relocated to fromer caldor in stoneham. I took this picture in 2000.

3. bottom, sign saying they moved to stoneham. the woburn location and I took this picture in 2000.

Nice one D Fife:) Could you send me these full size pictures?

QuoteOriginally posted by dmx10101
There was a Ames were I lived in Jacksonville, FL, it was a former Zayre's store. I dont remember it that well though. I know my dad worked for that Zayres when he was younger.

a zayre in florida????

QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030

QuoteOriginally posted by dmx10101
There was a Ames were I lived in Jacksonville, FL, it was a former Zayre's store. I dont remember it that well though. I know my dad worked for that Zayres when he was younger.

a zayre in florida????

Yep there were Zayres in Florida.

I also used to shop at a Zayre that became an Ames while we lived in Kissimmee, FL.  We lived there from 1985-1992 and it was closed by the time that we moved, but I remember it well and loved to shop on Tuesdays since it was full of senior citizens and a great time to shop with a toddler!

;)

(http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/9402/dscn0628bh6.jpg)the ames/hills in Lancaster PA
closed in 02 now a LAfitness :(

ames in cambridge ohio that was a Zayre

This is the former Rocky Hill CT location, now being used as a Porter and Chester Institute. Sad to see this location go, however they only replaced the Ames logo with theirs. The storefront is the same. I wonder what the inside looks like.

Nice

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
ames Lewiston me as of march 4, 2006.

Lewiston Ames as of november 2007, pretty ugly...

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what is now in the old ames / hill's in north olmsted ohio

Actually, the Hills in North Olmsted is about half a mile away...

* Hills/Ames was demolished to build the new Tops store, which is now vacant, as the company has pulled out of Ohio. The building's on the Brookpark Road Extension, across from Guitar Center. It was one of the tall-front/shingle-roof building styles.
* VCF/HHGregg was once Michael's Crafts/Dick's Sporting Goods. Michael's closed, and DSG moved across the street to be a new anchor for Great Northern Mall. Prior to DSG, the building housed a Rini-Rego Stop-n-Shop Supermarket, which moved down the road to a brand-new Giant Eagle location.
* The old Finast/Tops location is now home to Remington College.

(http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2278/cimg0319fp9.jpg)
east Market St York pa ames/hills
(http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/5249/cimg0318kr8.jpg)
Carlisle Rd York pa ames/hills
(http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1916/cimg0320my7.jpg)
Gateway Dr Mechanicsburg pa Zayres/Ames
thats all i got of maps live :cool:

I was cleaning out our backroom closet and came across these old Ames Pocket Pack tissues.



I remember buying a case of these when they were doing the liquidation sale after the Out of Business sale and the store was closed to the regular public. This was at the store in Newton, NJ.  Got a whole case of these for 3 bucks !  Shelving units were cheap too at 25 a peice.  I bought 3 of those for storage in my garage.

Still got 10 packs of these.

the Lutherville-Timonium md ames as of 4/6/08
(http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5268/cimg0393ju6.jpg)
:yup:

Nice!! Thanks PatK!

thax :yup:
its so creepy looking after yrs of being Closed
if anyone is going there is a sign on the back :yup:

Haha, I haven't grabbed a new receiving sign since Meriden, CT.  I don't think I have the gas money these days!

its patk im in va beach now im 2 mins form the va beach ames it looks good :) pics will come soon!

Nice!  I haven't been there since I went to South Carolina!

pick 1 the va beach ames as of 5/18 still there 4 now :huh:
pick 2 the Edsall Rd ames in Alexandria as of 5/18 now condos :hurt:
pick 3 the Norfolk  ames as of 5/18 now a Kroger :bigsmile:
(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6890/cimg0486rp5.jpg)
(http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2971/cimg0490gw5.jpg)
(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7937/cimg0488vs2.jpg)
thats all cya :yup:

QuoteOriginally posted by patk
pick 1 the va beach ames as of 5/18
pick 2 the Edsall Rd ames as of 5/18
pick 3 the Norfolk  ames as of 5/18
(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6890/cimg0486rp5.jpg)
(http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2971/cimg0490gw5.jpg)
(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7937/cimg0488vs2.jpg)
thats all cya :yup:

IMG 2 ....is????

pic 2 was the Edsall Rd ames in Alexandria
my 1st ames as a kid :hurt:
now condos :holysh:

Nice patk!  I'll put these in the photo gallery in a bit.  Shame to see your Ames has turned into some condos!

thax i do my best for the past :bouncing:

Wow, 6 years on and many are still vacant, are these located in hard to find places?, I know many Ames were seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

I think it was a draw. Ames had stores in podunk towns and i think they had an equal amount of stores in well known locations. I know Hills was the same way. They went wherever they thought they could do business. Which was really genius. Ames and Hills both served these rural markets.

Big update for Agawam!  No more overgrowth at this plaza.  The entire plaza is newy remodeled and ready for business!

I took a ride down here after a job interview today and I almost choked!  This area didn't look nearly ready for development, and what do you know.  Now our former Ames has a twin entrance!

http://www.amesfanclub.com/archive/main.php/v/ames/stores/MA/agawam/151+Springfield+St/053008/

WOW!

QuoteOriginally posted by patk
the Lutherville-Timonium md ames as of 4/6/08
(http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5268/cimg0393ju6.jpg)
:yup:

Supposedly was to be demolished and replaced with a Giant food store but the chain still hasn't presented plans for the property

hope thay dont :flaming:

Hey, Chris!  I'm sure that you'd checked, but were there any old mementos of the Ames store remaining?  Also, what are they planning to put in its place?  Lastly, did they ever do anything with the corporate offices or are they still vacant?

:huh::huh::huh:

Hmm.  Not so much, I couldn't really hang around too much because of their being a team of guys in the store at the time.  The store itself has been completely gutted inside.  Other than the outside it was hard to tell it was an Ames or Zayre.  Nick has the receiving sign luckily.  Other than the Ames pylon still being in the roadway sign, nothing else to suggest it was Ames unfortunately.

I'm not sure what the plans for the plaza are, it didn't look like anything had been moved in yet.

As for the home offices, to my knowledge there has been some interest in them, but nothing has happened yet.  Nick, I think you're closer to that neck of the woods, maybe you could find out?

Someone did post some interesting comment on the photo gallery about the planogram building though.  Apparently it used to be an old grocery store!

QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
hears a Ames picture from 1988 u can tell its from that year because on the movie listing belowe the ames sign

Haha the naked gun was a hilarious movie. that pic is awesomely 80's.

I have never liked Ames. I'm sorry, but, they are one store I do not miss.

Wow...from Ames to condos?  If I had to guess, I'd say that they're NOT the same building.  Does anyone find it ironic that on the AMES Fan Club, Caldor is most discussed??  :insane:

In the Ames store locator, it says there was an Ames in Upper Chichester, PA, there never was one.
:huh::huh::huh:

I dont see one?

http://www.amesfanclub.com/locations/getstores.php?state=PA

QuoteOriginally posted by C. Fontaine
I dont see one?

http://www.amesfanclub.com/locations/getstores.php?state=PA

Sorry! It was not this site, it was on Wikipedia. They have deleted many lists of former stores because of "unverifiability". This is the only store I have ever seen on Wikipedia that did not exist.

Haha,  they can use this site to verify them, as these stores have come from corporate lists.  Not to mention we have pictures of most of them!

QuoteOriginally posted by C. Fontaine
Haha,  they can use this site to verify them, as these stores have come from corporate lists.  Not to mention we have pictures of most of them!

Well sadly, some of them are not deleted because of verifiability, but notability. They think these lists are "fancruft". :hurt::no::flaming:

Ames's flagship store was a former Kmart! (Sturbridge, MA)

the Woodbridge, VA ames as of 10/17!
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3204/cimg0915fe7.jpg)
i think we all know wats under that tarp :)

I took these photos from a speeding car March 21, 2004 in Winsted, Connecticut. I think I took it because at the time I wasn't aware there were still a bunch of vacant ones standing

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/3-21-04Ames01.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/3-21-04Ames02.jpg)

I've scoured the entire website, and I'm shocked that there is absolutely no photos or mention of the store in Springfield, Vermont! It was tucked in the corner of the plaza with a Grand Union at the end, and I remember there was a small ice cream booth smack in the middle of the parking lot. I was born in the hospital practically right behind that Ames and that plaza was pretty much the plaza of my childhood.
My mother wet her pants in that Ames when I was a little kid, and she thought I was too young to remember it :insane:
Also when I lived in Springfield I had a friend names James and he thought the store was picking on his name.

I moved to Keene in 1995 and have memories of Ames mostly from North Walpole, New Hampshire when it was next to IGA and the tiny tiny tiny tiny TINY one in Peterborough, New Hampshire
(http://www.unionleader.com/uploads/media-items/2007/march/0327peterborough.jpg)
That is Ocean State Job Lot now. There was an A&P at the other side of the plaza. It became a different grocery store, but now is completely empty, looks really barren with the giant window it has out front.

