disscus
King's acquired Mammoth Mart, Ames acquired King's... i don't know much about King's but i do get e-mails about it sometimes
Here's a pic i recently found of an original King's, at last!:yup:
The Ames in Hudson, New York used to be a Kings.
kings used to be here til 1983 then closed i used to remember going there.
rte 21 cener st ludlow.ma
meadow st chicopee,ma
n main st rte 83 east longmeadow.ma
rte 75 suffield st agawam,ma
e main st rte 20 westfield,ma
the chain was auqirred by ames in 1984 thats when kings went out hears a pic of the carmel ames this was a kings to Hannafored is gonna tear it down to make there stupit super market:flaming::mad::flaming::mad: lol this what happends when i try to down size my pictures
yes, I was right..the Carmel one was a Kings..heh :bouncing:
I grew up around a Kings, but I don't think Ames aquired that one because it is still in business. I will try and get pics soon.
Here's something cool I found today from Kings... You can't really see it from the phone quality camera picture, but the pricetag says "Kings" on it!
(http://www.amesfanclub.com/images/cell.cam/kings_close.jpg)
oh i thought i would never see a kings price sticker again wow :o;)
some old kings ads1
kings ads2
That last ad lists "broad street, manchester" thats the dead plaza from the bradlees thread, the store was a King's before it became the bradlees.
QuoteOriginally posted by Anonymous
That last ad lists "broad street, manchester" thats the dead plaza from the bradlees thread, the store was a King's before it became the bradlees.
a little unknown fact about Bradlees and Caldor is that Bradlees and Caldor bought a few of ames locatios on thje early 1990's when ames closed some due to the ch11 fileing Caldor also took over a few Zayre Locations too:bounce:
heres the former plaza with KINGS and Big Y still standing with Polep's and Brooks Pharmacy only in the plaza today
meadow st chicopee.ma
n main st east longmeadow,ma big y plaza
formely:Princess parlour,Kings,Big y
Now:Home goods,staples,and Big y world class market
my town ludlow and the big y plaza
formely Princess parlour,Fotomat,Lois and Clark Drug,,KING"S
Newstand,TNT auto,Gloria Gaynor Fitness,Cvs Pharmacy
Now Big y world Class market,Blackbuster Video,Hanson jewlets,a Footware storre,jo ann Favrics Rocky's hardware,Fashion Bug,Napa
We still have Kings here in the midwest. Perhaps it is a different chain using the same name. :huh:
picture of a kings store open from inside a kings from the midwest
by the way there is a kings store with a different logo in the midwest ive seen it q while ago and posted it on this board umm the old board that is.
from zayre 88's site:
(http://www.geocities.com/zayre88/logo-kings.jpg)
big y plaza ludlow 1982
this one became MARS later in 1980's
big y plaza el 1982
this one became ames in 1983
k i n g "crown" S
kings!
LOCATIONS (According to zayre 88's site)
Cumberland MD
Virginia Beach VA
Youngstown OH
Wilmington NC
Owensboro KY
Sanford NC
Ashboro NC
Fairless Hills PA
Statesville NC
Falmouth ME
Bangor ME
Fairhaven MA
New Bedford MA
Tewksbury MA
Brattleboro VT
Plaistow NH
Hyannis MA
Methuen MA
Amesbury MA
Concord NH
Somersworth NH
Derby VT
Wallingford CT
New Haven CT
Hamden CT
Brockton MA
Augusta ME
Ellsworth ME
Rockland ME
kings new logo
kings
kings2
QuoteOriginally posted by 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB
QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
kings!
Not bad at all !
good job!
thanks :)
heres my idea with king's
overview zayre 88's page
OVERVIEW
I don't have a lot if official information about King's. I do know that it operated in the 70's and 80's.
In 1974, the Mammoth Mart chain filled for bankruptcy and it was later acquired by King's Department Stores, Inc. in 1978. Kings Department Stores, Inc. changed their name to KDT Industries, Inc. but i don't know when. King's had financial troubles after the acquisition and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1982. King's had 8,000 employees and sales of 1,344,000,000 $ before filling for Chapter 11. The chain finally closed in 1984. Ames acquired King's in 1984, opening new stores at many former King's locations.
i think i was always rayco im not sure but thanks for the compliments 76:P
QuoteOriginally posted by 76BraldorZayKamesfanBBTB
QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
kings
Thats nice!!!
