Ames main store now a Porter & Chester

[XISMZERO]

I rank this store highly in intruging existing Ames locations in Connecticut. It's close to my house (about 30 minutes) and you get two extra treats upon visiting - the planagram building and the corporate offices across the street still vacant with signage still visible. I woke up Sunday morning and decided to take a trip down to the Ames in Rocky Hill.

I was actually here sometime last year when this ugly tarp wasn't over the Ames logo. I'll see if my buddy has the pictures (we only took like two, and at night) still. Of course, you've already got plenty of them in the photo gallery.

[XISMZERO]

I've just assembled the photo gallery of my trip to the Rocky Hill Ames location (link is in my signature). I give Ames Fan Club full permission to host this album on their webpage. (If you want, I can send the raw album as every picture isn't included in this one, just most of them).

Enjoy!

[beachgal26]

Thanks for taking so much time with the cool photos of the mall.  It is hard to figure if anything is still open or not (except for the Ride-a-rama.  Being a bit older than you, I can remember well in the 60's when everything seemed to be in the tan-brown-dark orange theme and that mall has not had a facelift in a loooong time.
Would you mind reporting back again to let us know if the mall is still in business and anything else that you can find out abtout it?

[XISMZERO]

I would be very much obliged and I really apprechiate your taking an interest of my photos and journeys!

Since the Bristol Centre Mall is only 5 minutes from my house in Farmington, I do frequent visits back there. I might be going back soon to do an updated shoot taking some more indoor pictures as I said I would pending the possibility of closing of the mall.

The town of Bristol, who owns the mall, is in the process of revamping the dilapidated downtown area making it more inviting (and less scary) to the public and there've been talks on the fate of the mall to become a parking garage, to housing, to a performing arts theater - none confirmed. As far as I know, there are no plans to demolish the mall at this [immediate] time because of their active tenants and the Ocean State Job Lot; both forces who refuse to vacate the property. Appearently March 31st (a few days ago) was the date tenants were supposed to leave.

Check out this article on the matter published a week and a half ago: http://www.courant.com/news/local/nb/hc-brisuit0321_.artmar21,0,6188178.story?coll=hc-headlines-nb

Pending this article, I might have to swing by tomorrow to see what the status is.

[XISMZERO]

Here's an Ames trash can from the Corporate Offices in Rocky Hill. If anyone wants it, it's still there!

[XISMZERO]

In the hometown of Ames, Rocky Hill, this store is still vacant. This one's not catchy to those looking to develop despite its famous signage seen off I-91. Sign and building are still there. Notice how they've taken down the realtor poster over the Ames sign seen in early pictures!

[lizzielizzie]

I grew up in Rocky Hill, so I am quite familiar with Ames and its impact on my town.  I worked at the corporate offices for a few summers when I was in high school.

I went back to Rocky Hill this weekend and took a trip down memory lane, as well as a bunch of photos to post here.  Enjoy!  To view the entire album, go http://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/">here.  Forum mods are welcome to take the photos for archiving if they wish.

-=-=-=-=-=-

From Interstate 91, you can still see the Ames sign displayed alongside other active businesses:
http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/highwaysign.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

The flagship store is still empty:
http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/emptystore1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

There is a NAMCO next door that is open.  In between the two is an entrance into some upstairs office space, which Ames used to occupy.  I worked there at least one summer.
http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/emptystore2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

The sign greeting you at the Ames corporate offices is still up:
http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate7.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

The building itself is empty and for lease.  The parking lot shows that the space has been vacant for quite a while.
http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

For anyone who wants to lease the old Ames space:
http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate8.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

Across the street from the main corporate headquarters is a satellite corporate building that Ames expanded into.  Before Ames used it, it was a series of small and unsuccessful grocery stores.  This is the "Ames Support Building" that is referred to as being sold in http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18247078&BRD=1641&PAG=461&dept_id=572381&rfi=6">this article.
http://photobucket.com" target="_blank">http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/lizzie-lizzie/Ames/corporate9.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket">

[C. Fontaine]

Nice pictures!  I will add these to our gallery!

[AmesNewington]

It's so nice to be driving up the Silas Deane Highway and seeing Ames still in tact. It's a refreshing site.

[beachgal26]

I still can't believe that the old store is still there and in such good condition!  You would think that the offices would also be in disarray, but they look like someone could move right on in.

:yup:

[XISMZERO]

Ever since the realtor tarp came off, it now it *does* almost look like the store is back in business.

[lizzielizzie]

During my last trip down to Rocky Hill, I noted that the Ames sign can still be seen from I-91, however the storefront is now a Porter & Chester Institute.  Farewell, Ames storefront....

My father tells me that they may raze the Ames home offices and put up a 4-store building instead.  For now, the offices are intact and the For Lease sign is still up.

[AmesNewington1]

Yes. I posted the picture from the Porter and Chester Website on a different thread. Here it is again. But you can see that the storefront aside from the rectangular sign hasn't been touched. I'm wondering what it looks like inside. I went to this Ames a number of times.

[standa]

I think the Rocky Hill store was built by Ames.  Is it true?  I know that Ames built the East Haven store.  Are there any other CT stores built by Ames?

[NJxxJon]

Took a little google searching (haha...well no.)

[XISMZERO]

I haven't been by the ol' Corporate Offices in a while but I'm not mistaken, there's still a brown "Ames" trash can there. Surprised no one's taken it. I would've but it's still a trash can -- I'll settle for my picture of it.

I wish I could get into the Plano building across the street. There's some left behind memorabilia in there still. Perhaps if it's leveled one day, I might just have to inquire about preserving some of that stuff.

[patk]

has any one called the lease # to see if the Corporate Office is still there :question: