With the announcement of Ames making a possible return next year, remember the store chain they bought Zayre?

Gloversville, New York/Fall River, MA – With the reports that Ames is making a return in 2023, here is a look back at the department store chain that they bought. Remember Zayre department store?

Russian immigrant brothers Max and Morris Feldberg began a hosiery business in 1919 in Chelsea, Massachusetts. When sales began to decline, they ventured out to create a new discount department store.

The department store needed a name, however. The brothers agreed on the name Zayre which was a transformation from the Jewish saying “Zehr gut” which means very good.

The first Zayre location opened in Hyannis in 1956. With the help of their children Stanley and Sumner, Zayre grew into one of the largest retail chains in the country with almost 1,200 locations nationwide.

In the mid 1980’s profits began to decline which eventually led to Zayre filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1988. The department store chain was then sold to Ames and by 1990 the Zayre name was no longer. Ames, however, kept the exterior similar to the style of Zayre at the former Zayre locations.

Ames later filed for bankruptcy protection in 2001 and their remaining stores were closed shortly after.

Along with Zayre and Ames, National Wholesale Liquidators also resided at the 181 Mariano S Bishop Blvd. location.

The old Zayre location in Fall River is currently occupied by Burlington (Burlington Coat Factory).

Remember this ad showing the original Atari 2600?

According to a LinkedIn profile, Ames will be returning in the spring of 2023. The page states that the re-opening will be spear headed by Molyneux Group, the owners of Bradlees Department Stores PLC.

A webpage that appears to be tied to the Ames Department stores chain, also references a spring 2023 return and that more will be announced in the coming months, relating to locations and opening dates.