What font is that?
Loki-Cola
signature style
caldor under rjf (my idea) smaller version
caldor under rjf hahahahahaha
dose anyone have a picture of a Kings open or closed
hears a better picture of me standing outsied of this former Amees/kings u can also see this store in teh store locator
under Carmel NY
QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
LOCATIONS (According to zayre 88's site)
Cumberland MD
Virginia Beach VA
Youngstown OH
Wilmington NC
Owensboro KY
Sanford NC
Ashboro NC
Fairless Hills PA
Statesville NC
Falmouth ME
Bangor ME
Fairhaven MA
New Bedford MA
Tewksbury MA
Brattleboro VT
Plaistow NH
Hyannis MA
Methuen MA
Amesbury MA
Concord NH
Somersworth NH
Derby VT
Wallingford CT
New Haven CT
Hamden CT
Brockton MA
Augusta ME
Ellsworth ME
Rockland ME
King's closed in late 1982. I was not born when they closed since I was born in March 1983, and their stores where old and like 50,000s or 60,000s square feet.
they had 181 stores. These are the King's that I only know of in CT: Dayville and was like 65,000 square feet in the tri city Plaza and became Ames; Norwich which opened in 71 and was 68,000 square feet and became Ames; in New haven and became Ames in 83 that closed in 92; in MAnchester CT on Spencer st; in seymour that was 62,000 square feet and became Ames, where was the ones in Wallingford and hamden???
These are the King's that I only know of in Maine: Bangor in WEstgate Plaza; Ellsworth which opened in 71 and was 65,000 square feet and became Ames; falmouth that was 68,000 square feet and became Rich's and then Ames and then a newer Shaw's.
These were the King's that I only knew of in MAss: Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brockton, Canton, Chelmsford Mall that opened in 78 and became Bradlees which probably expanded the building; FAirhaven, Fitchburg which opened in 1962, Franklin Mass which was 52,000 square feet and opened in 63 and became Ames and then Bob's; Greenfield that was 60,000 square feet and BECAME AMES and then a larger Home depot; Hyannis in the Airport Plaza; LEnox in that was 60,000 square feet and became Ames and now is half marshalls; Lowell; Ludlow (now BIG Y); Salaisbury in Crossroads plaza that became MArs and then Stuart's and now Cinemagic; TEwksbury that was 50,000 square feet in the Stadium plaz and opened 67, and became SErvice Merchandise and then now Staples/Dress Barn;
these Kings were in NH: Claremont that was origanlly Giant Department store and became Ames in 1983; Concord NH (Loudon road, 50,000 square feet, opened 67, vacant from late 1982 to early 1999 and torn down in early 1999 and it was just rebuilt into Bed bath beyond adn tj maxx); Giford in Airport Plaza, originally the Mart and became Globe in 1983 and then a cinema and flea market; Keene that was originally Giant Department STore and became Food store and then demolished into K-mart; LEbanon in Mircle Mile Plaza, originally Giant, 48,000 square feet, became a supermarket in 1993, now PC foods; Plaistow in STateline Plaza, opened 67, BECAME AMEs in 1983, now divided into TJ maxx and other stores; Portsmouth in Lafaeytte Plaza and opened 64, and divided to EThan Ellen, Peir 1; SEabrook and nearly 52,000 square feet, opeend 73, and BECAME AMES in 1983, and in Seabrook Plaza; Somersworth (originally the Mart, in the late 40,000s squre feet, BECAME AMES IN 1983 that closed in 1990, now divided to TJ maxx, payless and others;
THESE ARE THE ONES IN KNOW OF IN VT: Derby that was 62,000 square feet, became AMEs, now Shaw's; Rutland in Green mountain plaza , opened 63, 55,000 square feet, and BECAME AMES); Brattleboro (60,000 square feet, now AMES, then NOW HOME DEPOT
any other known King;s?
did they have any locatios in New York because i was told the Ames in Carmel New York was a kings it also had a Auto Center it used in it to
chicopee,ma was a kings the mars now in the plaza with big y closed long time ago as well justa polep's place and a brooks pharmacy on the left side toally abandoned on the right side
QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
did they have any locatios in New York because i was told the Ames in Carmel New York was a kings it also had a Auto Center it used in it to
The former Ames in Hudson (which has been posted in several places) was definitely one (after being Barkers and before Ames). There was also one on Central Avenue in Albany (just below the corner of Everett and the former HoJo/Ground Round- it's now the OTB Teletheater - never became Ames). Probably others, but I only know for sure of those 2.