I remember the West Lebanon one too, which came into the old Rich's in 1997. That was a huge store. I used to go to it all the time as Rich's, not so much as Ames, it didn't last long, and I always went to the Kmart in that town once Rich's went down. My major gripe about Ames and Bradlees was that the electronics department was always so horribly out of date. But the stores always made me feel nostalgic, even when they still existed.

If anyone remembers the West Lebanon store (it's now a Kohl's) does anyone have any idea what supermarket was on the other side of the plaza before it became a Shaws? It was probably a Shaws by the time Ames was there, but in the Rich's days it was something else, but still a supermarket. It wasn't Sun Foods, Shop & Save, Edwards....it was something else but I have no idea what. It's always been strange since it became a Shaws because there's a Shaws right down the street literally about 200 yards away. And its been that way for over a decade now

The Baptist Road Ames in Bethel Park, PA that was formerly a Hills.  Since then, this entire plaza has been bulldozed and a Lowes built on the site.

(http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o387/TheUltimateZero/BaptistRdHillsWide.jpg)

(http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o387/TheUltimateZero/BaptistRdHillsAmes.jpg)

i kind of  dont miss ames but  i miss  geting my new jeans at it  they allways had my size no one elase really does

QuoteOriginally posted by TRJ22487
I took these photos from a speeding car March 21, 2004 in Winsted, Connecticut. I think I took it because at the time I wasn't aware there were still a bunch of vacant ones standing

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/3-21-04Ames01.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/3-21-04Ames02.jpg)

I've scoured the entire website, and I'm shocked that there is absolutely no photos or mention of the store in Springfield, Vermont! It was tucked in the corner of the plaza with a Grand Union at the end, and I remember there was a small ice cream booth smack in the middle of the parking lot. I was born in the hospital practically right behind that Ames and that plaza was pretty much the plaza of my childhood.
My mother wet her pants in that Ames when I was a little kid, and she thought I was too young to remember it :insane:
Also when I lived in Springfield I had a friend names James and he thought the store was picking on his name.

I moved to Keene in 1995 and have memories of Ames mostly from North Walpole, New Hampshire when it was next to IGA and the tiny tiny tiny tiny TINY one in Peterborough, New Hampshire
(http://www.unionleader.com/uploads/media-items/2007/march/0327peterborough.jpg)
That is Ocean State Job Lot now. There was an A&P at the other side of the plaza. It became a different grocery store, but now is completely empty, looks really barren with the giant window it has out front.

I remember the West Lebanon one too, which came into the old Rich's in 1997. That was a huge store. I used to go to it all the time as Rich's, not so much as Ames, it didn't last long, and I always went to the Kmart in that town once Rich's went down. My major gripe about Ames and Bradlees was that the electronics department was always so horribly out of date. But the stores always made me feel nostalgic, even when they still existed.

If anyone remembers the West Lebanon store (it's now a Kohl's) does anyone have any idea what supermarket was on the other side of the plaza before it became a Shaws? It was probably a Shaws by the time Ames was there, but in the Rich's days it was something else, but still a supermarket. It wasn't Sun Foods, Shop & Save, Edwards....it was something else but I have no idea what. It's always been strange since it became a Shaws because there's a Shaws right down the street literally about 200 yards away. And its been that way for over a decade now

Those first two pictures bring back so many memories, I used to shop there a lot with my parents and grandparents (r.i.p.) it was a good store sorta dark inside but a good store nonetheless. Now it doesn't look like that anymore. :(

You never know where something is going to pop up.

I got this at the Ocean State Job Lot here in Valatie today (1/23/09) - wonder where they got it from?

The strange part is, I don't remember Ames ever having paper bags in the first place.

Also, this would appear to be a bit older (red logo rather than green) and is a full sized paper bag, similar to what you'd expect to see at the grocery store.

And, this OSJL is new last year, so it's not like they had them stashed in the back somewhere - I only saw a handful on one register counter.

Anyone seen something like this before?

Very interesting find. I have to say I have never seen a discount store use a big paper bag like that.

I took these pictures yesterday (1/24/2008)

Walpole, NH Former Ames (Road still called Ames Plaza Rd - couldn't get a picture due to traffic)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/AmesWalpole.jpg)

Springfield, VT Former Ames (First picture online?)(Former Grand Union at end of plaza has been completely remodeled inside and out - my family's construction business is to blame!!!)(Former Price Chopper across street now Rite Aid)
(The little Friendly's next to it exactly the same since the 80's)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/AmesSpringfield.jpg)

Drove behind the back of both buildings but found nothing remarkable sadly

Straight down the road from my house are two former Ames within 30 minutes.
Don't even have to take a single turn. I figured I shoot down real quick and snap some pictures.
I'll post the second store I went to first since it's the less remarkable of the two


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/03.jpg)
^This photo is from the store locator and is dated 1999
Milford, NH *Granite Town Plaza* - All pics taken by me 1/25/2009
(Now Gold's Gym/Tractor Supply Co)
Just last year the entire plaza still had Green paint. It has since been entirely redone
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford021.jpg)
^ My car! (former Grand Union?)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford016.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford020.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford017.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford018.jpg)
^ Left Entrance
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford019.jpg)
^Inside the Right Entrance
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford022.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford023.jpg)

The first store I visited is the better of the two
You can still consider much of it vintage
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/02.jpg)
^This photo is listed in *UNKNOWN STORES* This is not Peterborough, NH - I was mistaken. It is very similar
Peterborough, NH *Peterborough Plaza* - All pictures taken by me 1/25/2009
(Now Ocean State Job Lot)
I was hoping to find Ames carts, but unfortunately all OSJL
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough001.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough002.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough012.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough003.jpg)
^Left Entrance
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough011.jpg)
^ Right Entrance (I'm in the reflection of the enter door)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough004.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough005.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough006.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough007.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough008.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough009.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough010.jpg)
^Service desk still has green top

NICE job!!! Could you maybe zip the raw photo's for these locations and email them to me?  It will be much easier for me to upload them to the locator!

QuoteOriginally posted by C. Fontaine
NICE job!!! Could you maybe zip the raw photo's for these locations and email them to me?  It will be much easier for me to upload them to the locator!

I'd love to and I consider myself fairly computer literate
But I don't know how to do that....
I'd love for you to add them to the locator though, could you credit me?
I'd like to go back to Peterborough and snoop around a bit more...

Of course, every picture in the locator is credited to whoever took them!  Hmm you don't need to zip them, if you could just email them to me that would be fantastic!

I've tried but my firewalls disallow me
You cant click and save those?
All of the pictures are separate jpegs

Alright, I'm adding these to the store locator as we speak.  I noticed you drove to the Claremont location.  Even though it was a vacant lot, were you able to get any pictures?

I didn't get Claremont even though I went because it had gotten dark and there is no building there whatsoever, and they didn't plow the lot, the only evidence anything was there at all were the lightposts that still stand, otherwise you'd think it was a field. If I ever get back over there in the spring I'll snap a shot

Towanda, PA. Taken this year.

(http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6646/amesfy6.png)

Another Dayville, Connecticut shot.

(http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/806/31208718306f76837498orj9.jpg)

Ames sign. Elmira, NY.

(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/134/amesnf1.png)

QuoteOriginally posted by XDeSuEhTX
Ames sign. Elmira, NY.

(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/134/amesnf1.png)

Wow that must have been a big store judging by its sign

You can check out the store in the locator.

Great pictures indeed. A few years back, I was going to explore some of the remaining Ames in New Hampshire until I found most of them already moved on.

I wish we had a better way of identifying still vacant stores to clear up any that may no longer be.

hahahaha i live in new hampshire i want to go to connecit and see old bradlees:cool:

QuoteOriginally posted by jmcnamara96

QuoteOriginally posted by XDeSuEhTX
Ames sign. Elmira, NY.

Wow that must have been a big store judging by its sign

That's the same size as our Ames sign was, it was a former Hills sign.

Went to Walpole, NH today and got a picture with the road sign
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/AmesSign.jpg)

Hmm someone pulled a fast one with the "TOY" sign!

QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
A few years back, I was going to explore some of the remaining Ames in New Hampshire until I found most of them already moved on.

I wish we had a better way of identifying still vacant stores to clear up any that may no longer be.

I think that only Dover, Seabrook and part of Derry are still vacant.  That's too bad...

QuoteOriginally posted by C. Fontaine
Hmm someone pulled a fast one with the "TOY" sign!

It's been like that since Ames was in it's final days :roll:

QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88

QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
A few years back, I was going to explore some of the remaining Ames in New Hampshire until I found most of them already moved on.

I wish we had a better way of identifying still vacant stores to clear up any that may no longer be.

I think that only Dover, Seabrook and part of Derry are still vacant.  That's too bad...

I used to go to the derry one and the one in Lowell sunrise plaza is  still vacant i remember the Lowell one had sloped floors:tumble:

heres the Lebanon Plaza ames/hills in Lebanon  pa as of 2/8/09
(http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1995/cimg1265.jpg)
:yup:

The Seaford, DE Ames, which has pics from when it was vacant on the photo gallery, is now a Big Lots! store. Here's the picture from LoopNet.

