L.A. Joe's Dept Store

[wiseguy93]

L.A. Joe Department Store was a chain of based discount department stores that existed until June, 1992. Based in Charleston West Virginia. It was Founded 1990 and was very shorted lived the stores started closing down in 1992.

L.A. Joe was the retail brand name of Retail Acquisition Corporation which at its peak owned 70 discount department stores throughout West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Retail Acquisition Corp/L.A. Joe purchased the struggling Heck's Department Store chain in 1990.

The company experienced $19.5 billion in losses between 1990 and 1991, and in 1991 liquidated 22 of its stores under Chapter 11.

By June 1992, the remainder of the stores had been liquidated. Creditors were paid 40%.

Products Clothing, garden/seasonal, sporting goods, hardware, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics and housewares

[wiseguy93]

These are some of the locations that I know of, Big Lots ended up in most of the old locations.

West Virginia

Fairmont
Gassaway
Princeton

Kentucky

Williamsburg

Virginia

Bristol
Abingdon
Norton
Winchester

[Jamesway_princess]

There was one in Charlestown, WV. Took the place of Heck's. Then after 7 years of it being abandoned, they torn half the shopping center down & built a Super Wal-Mart.

[wiseguy93]

This was a L.A. Joe's Dept. Store for a couple of years after they replaced Heck's Dept. Located on Cummings street. The Aaron's enterance is L.A. orginial enterance. The building was divided for Aaron's and Advanced Auto.

[wiseguy93]

This building in the Bristol Plaza served as a L.A. Joe's Department Store for a couple of years after they replaced Heck's Dept. Stores. The building was divided and now houses a church called Highlands Fellowship @ Bristol and a Schewels.

[mikey7290]

Here is the former location in Watertown, NY.  This plaza is located at 1125 Arsenal St.  I am not sure exactly where the entrance was, but it was in this part of the plaza.  It is now a Tractor Supply and Raymour and Flanigan furniture.  Before it was L. A. Joe, it was a Nichols store.