And looking at your note - the Hudson location had an Auto area too (on the left end) - whether it was used as that during King's time I don't know (for the last few years as Ames it was operated as a separate business with it's own entry - they also had this setup in Saratoga where they had taken over a former Kmart).
QuoteOriginally posted by BillyGr
QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
did they have any locatios in New York because i was told the Ames in Carmel New York was a kings it also had a Auto Center it used in it to
The former Ames in Hudson (which has been posted in several places) was definitely one (after being Barkers and before Ames). There was also one on Central Avenue in Albany (just below the corner of Everett and the former HoJo/Ground Round- it's now the OTB Teletheater - never became Ames). Probably others, but I only know for sure of those 2.
And looking at your note - the Hudson location had an Auto area too (on the left end) - whether it was used as that during King's time I don't know (for the last few years as Ames it was operated as a separate business with it's own entry - they also had this setup in Saratoga where they had taken over a former Kmart).
the one in carmel new york used the auto center when ames was there but i wanna know if it was a kings now the evile hannaford took over the store so ames is no longer there any more:(
Yes, the Carmel, New York store was a Kings. Look at my pic of the Hudson, NY store(and its a good thing I took that pic. It's been heavily remodeled). Same design. You can definetaly see the similarities.
QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
my town ludlow and the big y plaza
formely Princess parlour,Fotomat,Lois and Clark Drug,,KING"S
Newstand,TNT auto,Gloria Gaynor Fitness,Cvs Pharmacy
Here is that plaza in the 60's !
QuoteOriginally posted by Zayre88
QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
my town ludlow and the big y plaza
formely Princess parlour,Fotomat,Lois and Clark Drug,,KING"S
Newstand,TNT auto,Gloria Gaynor Fitness,Cvs Pharmacy
Here is that plaza in the 60's !
Man thats cool!! Impressive pic! Where did you get it?
The Kings in East Providence RI was originally a Mammoth Mart and is now a Burlington Coat Factory. On the side of the building that faces the movie theater on a sunny day one can see the old Kings logo under the paint. My mother has a friend who worked through three versions of the store. I think Kings closed around 1983 because I had just got my Atari and was buying games there since they were cheaper.
QuoteOriginally posted by Crawford
I think Kings closed around 1983 because I had just got my Atari and was buying games there since they were cheaper.
1982 or 1983, around then. My Kings shut down in 1979.
i thought kings closed in 1984
There was also a Kings near Chittenango, NY. I have a pic of it somewhere. I'll post it when I find it. Also, BillyGr, do you have any other King's locations around Albany that you know of? I'll have to get pics of the Central Ave location. Hopefully it still looks original.
On a side note, I have pics of the old Woolworth's in Menands. I'll post those soon too.
QuoteOriginally posted by amesman
There was also a Kings near Chittenango, NY. I have a pic of it somewhere. I'll post it when I find it. Also, BillyGr, do you have any other King's locations around Albany that you know of? I'll have to get pics of the Central Ave location. Hopefully it still looks original.
On a side note, I have pics of the old Woolworth's in Menands. I'll post those soon too.
I don't know of any others for sure - it's possible that another Ames (or two) in the area came from Kings, but I don't know for certain.
King's? The first time I went to a Kig's was in the old the Cheney Mills building ( Manchester Connecticut). It was funny because the Cheney buildings are Condos, and the new King's building -- after it became Bradley when King's closed (Ames was close so they closed it).
when I left connecticut the Broad Street plaza was EMPTY. I heard it'll be torn down for a school.
QuoteOriginally posted by Anonymous
That last ad lists "broad street, manchester" thats the dead plaza from the bradlees thread, the store was a King's before it became the bradlees.
Plaza used to have Bradlees, Stop and Shop with Hoyts Cinema in the back. Photos on Internet captured inside Hoyts. All seats and screen ripped out. Walls scarred by vandals, front windows broken. Bradlees and Stop and Shop spray paint all over them. Windows bordered up since vandals tried to get into them numerous times. Bradlees and Stop and Shop label scars still visible. Be careful driving in parking lot since there is a lot of broken glass.
We had a King's in Bath, NY.. I was way too young to remember much of it though. Although the King's company was bought by Ames, our local store was acquired by Jamesway and only survived for a few years before that chain closed too. The store was vacant for the longest time and then became home to a new True Value hardware store.
This is the store in Albany on Central Avenue. It wasn't converted to Ames as many were, but was bought by OTB to create a Tele-Theater (shows the races, has a bar/restaurant etc.).
There were windows facing Central Ave. when it was a store - they have re-done it quite a bit (the metal siding included).
Zayre saw Ames digest its acquisition of 42 King's stores and open eight new units in 1983. In 1984, Ames will open 12 and remodel 24 stores. Much of this activity is in existing Zayre markets.
what became the old king's in laconia / gilford nh (it was mammoth mart)
QuoteOriginally posted by d_fife
what became the old king's in laconia / gilford nh (it was mammoth mart)
old king's gilford nh
There was a King's located in Quincy, MA in the Presidential Plaza on Quincy Avenue. Also located in the plaza was an Anderson-Little clothing store and a Radio Shack (which is still there), among others. When King's shut down in the early 1980's it became a Bradlees. The store is now part of an asian marketplace called "Kam Man". I believe there was also a King's on route 18 in Weymouth, MA that became a Caldor and is now a "Building 19".
....actually, after Caldor and before Building 19, this location was briefly an AMES!
there was a King's in Meriden, Ct located at the Centential Plaza on the West Side of town. Building is still there boarded up.
QuoteOriginally posted by greg8370
there was a King's in Meriden, Ct located at the Centential Plaza on the West Side of town. Building is still there boarded up.
That was a Kings?! I saw it but wondered for the longest time what it was! I guessed in the slightest Bradlees then. It appears it was most recently home to Railroad Salvage.
QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
LOCATIONS (According to zayre 88's site)
Cumberland MD
Virginia Beach VA
Youngstown OH
Wilmington NC
Owensboro KY
Sanford NC
Ashboro NC
Fairless Hills PA
Statesville NC
a kings in maryland virginia and north carolina and kentucky wow i didnt even noticed that till today
thats a 10 hour ride to virginia
(http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z162/filmo70/kingsad.jpg)
:holysh: wow a kings olor ad
cant belive it
look at the locations elongmeadow agawam ludlow and chicopee anybody with a site with kings better have these locations
the agawam and e longmeadow were ames
the ludlow and chicopee MARS
QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
:holysh: wow a kings olor ad
cant belive it
look at the locations elongmeadow agawam ludlow and chicopee anybody with a site with kings better have these locations
the agawam and e longmeadow were ames
the ludlow and chicopee MARS
Another one I have from 1979 lists additional locations in Lenox (rt 20, Pittsfield state rd), West Hartford (prospect & Kane sts), Greenfield (rt 2)
Here's the AGAWAM, MASS. location, located at the corner of Suffield St. & Silver St. It was an Ames, the interior still has giant red "A" decals on the walls.
I visited this place in September 2006. It's a Flea Market now and is only open on weekends. I visited on a weekday and was sadly ambushed by rain but the day cleared up later :)
The King's in Plainville, CT and formerly Grants, was also later to become "MARS." Does anyone remember this short-lived northeastern discounter?
The Ames in my hometown Dudley, MA was a mars. Way back in the day I found a sealed pill bottle in the woods with a MARS receipt in it!
QuoteOriginally posted by farmingtonvalleymall
Another one I have from 1979 lists additional locations in Lenox (rt 20, Pittsfield state rd), West Hartford (prospect & Kane sts), Greenfield (rt 2)
Lenox was (probably) the one that became Ames until they finally closed.
QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
Here's the AGAWAM, MASS. location, located at the corner of Suffield St. & Silver St. It was an Ames, the interior still has giant red "A" decals on the walls.
I visited this place in September 2006. It's a Flea Market now and is only open on weekends. I visited on a weekday and was sadly ambushed by rain but the day cleared up later :)
The King's in Plainville, CT and formerly Grants, was also later to become "MARS." Does anyone remember this short-lived northeastern discounter?