Has anyone ever seen this Ames commercial from 1996? Where the Mona Lisa is missing from the picture? One man says "Mona Lisa's gone, she's gone, she's far out". Then Mona Lisa is shopping at Ames, and this old lady asks "Are you a model?"

If this information is even known... What was the largest Ames in square footage?

Does anyone know what the store layouts were like for Ames' very small stores, like the Peterborough NH and Tilton NH locations for example? I just can't imagine a full-scale discount store operating out of such tiny buildings. I would appreciate it if someone had a store layout for any of these smaller-scale Ames. :)

QuoteOriginally posted by videogamer75
Does anyone know what the store layouts were like for Ames' very small stores, like the Peterborough NH and Tilton NH locations for example? I just can't imagine a full-scale discount store operating out of such tiny buildings. I would appreciate it if someone had a store layout for any of these smaller-scale Ames. :)

The Ames in Smyrna DE was small, being in a former early 70's A&P.

QuoteOriginally posted by videogamer75
Does anyone know what the store layouts were like for Ames' very small stores, like the Peterborough NH and Tilton NH locations for example? I just can't imagine a full-scale discount store operating out of such tiny buildings. I would appreciate it if someone had a store layout for any of these smaller-scale Ames. :)

Well I live pretty close to Walpole, NH and I'm pretty sure that was the smallest Ames. It didn't have a sewing section and I think that was one of the only ones to not. The front section was clothing....did Ames have jewelry counters? I can't even remember.
The electronics department was two cramped aisles full of decade old outdated products. Aisles must have been 10 feet long at the most. Ahhh...the annoying ding..
Shoes were definitely in the back
Toys to the left hand side of the store past Electronics...
Hmmm, it's been about 7 years and I still remember it kinda well!
Board games on the back wall behind the toys, I think that's pretty common though...
Yep, still remember that store pretty well
I think the Marlborough store had a similar layout, but it may have had sewing

The biggest Ames I ever went to was West Lebanon. It was also the nicest. I used to go to it just about every weekend the few years it existed

Thank you for that info! :)

Wow, only 2 aisles of electronics, haha. I guess they didn't have a very large amount of video games or CDs?

Ames did in fact have jewelry counters, they were small, and usually in the front.

QuoteOriginally posted by videogamer75
The Seaford, DE Ames, which has pics from when it was vacant on the photo gallery, is now a Big Lots! store. Here's the picture from LoopNet.  

wow that was a large ames

QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
Great pictures indeed. A few years back, I was going to explore some of the remaining Ames in New Hampshire until I found most of them already moved on.

Actually, there is one fully vacant store left in New Hampshire, the Groveton location. To my knowledge, nobody has gone here and taken pictures (I mean detailed, up-close pictures) of it. Maybe you should visit that store when you get the chance. :goodidea:

This is from the Amesfanclub photo gallery
http://www.amesfanclub.com/archive/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8836&g2_serialNumber=2 (http://www.amesfanclub.com/archive/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8836&g2_serialNumber=2)

I would like to see what is going on with that one!

It's truly in the middle of nowhere, like many Ames were. The grocery store on the far left kinda looks like a Grand Union, also...did they have stores in NH? I know they were in VT.

QuoteOriginally posted by videogamer75
It's truly in the middle of nowhere, like many Ames were. The grocery store on the far left kinda looks like a Grand Union, also...did they have stores in NH? I know they were in VT.  

There used to be a Grand Union in Claremont, NH next to Ames

That Groveton store....are you SURE it is still vacant?
That is about a 3 hour drive one way from where I live
But I'm going to Lebanon today and staying the night....
That's about half the distance
I don't really have anything I HAVE to do on Saturday
Thought It'd be a pretty chunk of gas money to go to Groveton for a store that may or may not be vacant...

Anyone have an exact address for this store?
I think I could find it fairly easily but I haven't been there in like 13 years
I know I've been to this Ames, however

QuoteOriginally posted by videogamer75
Thank you for that info! :)

Wow, only 2 aisles of electronics, haha. I guess they didn't have a very large amount of video games or CDs?

Ames did in fact have jewelry counters, they were small, and usually in the front.  

Haha yes, that was the final Ames I was going to in 2001/2002 (along with West Lebanon) and the electronics section was hideously outdated, we're talking original Game Boy games, WWF CD's from the 80's/early 90's, cassette tapes, etc

But I loved Ames
Now that you say they did have jewelry
I definitely remember what the jewelry counter in Walpole looked like
Right in front of the service desk, my mom definitely used to browse it

QuoteOriginally posted by TRJ22487
That Groveton store....are you SURE it is still vacant?
That is about a 3 hour drive one way from where I live

It's actually in Northumberland. It became an Ocean State Job Lot. Here's the Loopnet profile: http://www.loopnet.com/property/15064175/583-Lancaster-Road/

QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO

QuoteOriginally posted by TRJ22487
That Groveton store....are you SURE it is still vacant?
That is about a 3 hour drive one way from where I live

It's actually in Northumberland. It became an Ocean State Job Lot. Here's the Loopnet profile: http://www.loopnet.com/property/15064175/583-Lancaster-Road/

Nice. I knew there was no way that could still be vacant like that

Woops! I never saw anything that said it became an OSJL, so I didn't know that. Sorry for jumping to conclusions, all the pics of it I saw showed it as vacant, and I couldn't find anything about a new tenant.

is there any one in or nere or going to Timonium md :huh:
plz look at the ames there. i think i saw some work being done on it :hurt:

<a href="http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt295/jmcnamara96/?action=view&current=JoesPictures014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt295/jmcnamara96/JoesPictures014.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt295/jmcnamara96/?action=view&current=JoesPictures018-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt295/jmcnamara96/JoesPictures018-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

QuoteOriginally posted by patk
the Woodbridge, VA ames as of 10/17!
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3204/cimg0915fe7.jpg)
i think we all know wats under that tarp :)

i got bad news the store is closeing 4ver  idk wen i have no pics :flaming:

So what happened to Caldor1999s in Carmel NY?

QuoteOriginally posted by jmcnamara96
So what happened to Caldor1999s in Carmel NY?

its a hannaford now has been for about 2 years now i just havnt takeing any new pics of it yet

I was heading towards the shoreline in CT this week with my family on Route 2 and noticed that the Ames sign on the East Hartford, CT store was completely removed (even the green background). Every year I look towards the Shaw's plaza to see the sign. It stayed for quite some time though. This particular Ames sign was supposedly used on the Ames website. It's sad.

QuoteOriginally posted by TRJ22487

QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO

QuoteOriginally posted by TRJ22487
That Groveton store....are you SURE it is still vacant?
That is about a 3 hour drive one way from where I live

It's actually in Northumberland. It became an Ocean State Job Lot. Here's the Loopnet profile: http://www.loopnet.com/property/15064175/583-Lancaster-Road/

Nice. I knew there was no way that could still be vacant like that

This is the correct shopping center, however this picture is of the closed grocery store. Ames set on the right hand side of the plaza and sadly now is a converted Ocean State Job Lots.

QuoteOriginally posted by AmesNewington
I was heading towards the shoreline in CT this week with my family on Route 2 and noticed that the Ames sign on the East Hartford, CT store was completely removed (even the green background). Every year I look towards the Shaw's plaza to see the sign. It stayed for quite some time though. This particular Ames sign was supposedly used on the Ames website. It's sad.

Yep. It's been gone now for a good number of months. Here's the update from Feb. 2009: http://www.amesfanclub.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1032&page=1#pid43513

QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
old ames in Brodheadsville pa

That store is also a former Jamesway.

August 23rd, 2009 (taken with 'retro' filter)
Seabrook, New Hampshire
Final vacant store in NH

on the site it has james nametags and my friend mark printed 10 sticker one with my name joe it said it pays tp shop at ames

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2547/3866505340_8721e05cfe_o.jpg)

These are my Ames shopping carts. There is at least one more floating around town that I have yet to snatch. I have a station wagon and shopping carts fit perfectly in the back. I'm waiting for a Bradlees or Caldor shopping cart to show up, but if it hasn't yet, I doubt it will. Awhile back, there was a Jamesway shopping cart roaming the parking lot of the Dutchess Mall, but I think it has long been snatched or destroyed.

Go to the Salvation Army in Oneonta, NY. There's a Bradlee's cart in there :)

i saw a ames cart at the former ames on bridge in lowell being used by a market basket employees to pick up trash

I just moved to Virginia from NY and found an Ames on Virginia Beach Blvd in Virginia Beach. Sadly, the labelscar had been covered up but I'll take a pic when I get the chance.

The Ames in Cape May, NJ is now a Big Lots and I think the one in Bridgeton is occupied now as well...

On my drive to Johnson Vermont I stopped at the Morrisville plaza that had an Ames store. The location now is home to Big Lot's and Peebles.
Big Lot's was the most like Ames as it utilized the original entry lobby and in the front left corner of the store had
the restrooms and lounge + a staircase that went to a second floor area.

I just had to post this.

Type in 1824 E. Ridge Pike, Royersford, PA 19468 into Google Maps. This is the address of a new Target. Under "at this address", it says "AMES construction"!

QuoteOriginally posted by gu4ever
Checkout counters still set up inside the store.

Nice pictures, I  wonder why this location is still available, it's a large and somewhat modern location, compared to Seabrook for example.

And a tip gu4ever, you should post these in the "Stores" part of the Ames topic. ;)

QuoteOriginally posted by TRJ22487
Straight down the road from my house are two former Ames within 30 minutes.
Don't even have to take a single turn. I figured I shoot down real quick and snap some pictures.
I'll post the second store I went to first since it's the less remarkable of the two


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/03.jpg)
^This photo is from the store locator and is dated 1999
Milford, NH *Granite Town Plaza* - All pics taken by me 1/25/2009
(Now Gold's Gym/Tractor Supply Co)
Just last year the entire plaza still had Green paint. It has since been entirely redone
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford021.jpg)
^ My car! (former Grand Union?)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford016.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford020.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford017.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford018.jpg)
^ Left Entrance
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford019.jpg)
^Inside the Right Entrance
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford022.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Milford023.jpg)

The first store I visited is the better of the two
You can still consider much of it vintage
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/02.jpg)
^This photo is listed in *UNKNOWN STORES* This is not Peterborough, NH - I was mistaken. It is very similar
Peterborough, NH *Peterborough Plaza* - All pictures taken by me 1/25/2009
(Now Ocean State Job Lot)
I was hoping to find Ames carts, but unfortunately all OSJL
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough001.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough002.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough012.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough003.jpg)
^Left Entrance
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough011.jpg)
^ Right Entrance (I'm in the reflection of the enter door)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough004.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough005.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough006.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough007.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough008.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough009.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/Peterborough010.jpg)
^Service desk still has green top

I grew up in Milford, that Ames store was the store I shopped at locally. The grocery store that you pictured was built and opened as a Violette's IGA store that relocated from the plaza just west of the shopping center.

Finally some pics of the Virginia Beach, VA location! Inside was emptier than a new grave, sadly...

(http://i39.tinypic.com/xciq9l.jpg)

Nice label scar here

(http://i44.tinypic.com/nfpv7o.jpg)

Quote from: NeverBeenToAnAmes on March 28, 2010, 05:25:48 PM
Finally some pics of the Virginia Beach, VA location! Inside was emptier than a new grave, sadly...

(http://i39.tinypic.com/xciq9l.jpg)

Nice label scar here

(http://i44.tinypic.com/nfpv7o.jpg)

Was this a Woolco?

Quote from: jmcnamara96 on March 28, 2010, 08:08:07 PM

Quote from: NeverBeenToAnAmes on March 28, 2010, 05:25:48 PM
Finally some pics of the Virginia Beach, VA location! Inside was emptier than a new grave, sadly...

(http://i39.tinypic.com/xciq9l.jpg)

Nice label scar here

(http://i44.tinypic.com/nfpv7o.jpg)

Was this a Woolco?

No idea as I've only lived in Virginia about 8 months. Next time I'm there I'll go around back and see if there's any Ames signage and whatnot.

Might be nice if there was an area code to go along with that phone number just in-case someone from out of state wanted to lease the building.

Quote from: Marc B on March 29, 2010, 08:15:34 AM
Might be nice if there was an area code to go along with that phone number just in-case someone from out of state wanted to lease the building.

it was a Woolco then a Hill's

Quote from: patk on October 19, 2008, 03:46:44 PM
the Woodbridge, VA ames as of 10/17!
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3204/cimg0915fe7.jpg)
i think we all know wats under that tarp :)

Was this Hills and was the Tan accents around the White once Green or Red? when did it open

Demolished Ames/Grand Union in Claremont, NH.
There are a few pictures/info in the store locator before the plaza was demolished
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/foo001.jpg)

Quote from: TRJ22487 on April 02, 2010, 03:41:24 PM
Demolished Ames/Grand Union in Claremont, NH.
There are a few pictures/info in the store locator before the plaza was demolished
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/foo001.jpg)

now what will happen and the Ames was a King's and before a Giant

I can't believe one of the three Plattsburgh, NY Ames Stores is still sitting vacant. It's a HUGE building. I would think by now something would want to go there. At the other end of the "strip mall" is a P&C Food's store.... That is also vacant. In the middle of the two stores use to be a Nail salon, a pet store and a music store. The only place that's still open is Pearl Vision. It's so odd to drive down the road and still see big signs for Ames. If grass wasnt growing in the parking lot, you would think Ames was still open.

Night before last I had a dream that AMES reopened just one store. They had only 36 customers on opening day because there was no advertisements for them. The only way people knew the stores was open was a NOW OPEN banner on the building.

Quote from: jmcnamara96 on March 30, 2010, 05:36:22 PM

Quote from: patk on October 19, 2008, 03:46:44 PM
the Woodbridge, VA ames as of 10/17!
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3204/cimg0915fe7.jpg)
i think we all know wats under that tarp :)

Was this Hills and was the Tan accents around the White once Green or Red? when did it open

i think it was a Zayre

Quote from: NeverBeenToAnAmes on March 29, 2010, 07:57:54 AM

Quote from: jmcnamara96 on March 28, 2010, 08:08:07 PM

Quote from: NeverBeenToAnAmes on March 28, 2010, 05:25:48 PM
Finally some pics of the Virginia Beach, VA location! Inside was emptier than a new grave, sadly...

(http://i39.tinypic.com/xciq9l.jpg)

Nice label scar here

(http://i44.tinypic.com/nfpv7o.jpg)

Was this a Woolco?

No idea as I've only lived in Virginia about 8 months. Next time I'm there I'll go around back and see if there's any Ames signage and whatnot.

the Virginia Beach area code is 757!

My friend who lives in Barre, Vermont told me that it looked like Contruction was starting at the old Ames building in Berlin,Vermont. I guess TjMaxx is going in?

Here are a few pictures of the Barre, VT store.
http://amesfanclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=2493.0

There were some really really big Ames stores here near Buffalo NY. The Hamburg NY South Park location (which is still partly vacant, with part of it occupied by an Ollies), was over 100,000 sq feet easily. I don't know what was originally in the location, I was too young, but the store was large, had two stockrooms, and used part of an old restaurant that used to be up front for fixture storage. I remember buying a 27" Changhong TV there with a 30% off coupon and the guy in electronics had to check both stockrooms to find one. TV still works. I'm pretty sure it was one of the biggest ones I was in anywhere.

The former Hills stores on Lake Ave and French Rd were also huge. The Grand Opening of the Hills on Lake after it turned Ames was the only time that parking lot was ever filled, and it is one heck of a parking lot. The store still stands and is now partly occupied with a Grossman's Bargain Outlet. Was a nice store while it lasted, clean and well stocked. It closed a while before they liquidated. The French Rd location was also very nice and lasted up until the end. It later became a flea market, but stands empty now.

The Lockport Mall Ames, also a former Hills, was a fairly nice one but smaller. I used to go to that location to look for clearnace when I had a long break in classes (I went to a nearby school).

Hills turned Ames on Genessee St. lasted up until the end, it now is a Hobby Lobby, and looks virtually unchangd inside.

Ames in Gowanda NY, a very small store I used to go to when checking on my grandparent's cat when they were on vacations, stands vacant. Still had the signs up last I knew.

Ames in Springville NY was demolished to make way for a new Tops.

Ames at the Southgate Plaza, a former Sears, now is a Dollar General and AJ Wright, but the color scheme of much of it is still the Ames

Seneca St, haven't been there since the closing sale, was a former Gold Circle. I dunno what is in that location now.

Sheridan Drive in Amherst former Hills was just demolished to make way for a Wal-Mart supercenter, another big store that closed before some of the other Ames closed if I recall, but I could be thinking of when it was Hills that closed there. I didn't really frequent the location.

Ames in Clarence, another big store, was part of a strip plaza that was demolished. The Ames was actually the only thing in there since the Burlington coat factory that was in that plaza moved to the nearby mall (and eventually closed). The Ames was large enough to sustain the viability of the plaza next ot the mall but without it there was a very large empty building.

Quote from: man114 on April 25, 2010, 09:53:49 PM
There were some really really big Ames stores here near Buffalo NY. The Hamburg NY South Park location (which is still partly vacant, with part of it occupied by an Ollies), was over 100,000 sq feet easily. I don't know what was originally in the location, I was too young, but the store was large, had two stockrooms, and used part of an old restaurant that used to be up front for fixture storage. I remember buying a 27" Changhong TV there with a 30% off coupon and the guy in electronics had to check both stockrooms to find one. TV still works. I'm pretty sure it was one of the biggest ones I was in anywhere.

The former Hills stores on Lake Ave and French Rd were also huge. The Grand Opening of the Hills on Lake after it turned Ames was the only time that parking lot was ever filled, and it is one heck of a parking lot. The store still stands and is now partly occupied with a Grossman's Bargain Outlet. Was a nice store while it lasted, clean and well stocked. It closed a while before they liquidated. The French Rd location was also very nice and lasted up until the end. It later became a flea market, but stands empty now.