I remember Mars was also located on Middletown Avenue, North Haven, CT and at the Milford, CT Plaza. I never went to it but I remember reading it had several locations in CT and neighboring states. The North Haven store (in a former Mammoth Mart, perhaps also Kings) was in a Plaza that also had Finast. The whole shopping center was torn down not long after Mars closed in the late 80s (I think). The Milford Plaza store is now a Bob's.
QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
Here's the AGAWAM, MASS. location, located at the corner of Suffield St. & Silver St. It was an Ames, the interior still has giant red "A" decals on the walls.
I visited this place in September 2006. It's a Flea Market now and is only open on weekends. I visited on a weekday and was sadly ambushed by rain but the day cleared up later :)
The King's in Plainville, CT and formerly Grants, was also later to become "MARS." Does anyone remember this short-lived northeastern discounter?
this location looks like it might have been a grand union as well
QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
this location looks like it might have been a grand union as well
This was never a Grand Union here but the supermarket Geissler's on the other side of the plaza must've been. Here's what it looks like (decide for yourself!)
I think it was likely once a Grand Union.
in the 80's I worked at the zayre department store in sanford nc. I would like to know what street it was located on in Sanford nc
dp prefermusic@aol.com
QuoteOriginally posted by XISMZERO
QuoteOriginally posted by Caldor1999
this location looks like it might have been a grand union as well
This was never a Grand Union here but the supermarket Geissler's on the other side of the plaza must've been. Here's what it looks like (decide for yourself!)
I think it was likely once a Grand Union.
I'm assuming that this Geissler's is on the "other side" of the plaza in Agawam?
If so, it probably isn't a Grand Union (though both that and the Kings/Ames look like they could have been), unless it was an older store, as there were no Grand Unions in MA at least since the early 80's (excluding the ones they now have, bought from A&P near/on the islands) - not sure about prior to that.
And the store from earlier (say 1977) had a different (no arches) design.
Of course, if it's in another plaza, all bets are off ;)
Regarding MARS:
I recall the Mars Bargainland, USA on the Southeast Expressway in Dorchester, coming out of Boston. Mars shared the plaza with Stop & Shop, then a smaller, local chained based in nearby Quincy MA. The bright neon and fluorescent signage really caught your attention, and the parking lot also hosted the huge animated sign for the Neponset Twin Drive-In Theatre. Lots of eye candy on that side of the road at night!
Not to mention another great store up the road, closer to Boston. The plaza stills stands, with a National Wholesale Liquidators having taken over the space once occupied by Bradlees for over 20 years. But before Bradlees, it was a discount store called "Orbit", with a wild pink "satellite" type sign, with flashing neon rings around the ORBIT moniker. Obviously, an attempt to share the space theme with their competition from Mars!
QuoteOriginally posted by Rayco7030
LOCATIONS (According to zayre 88's site)
Cumberland MD
Virginia Beach VA
Youngstown OH
Wilmington NC
Owensboro KY
Sanford NC
Ashboro NC
Fairless Hills PA
Statesville NC
Falmouth ME
Bangor ME
Fairhaven MA
New Bedford MA
Tewksbury MA
Brattleboro VT
Plaistow NH
Hyannis MA
Methuen MA
Amesbury MA
Concord NH
Somersworth NH
Derby VT
Wallingford CT
New Haven CT
Hamden CT
Brockton MA
Augusta ME
Ellsworth ME
Rockland ME
There's one site not listed here that I just found out about last night. There was a King's located in Plattsburgh, NY. It was in the Skyway Shopping Center from 1968 until it became an Ames in the 1980's. I have no idea what the store is now.
We had a Kings in Minersville,Pa. just outside of Pottsville,Pa. The store was never taken over by Ames, it just went empty for a number of years. Then was divided into a strip mall. The site of the store is where The Pottsville Maroons Pro Football team (1925 champs). Played their games. Their story was told in the book "The Breaker Boys".
We had a King's in Gloucester Massachusetts which became an Ames. Ames lasted right till the end. Entire plaza demolished for a new Super Stop and Shop and CVS.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/3189233800_3c31610431.jpg)
1988 Muncie, Indiana from Flickr user House of Hall
Here's an interesting King's ad I found on Newspapers.com, from October 21st, 1982.
"EMERGENCY Cash Rising Sale"
"THIS IS NO ORDINARY EVENT! OUR VERY SURVIVAL IS AT STAKE"
400.jpg
They went out of business two years later