The Lockport Mall Ames, also a former Hills, was a fairly nice one but smaller. I used to go to that location to look for clearnace when I had a long break in classes (I went to a nearby school).

Hills turned Ames on Genessee St. lasted up until the end, it now is a Hobby Lobby, and looks virtually unchangd inside.

Ames in Gowanda NY, a very small store I used to go to when checking on my grandparent's cat when they were on vacations, stands vacant. Still had the signs up last I knew.

Ames in Springville NY was demolished to make way for a new Tops.

Ames at the Southgate Plaza, a former Sears, now is a Dollar General and AJ Wright, but the color scheme of much of it is still the Ames

Seneca St, haven't been there since the closing sale, was a former Gold Circle. I dunno what is in that location now.

Sheridan Drive in Amherst former Hills was just demolished to make way for a Wal-Mart supercenter, another big store that closed before some of the other Ames closed if I recall, but I could be thinking of when it was Hills that closed there. I didn't really frequent the location.

Ames in Clarence, another big store, was part of a strip plaza that was demolished. The Ames was actually the only thing in there since the Burlington coat factory that was in that plaza moved to the nearby mall (and eventually closed). The Ames was large enough to sustain the viability of the plaza next ot the mall but without it there was a very large empty building.

Looks like Clarence, NY and Gowanda, NY are two that we don't have in the store locator. Cool.

By any chance, do you know the current status of the Ames in Collins, NY? You seem to know a lot about the Ames in Erie County.

Wow, what a cool blast from the past to find this page! I was actually googling Ames for another reason (I got something in the mail from the bankruptcy courts about a month ago) and stumbled upon this site. I started out as a teenager working for Ames in the Skyway Plaza in Plattsburgh. It was at one time a Kings store (and I remember it being Kings vaguely). In my early 20's I worked at the Saranac Lake Ames and was quickly promoted into management. I trained in Plattsburgh (Cornelia Street location) and in Gloversville, and Palentine Bridge. (in the old days they used to train you for like 3 months or so to be a member of management, paying for hotels and food and gas, etc... I made out like a bandit!) I landed in Bennington, VT as a Softlines Assistant in 1993 or 94, can't remember exactly. I was only 22 or 23 at the time. I transferred from there to Tupper Lake, NY in 1995 as Softlines. I then worked in Saranac Lake as Hardlines (not my cup of tea) then back to Tupper as Softlines until we closed in October of 2002. I LOVED my job and we had a great team. I had planned to be there til I retired to be honest. We had so much fun and worked well together. I used to volunteer to go to other stores to help with inventories which was a blast and going away for trainings was fun too. When we got word we were closing (the news reported it before WE were even told, nice huh?) we were all so bummed! In complete shock. It sucked. The poor guy that came to do our liquidation got the brunt of our frustration LOL (he was cool though, we all actually liked him in the end)... I have some great memories of that job. And hardly a week goes by that someone does not tell me they miss Ames. See, in the smaller towns, Ames was all there was. So now, people have to drive over an hour just to buy socks and underwear! Once the store closed I went back to college and am now teaching and finishing up my degree. I'd go back to Ames in a heartbeat though if they ever reopened. I knew my job like the back of my hand, I could do it in my sleep. The Ames in Saranac Lake was converted to 2 stores: Ace Hardware and an Automotive store; the Ames in Tupper Lake tried to be another dept store but it failed miserably and now stands empty. The Ames in Plattsburgh on Cornelia Street stands empty with the Ames sign still up. The manager of that store kept that store SPOTLESS. He was a tough manager but a good one. Mr. Nelson!!! He had been with Ames forever. The Ames, former Hills, in the mall is now a Target. From reading the old posts here it appears a lot of Ames are still vacant, and some haved turned into other things. I wish I had kept some momentos, I was just so mad at the time that I kept nothing. :-( 

The sad thing is, it never needed to close. If we had not taken over Hills and tried to compete in the larger markets we would have been fine. If we had closed the stores not making it but kept the ones that were we would have been fine. The Saranac Lake store did over 10 million dollars a year! The resort stores kicked butt. However, our greedy CEO got himself into some hot water that he could only get himself out of by closing the whole chain. It mattered not that it cost everyone their jobs. When we were doing so poorly he still walked away with a huge bonus each year. It was only during the final year that he so kindly decided not to take one. Too little too late. We all still miss it and many many customers miss it as well. An unecessary loss.

Michelle

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/tags004.jpg)

I likely have the nicest, near-complete collection of boxed Incredible Crash Dummies toys in the entire US.
Many of them still have price tags on them, including this one with an Ames tag for $7.99. It is from 1993.

Patk, is the whole shopping center with the old Ames closed?  It looks in great condition! 

Oh, wow. I'm glad to notice I'm not the only person in the world who misses Ames to death.

Being 21 and from Canada, I don't recognize over half of those old chains, but Ames, however, will always hold a place in my heart. Ames was my very favourite discounter back then. When I used to take trips to the US, mainly in New England states, my family and I would stop at Ames for our shopping. I must say, Ames is the store in which my fondest childhood shopping memories took place. I am a Target supporter now, but Idk... Ames had this... Idk, charm, that Wal-Mart and Kmart didn't have, that made me enjoy it. My parents often had to drag me out of the store. ;D

And I enjoyed it far more than my Canadian discount chains (Wal-Mart and Zellers). I often hope Ames will not only be reborn, but in the far future expand into my lonely Frozen North, but I know it's a lost cause. Sad, isn't it?

Welcome to the forum.

AMES was definitely a favorite of mine as was Caldor. I wasn't too fond of Bradlees and Zayre became AMES when I was really young (I'm 28 now), so I have no memory of Zayre.

DSM (Demoulas Super Markets) Realty has been trying to demolish the long-vacant former Ames in Seabrook, NH and expand its Market Basket supermarket for the past two and a half years.  They've run into a number of issues including State of New Hampshire red tape and higher-than-anticipated costs and have put the project on hold.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110120-NEWS-110129982

I went to the former Peterborough, NH location yesterday (ocean state)
on the last page of this thread you can see some shots i took of the store 3 years ago, it still looks just the same, though a few other things in the plaza have come and gone since my last visit.
Of all the former Ames I ever visit this one still looks the most like it is still an Ames
No remodeling whatsoever to the outside or inside, the front vestibule is what I consider "vintage" ames
The counters and walls of this store are still the same mint Ames green. Same register number signs, polls, i think even the shelves are still from Ames
Yesterday I went in and they have tons of giant K.B. Toys bags at all registers, I bought a larger item just so i could get one.

Quote from: beachgal26 on August 31, 2010, 02:18:41 AM
Patk, is the whole shopping center with the old Ames closed?  It looks in great condition! 

well 1/2 of it is!

October 2006: The former Ames is still vacant, and a quarter of the store is cordoned off as a Halloween Express.
(http://i.imgur.com/awVSVl.jpg)

December 2011: The store has been a Big Lots for nearly six months, having been completely overhauled in the process.
(http://i.imgur.com/CKfKSl.jpg)

Sad to see an old friend go, but as Colin Baker's incarnation of the Doctor said, "Planets come and go. Stars perish. Matter disperses, coalesces, forms into other patterns, other worlds. Nothing can be eternal."

Found these photos of Ames during their closures. These photos are not in the store locator

Middletown, Rhode Island during Ames second to last wave of closings. Former Zayre. Did it have red paint ever? Photo taken December 5th, 2001.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/2001_December_5_Middletown_RI_Ames.jpg)

A few other shots of this Ames are on labelscar, but the above photo is nicer...two identical Grand AM's???
http://www.labelscar.com/retail-stores/ames


Saugus, Massachusetts. This store does not have any good on-ground photographs in the locator as an Ames. Photo taken August 14th, 2002
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/2002_August_14_Saugas_MA_Ames.jpg)


Bloomfield, Connecticut shoppers on August 18th, 2002. There are no photos in the store locator of this location as an Ames.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/tyler/2002_August_18_Bloomfield_Conn_Ames.jpg)



Is it my imagination, or are the shopping carts in these photos slightly different?

(http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/outoftown/pennsylvania/central/pa61/311990rte61.jpg)


Also, not sure but this might still be a vacant Ames in Coal Township, Pennsylvania.
http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/outoftown/pennsylvania/central/pa61/index.htm
Photo came from this page. The logo is no longer on the building, not sure about the road sign.

http://www.theseamericans.com/exteriors/baltimore-collection-ames-department-store-1992/

(http://www.theseamericans.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/26459448-950x640.jpg)

Another Ames, closed in 1992, that is not seen in the store locator. This location is now a supermarket, building does not look the same.

Springfield, Vermont plaza. Very little information on this plaza exists


(http://www.shaws.com/shaws/stores/storeimages/7531.jpg)

From the Shaw's website, this is the former Ames in Springfield, VT. Those Ames holes are still there.....The inside of the store is fully unrecognizable, but the outside is unchanged.
I was born in the hospital behind this Ames, and went to it a couple days a week my entire childhood until my parents divorced in 1995. It closed with the chain in 2002 I believe, but my last visit actually going inside must have been 1998 or so, after that it would just be something to occasionally drive past. I would love to know the history of this store, I only remember it as an Ames. The history of this plaza goes well before Ames entry to Vermont in 1979 so it was originally something else.

This plaza sign from the 70's is all I've ever found of this plaza. I never remember this plaza having this sign, or any sign, even back as Ames. Maybe just fuzzy memory. I haven't been to this town in years now, I can't remember if it's even got a sign or not!
(http://www.freedomandunity.org/vt_transition/images/shopping.gif)
I never remember a Sears being in this plaza. It must have been on the opposite side of the plaza
Britt's Department Store is what Ames became. I only found that out from this obituary I found online

Geneva V. Clough Burke, 89, of Springfield, died January 28, 2012. Mrs. Burke worked for many years in Springfield at Britts Department Store, later known as Ames Department Store, retiring in 1987. She is survived by six children, including Brian Clough of Springfield.

So Britts is what became Ames, I can't say I've ever heard of Britts Department Store. Wikipedia lists them as defunct in 1982 so that is likely when it switched to Ames. You can see the entire front of the store in the background of this picture (thought blocked by the checkered Idlenot restaurant sign in the middle of the plaza)
I never remember the facade of Ames sticking up in the air like that. It always looked the same as it does as a Shaws
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/AmesSpringfield.jpg)

My parents used to talk about the restaurant in the middle of the plaza, it was demolished before I was ever born.
You can see it in this picture though. Young's Furniture and Appliance is about 100 years old and still exists. I can remember this plaza
I think the Friendly's that was next to Ames is from the late 70's/early 80's and last I knew was still open.
The bowling alley (Plaza Bowl) is recorded as opening in 1963, possibly the plaza's inception.






In 2005 the plaza went under turmoil when the front of endcap Grand Union was demolished at the front and the store was fully remodeled including floor and lights.
My family's construction company came in to look at the building in 2003 or 2004 before deciding not to take the job, and I went along to inspect the building. I really wish I had taken a bunch of photographs while the Grand Union facade still existed. It looked the same as every GU in the area always did, the familiar arch windows...
These three photos come from the company that did end up doing the work. Gives me memories, can't believe it was about a decade ago I was there to survey the area...
(http://wrightconstruction.com/wp-content/gallery/peebles-department-store/peebles1.jpg)
(http://wrightconstruction.com/wp-content/gallery/peebles-department-store/peebles2.jpg)
In the end, it looked like this
(http://wrightconstruction.com/wp-content/gallery/peebles-department-store/peebles3.jpg)




Though I've never been inside this jewelry, I feel as though I've always seen it my whole life next to Ames. It is still there. Certainly looks 1980's
(http://compasspaper.com/clients/compasspaper/10-23-2010-11-01-57-AM-1936046.jpg)


But for Ames...
So many memories in this store though. I can still perfectly picture the entire layout. I sometimes think it would be incredibly comforting to once again walk into that electronics department to hear that little motion sensor beep! There has never been a picture of this store online as an Ames.
Back in the 90's this plaza had a Grand Union and Price Chopper, now neither of them are grocery stores, but the former Ames is! Quite strange.
This was pretty much the only plaza in the entire town, and is quite a few miles from the highway, it always felt a bit of a "middle of nowhere" plaza. Since Ames closed this area has about a 20/25 minute drive to the nearest Walmart, the town really died in the late 70's with the mill industry.
You can see the punctures still in the facade from Ames logo, as well as Osco underneath the Shaw's logo

The Ames in Oxford, ME has been subdivided into Ocean State Job Lot and Dollar Tree. Photo forthcoming...

Edit: Here it is...forgot that I posted in this thread too!

Quote from: retailisking on April 10, 2012, 06:20:42 PM
The Ames in Oxford, ME has been subdivided into Ocean State Job Lot and Dollar Tree. Photo forthcoming...

Thanks for the update

Quote from: AmesNewington on August 01, 2009, 08:58:36 PM
I was heading towards the shoreline in CT this week with my family on Route 2 and noticed that the Ames sign on the East Hartford, CT store was completely removed (even the green background). Every year I look towards the Shaw's plaza to see the sign. It stayed for quite some time though. This particular Ames sign was supposedly used on the Ames website. It's sad.

Did anything go into the East Hartford's Ames, yet?

Part of the former Ames in Millinocket, ME is going to become a Tractor Supply
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/04/27/news/penobscot/tractor-supply-co-signs-lease-to-open-outlet-in-millinocket/

Hannaford owns the building, and they have no interest in renting the space to a would-be competitor
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120521/GJNEWS_01/705219952

Quote from: retailisking on May 24, 2012, 12:06:40 AM
Hannaford owns the building, and they have no interest in renting the space to a would-be competitor
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120521/GJNEWS_01/705219952

Unbelivable!  I would welcome a retailer in that area.

There is also the vacant Stop&Shop parcel at left of Staples that is also available in Dover.

Quote from: Zayre88 on June 16, 2012, 06:35:19 PM

Quote from: retailisking on May 24, 2012, 12:06:40 AM
Hannaford owns the building, and they have no interest in renting the space to a would-be competitor
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120521/GJNEWS_01/705219952

Unbelivable!  I would welcome a retailer in that area.

There is also the vacant Stop&Shop parcel at left of Staples that is also available in Dover.

I saw that parcel on a lease map.  Did Stop & Shop build a store and leave it vacant or just plan a store that was never built?

Quote from: standa on June 17, 2012, 08:45:08 AM

Quote from: Zayre88 on June 16, 2012, 06:35:19 PM

Quote from: retailisking on May 24, 2012, 12:06:40 AM
Hannaford owns the building, and they have no interest in renting the space to a would-be competitor
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120521/GJNEWS_01/705219952

Unbelivable!  I would welcome a retailer in that area.

There is also the vacant Stop&Shop parcel at left of Staples that is also available in Dover.

I saw that parcel on a lease map.  Did Stop & Shop build a store and leave it vacant or just plan a store that was never built?

I don't know the whole story but it's most likely a store that was never built.  Back to Ames, it's incredible that the Dover store has sat vacant for 10 years!  Same thing for another NH store in Seabrook.  The Seabrook store could be razed as part of a plan to rebuild the entire shopping center where it was located.

The store locator shows that Baltimore, Maryland had four different Ames throughout the years, but only one of them has any photograph at all. These are two other Baltimore area locations that I think are supposed to be those. They are also listed as their separate metro areas.


Here is the Glen Burnie, Maryland location which closed in 1990 and has no photos in the store locator.
July 2nd, 1990 at 7900 Black Crane Highway, Glen Burnie. It was Store # 2583.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1990_Baltimore_Ames.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1990_Baltimore_Ames_2.jpg)



March 26th, 1992 at 8500 Black Liberty Road, Randallstown. It was Store # 0521.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1992_Baltimore_Ames.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1992_Baltimore_Ames_1.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/more/1992_Baltimore_Ames_2.jpg)

Quote from: TRJ_22487 on June 18, 2012, 05:44:50 PM
The store locator shows that Baltimore, Maryland had four different Ames throughout the years, but only one of them has any photograph at all. These are two other Baltimore area locations that I think are supposed to be those. They are also listed as their separate metro areas.


Here is the Glen Burnie, Maryland location which closed in 1990 and has no photos in the store locator.
July 2nd, 1990 at 7900 Black Crane Highway, Glen Burnie. It was Store # 2583.

March 26th, 1992 at 8500 Black Liberty Road, Randallstown. It was Store # 0521.

In both of the above, it looks like the blk refers to BLOCK not BLACK

(Thus the Glen Burnie one is in the 7900 Block of CRAIN Highway and the Randallstown one is the 8500 Block of Liberty Road)

If I remember correctly, Crain Highway branches off of Ritchie Highway (MD 2, which is one of the main routes in the Glen Burnie area, connecting Baltimore to the Annapolis area) at a Y angle - not sure exactly how far you go to get to the 7900 block.

Ah, good catch. I've been to that area all of like three times in my life haha.

I noticed today if you go to http://amesstores.com you end up at a Honeywell security console.

Drove past the Ames in Jay Maine today its now a Dollar Tree unsure how much spce they leased but a labelscar of the A was on the building while D.T. covered the rest of it got a few pics il upload soon not good quality stuff but nice enuff

Just saw this on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-NOS-AMES-DEPARTMENT-STORE-TOTE-BAG-STILL-IN-ORIGINAL-PACKAGING-/181110137424?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a2b016250

My mom bought some place-mats at a yard sale yesterday that were originally purchased at AMES.

I just found out the Ames in Vineland NJ was built as a King's in 1964. It seems so weird because I was absolutely convinced it was a Zayre (but that was just a guess based on the appearance, and I guess most discount stores in the old days looked alike).

painted post ny
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e232/CharmedOne9805/255_zpseeb830b8.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/CharmedOne9805/media/255_zpseeb830b8.jpg.html)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e232/CharmedOne9805/gh_zpsfcf216fd.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/CharmedOne9805/media/gh_zpsfcf216fd.jpg.html)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e232/CharmedOne9805/paintedpostny_zps000bbe82.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/CharmedOne9805/media/paintedpostny_zps000bbe82.jpg.html)

In the back room of biglots in Westminster, MD

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s540/zonezilla/CAM00327_zpsefd83d3a.jpg) (http://s1304.photobucket.com/user/zonezilla/media/CAM00327_zpsefd83d3a.jpg.html)

(http://i1304.photobucket.com/albums/s540/zonezilla/CAM00329_zps5558ff4c.jpg) (http://s1304.photobucket.com/user/zonezilla/media/CAM00329_zps5558ff4c.jpg.html)

WOW that Ames in Painted Post looks like a former Kmart inside. Could it have been one? Grant City had a store in Paulsboro, NJ which became a Kmart, but closed and became an Ames in 1984. This site must be jinxed because the Ames closed in 1992, long before both Ames and Kmart declared bankruptcy.

I say we all petition Total Wine (& More) to open a store at the empty Ames site in Painted Post, NY making it their very first store in New York state. I'm sure a lot of Canadians would be attracted to the store with its huge selection and much lower prices on everything than the Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores (Ontario isn't that far away from this part of NY).

Canadians don't need much encouragement to engage in smuggling.
My Ames store was only about 30 miles from the border.  We would be
overrun by Canadian customers on weekends.  They would put on five
layers of new clothing they had just bought and smuggle it home.

"Anything to declare?"  "No, sir, Officer, eh?"

Michigan sales tax at the time was 4%.  In Ontario, between sales tax and
GST you were paying around 15%.

Left their old duds lying all over the parking lot.

Painted Post, NY is a former Weston's.

Quote from: TheFugitive on April 11, 2014, 08:22:29 AM
Canadians don't need much encouragement to engage in smuggling.
My Ames store was only about 30 miles from the border.  We would be
overrun by Canadian customers on weekends.  They would put on five
layers of new clothing they had just bought and smuggle it home.

"Anything to declare?"  "No, sir, Officer, eh?"

Michigan sales tax at the time was 4%.  In Ontario, between sales tax and
GST you were paying around 15%.

Left their old duds lying all over the parking lot.

My goal wouldn't be for anyone to break any laws... it's just that most liquor stores in NY suck, and non-food stores are allowed to sell beer but no other booze. Also Painted Post is in a region of the state with a lot of wineries, which right now seem to have nowhere decent to sell their products (except for at the wineries themselves).

Quote from: muppethammer26 on April 13, 2014, 01:48:44 PM
When I was about to land at Orlando Airport at night, I saw some storefront lights with green letters, thinking that Ames still exist in Florida, just with darker green letters.

No way. Ames is long gone, even though some of their stores are still empty, maybe even with their signs still up.

Quote from: muppethammer26 on April 14, 2014, 02:40:40 PM
I saw like ten of them. Do you know which stores or store chains in Orlando and Florida uses green letters?

Publix? The famous Florida supermarket chain?

There probably are a few Publix stores that were once Ames and probably Zayre before that. I personally can't name any, but I know at least one Publix in a former Albertsons, and very close to it I know of a former Eckerd that now is a CVS. Also in that region of Florida I know of a former Mobil that later was an Amoco but with the BP sunburst logo combined with the lowercase Amoco script on its street sign. Not sure but I'm assuming this station is almost certainly a BP today if it is still a gas station at all, but I could be completely wrong.

The Big Lots in Cleona PA is actually NOT the former Ames in Cleona. Instead the Ames (which was both King's and Zayre in a past life) was demolished for the current Giant next to the Big Lots. The current building where Big Lots is once was an IGA store that opened in the late 80's but closed very soon afterward. But the Giant could easily be mistaken for an 80's Giant and the Big Lots could be mistaken for a 60's/70's IGA that became Big Lots in the 80's...

I noticed that the former location in Paulsboro, New Jersey isn't on the store locator:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/62355920@N00/6356682287/in/photolist-aFJ6Xp-aFHEbt-aFH2kZ-dcKm6j

Not only is this a former Ames, Kmart AND Grant City...it's been abandoned since the early 90s! There's also an abandoned Acme supermarket at the other end of the shopping center, which the Acme Style Blog has photos of. It's also been abandoned since the early 90s, and the windows are uncovered; so you can see the old-school decor inside! On top of all that, there's an abandoned Fotomat in the parking lot!

came across this im assuming its fake?
http://amesdepartmentstores.com/

also this was interesting dont know what location it was recorded in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkWvNs0sPLA

Quote from: Caldor1999 on November 03, 2015, 01:04:34 AM
came across this im assuming its fake?
http://amesdepartmentstores.com/

Kind of looks like someone is using it as a site similar to a Big Lots with miscellaneous items from other stores.  Perhaps they figured the name would help people spot it?

Quote from: BillyGr on November 03, 2015, 12:46:14 PM

Quote from: Caldor1999 on November 03, 2015, 01:04:34 AM
came across this im assuming its fake?
http://amesdepartmentstores.com/

Kind of looks like someone is using it as a site similar to a Big Lots with miscellaneous items from other stores.  Perhaps they figured the name would help people spot it?

That's the most mediocre use of the Ames name on the World Wide Web, plus the site sells a bunch of low-quality junk. The real Ames (or what is left of it) would not approve.

Quote from: ShopKoFan on November 05, 2015, 07:16:22 PM

Quote from: BillyGr on November 03, 2015, 12:46:14 PM

Quote from: Caldor1999 on November 03, 2015, 01:04:34 AM
came across this im assuming its fake?
http://amesdepartmentstores.com/

Kind of looks like someone is using it as a site similar to a Big Lots with miscellaneous items from other stores.  Perhaps they figured the name would help people spot it?

That's the most mediocre use of the Ames name on the World Wide Web, plus the site sells a bunch of low-quality junk. The real Ames (or what is left of it) would not approve.

I dunno.  I spent five years as an Ames manager and we stocked our share of low-quality junk.

This is the information I found under the Contact Us Icon!
AMES Department Store
117 West Main
Sedan, Kansas 67361
United States
Customer Service
1.316.243.1340

Customer Orders
1.316.243.1798
If you have a customer service issue please email customerservice@amesdepartmentstores.com

its still up as of january 2015

Sedan, Kansas.   Population 1,124.

SAAAAA-LUUUUUTE!!!    ;D




(http://www.welkmusicalfamily.com/RFD082.jpg)

*Bump*
Fake Ames Big Lots-Like site still up as of 2016. Do we know of any company that owns Ames, or someone that speculativley owns the copyright? They must be the one who keeps the Phone Line up, which is still active as of late 2015. I'll have to retry it, i'm in CT so it's local. Any significant people hat we know are still out there? Administrations on this board even?

I registered on there sight it sent me a email welcoming me . i have not ordered anything but they use Paypal  for payments. my guess is they bought the name and trademark from the courts  just as Circuit city sold there name and are about to return this spring  although a much smaller footprint. 

I think it would've been more fitting, if the Ames site was based out of Ames, Iowa, get it? :D

A city named for a type of automobile, in Kansas?

I found some *new* Ames pictures from GettyImages that I have never seen before and I'm not sure if all of these stores are in the locator yet

1989 Ames logo replacing Zayre
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/siteride/1989_Ames_Replacing_Zayre_zpsglzp0gph.jpg)

October 2001 Ames in Chicago, Illinois (3445 S Martin Luther King Dr. - NO PICTURES in store locator as an Ames)
http://www.amesfanclub.com/forum/gallery/main.php/v/ames/stores/IL/chicago/3445+s+martin+luther+king+dr/ve/chicago_martin6.jpg.html
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/siteride/2001_October_Ames_Chicago_zpsmogisnke.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/siteride/2001_October_Ames_Chicago_2_zpsopwvp2fj.jpg)

2002 South Portland, Maine store closing (this picture is in the store locator in very low resolution)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/siteride/2002_Ames_South_Portland_Maine_zpshlor0fxj.jpg)

August 2002 Ames in Alexandria, Virginia (Richmond Highway location) final days open
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/siteride/2002_Ames_Alexandria_Virginia_1_zpskx3jzhgt.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/siteride/2002_Ames_Alexandria_Virginia_zpshpznbpcf.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/siteride/2002_Ames_Alexandria_Virginia_2_zpshbhgkxn8.jpg)

2004 Falmouth, Maine during plaza remodeling (this picture is in the store locator in very low resolution)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/CorporateA/siteride/2004_Ames_Falmouth_zpscoa4zcue.jpg)

Nice pics!

That one of the Ames sign replacing Zayre takes me back to the six weeks I spent in
Jacksonville, Florida changing a Zayre over to an Ames in 1989.

The ex-Zayre Ames stores in Chicago were a disaster.  They all ran incredibly high shrink.
Quickly closed and forgotten.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BDbbRDhqeVJ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BDbf0BhKef0/

Endwell, NY location as of now.

(If any of y'all have Instagram I'm @patrickbootscec ..It's a great platform for photo sharing and messaging. "Direct Messages" are done in real time and can include a lot of people, if any of you guys would be interested in hosting a chat or something if you have it.)

PART of the Ames in Dayville, CT is still intact, with all the stickers on the doors and a desk still inside. The whole plaza was revamped back in 2010 though, with Aldi moving into part of the Ames, Dollar Tree moving into part of the old Beit Brothers supermarket , Planet Fitness moving into another part of Ames, and a vacant tenant usually used by Spirit Halloween around early September to early November, also part of the old supermarket. I believe if you went there before the whole plaza was remodeled and you rung the receiving bell, it would actually work. The Ames street sign used to light up until the Beit Bros. supermarket was closed around mid-2008. When I also went in late 2008 (around November), there was actually a red rusted Ames shopping cart (!!) in the back of the store along with TONS of graffiti. Behind the plaza is a former movie theater (don't feel too bad, the place was a total DUMP) and a vacant small strip adjacent to the plaza with a old Carvel, antique shop, and a former place called "Arc's Thriftque", which opened around 2007 and closed shortly after. There used to be a Dunkin Donuts' and a gas station called "Dayville Fuels" across from the Ames, but the Dunkin turned into a Chock Full 'O Nuts then a Sam's Discount Food Store and Smoker's World afterward. The Dayville Fuels has turned into a Gulf gas station. Also across the street there used to be a Cumberland Farms (now Fresh Farm), a Japanese grille, an H&R Block, a antique diner called "Zip's Diner", and some other local businesses.

Former Ames in New Hartford, NY.

(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7346/26905139323_88c7fa58af_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GZvSyt)Former Ames, New Hartford, NY (https://flic.kr/p/GZvSyt) by Harvestman Man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/124303530@N08/), on Flickr
(https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7540/26905146543_06b2f67717_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GZvUGX)Former Ames, New Hartford, NY (2) (https://flic.kr/p/GZvUGX) by Harvestman Man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/124303530@N08/), on Flickr

Looks like they may have left the lighting intact, but apart from that, not a whole lot to go by.

Except for this - looks like the registers are still Ames green!

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7741/27513033985_5ea047bb13_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/HVeusV)Former Ames, New Hartford, NY (4) (https://flic.kr/p/HVeusV) by Harvestman Man (https://www.flickr.com/photos/124303530@N08/), on Flickr

My Grandmother passed away earlier this year and when cleaning out her storage locker I came across all of this yarn and ribbon most of it still with Ames and Caldor price tags unused

(https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15355734_1312725568759058_929107633775859480_n.jpg?oh=a245f96d68ebdc70ee1b50c8c201f8e4&oe=58E95BC9)

First post! One of my earliest memories is shopping with my mother at Ames #1097 (former Hills) for, I believe, plastic storage bins of some kind. The Bed Bath and Beyond I work at now stands on the site of the old Ames.

(https://s21.postimg.org/puo4qesiv/Screenshot_5.png)

I hope to get out to this one, Collins #97. Hasn't been touched in 15 years. It stands on a rural strip, lonely and neglected. I expect to make a pilgrimage out there sometime this summer, it being an hour's drive away.

lol I just noticed the Ames pictured in your website banner is the one in my current city... the Schenectady, NY Ames in the dutchtown plaza that was formerly a Caldor.. now a gym and a pricerite

(https://s1.postimg.org/fg3a6ukfz/IMG_8901_2.jpg)



Ames #1077 in South Cheektowaga, NY. Just visited yesterday and the day before that. They are tearing down this abandoned plaza to put in an industrial park, and I believe the Ames (formerly a Hills, then a Grants before that) will be part of a warehouse.

(https://s30.postimg.org/ivxicxzcx/IMG_8969_2.jpg)

Couldn't get inside due to Asbestos removal going on before demo.

(https://s10.postimg.org/z8xqlav15/IMG_8966_2.jpg)

All that's left of anything Ames at this building is the "Sensormatic" sticker on the front door (old school folding style, nice)

(https://s10.postimg.org/tjhi0zoux/IMG_8955_2.jpg)

Cardboard compactor looks to have been here. Interestingly, there appears to be an incinerator still left.

(https://s10.postimg.org/bfehgcr6h/IMG_8893_2.jpg)

There's a cool abandoned Vix (former Tops) at the other end of the plaza.

I just took these today (6/9/2017). This was in a ditch behind the old Ames store (now an Ocean State Job Lot) on Memorial Drive in Chicopee, MA. I nearly killed myself going down there but it was worth it.

This is inside the Ocean State Job Lot store on Memorial Dr. in Chicopee, MA. I decided to go inside because back like 5 years ago I remember the walls and register areas were untouched from when the store was Ames. I wanted to check if they were still there and they are! The whole back is used for storage but it's totally untouched. Talk about a time capsule. You walk in there and you feel like you are in the 90's!!

Quote from: Kmart4life on November 27, 2015, 01:08:06 AM
This is the information I found under the Contact Us Icon!
AMES Department Store
117 West Main
Sedan, Kansas 67361
United States
Customer Service
1.316.243.1340

Customer Orders
1.316.243.1798
If you have a customer service issue please email customerservice@amesdepartmentstores.com

It's apparently located inside a bank in the middle of nowhere. Also congrats for them being 1,500 miles away (https://goo.gl/maps/YCfSCJkGroK2) from the real Ames HQ

I found this photo online from inside an Ames in 1981, two girls looking through a Pizzazz Jeans rack

(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/46/3e/e3/463ee32d542dd9e3504e0771bc855572--vintage-stores-vintage-ads.jpg)

I was wondering which CT Ames stores were built as Ames. I know East Haven, and probably Rocky Hill were Ames since the beginning.
Were there any other ones?
The other Ames stores I can think of were previously Kings, Zayre or Caldor.

Quote from: standa on January 15, 2018, 11:52:43 AM
I was wondering which CT Ames stores were built as Ames. I know East Haven, and probably Rocky Hill were Ames since the beginning.
Were there any other ones?
The other Ames stores I can think of were previously Kings, Zayre or Caldor.

Dayville, Jewett City, maybe Groton, maybe Enfield, Putnam, Norwich. I can't remember any other stores original build.

Quote from: JJBers on September 27, 2017, 09:18:37 AM

Quote from: Kmart4life on November 27, 2015, 01:08:06 AM
This is the information I found under the Contact Us Icon!
AMES Department Store
117 West Main
Sedan, Kansas 67361
United States
Customer Service
1.316.243.1340

Customer Orders
1.316.243.1798
If you have a customer service issue please email customerservice@amesdepartmentstores.com

It's apparently located inside a bank in the middle of nowhere. Also congrats for them being 1,500 miles away (https://goo.gl/maps/YCfSCJkGroK2) from the real Ames HQ

I searched on Google.com, and a furniture store points to that address. It is not located inside a bank, nor is it in the middle of nowhere. It's in the downtown of a rural community.

Quote from: standa on January 15, 2018, 11:52:43 AM
I was wondering which CT Ames stores were built as Ames. I know East Haven, and probably Rocky Hill were Ames since the beginning.
Were there any other ones?
The other Ames stores I can think of were previously Kings, Zayre or Caldor.

At least one (and probably a couple, maybe more) in NY were.

The East Greenbush (AKA Rensselaer) one on Columbia Turnpike (Rts. 9 & 20) - that whole plaza was fairly new, the other end being built as a ShopRite when they were first in the Albany area (with the smaller stores up to the Rite Aid pharmacy) and the Ames end added later on when they opened.

Not for certain, but the Greenville NY store looks to be one they built (being in a smaller town they may not have had anything like that previously - it's now a hardware/building store).  If you look at the two in pictures on the locator page they look to be similarly built.

Quote from: ShopKoFan on January 23, 2018, 12:46:41 AM

Quote from: JJBers on September 27, 2017, 09:18:37 AM

Quote from: Kmart4life on November 27, 2015, 01:08:06 AM
This is the information I found under the Contact Us Icon!
AMES Department Store
117 West Main
Sedan, Kansas 67361
United States
Customer Service
1.316.243.1340

Customer Orders
1.316.243.1798
If you have a customer service issue please email customerservice@amesdepartmentstores.com

It's apparently located inside a bank in the middle of nowhere. Also congrats for them being 1,500 miles away (https://goo.gl/maps/YCfSCJkGroK2) from the real Ames HQ

I searched on Google.com, and a furniture store points to that address. It is not located inside a bank, nor is it in the middle of nowhere. It's in the downtown of a rural community.

That was 4 months ago, plus the city is kinda in the middle of Farmtown USA.

I'm waiting for the day their site goes under. I would love to buy the domain off their hands, and start a website that sells discount store-quality goods.

I went to an Ocean State Job Lot store that used to be an Ames location and noticed that there were spotlights on the ceiling:

https://retail247.blogspot.com/2022/09/store-tour-ocean-state-job-lot-warren-ri.html

Job Lot wasn't using them so I'm assuming that they're original from Ames, but it doesn't seem likely.

Did Ames ever use spotlights in their stores?

We had some spotlighting in my Ames store in Imlay City, Michigan in the early 90's.  It was a newly constructed store. We did not have them in Hillsdale, my previous store (which was an old G.C. Murphy Mart).  The spotlights were mainly configured around the front of the ladieswear department where our store was one of those experimenting with a Gitano fashion-forward shop.