DGS Retail Group

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An old DGS receipt from 99
An old DGS receipt from 99

The DGS Retail Group operated over 100 very well-regarded retail stores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The stores were operated under 3 names:

  • DGS Super Discount Centers (140+ locations)
  • DGS HomeSource Home Centers (13 Locations)
  • DGS MaxVOL Warehouse Clubs (3 Locations)

[edit] History

The group was at its height in the late 1980's, opening 2 to 4 discount stores each year. The early 90's brought new heavy competition from Bradlees, Caldor and Home Depot and forced the company to close 28 unprofitable locations, including its entire Long Island division. At the same time, the company was expanding its HomeSource division in Westchester County, NY and Northern NJ. Many of the new HomeSource stores were opened in shuttered Channel Home Center and Pergament locations. HomeSource was a combination of a home-center/hardware store, and a Bed Bath & Beyond/Linens N Things all in a convenient location. The new stores were doing quite well, but the company's main discount store division was hemmoraging cash and losing market share. A second wave of closings in 1996 included all stores North of New York City and the MaxVOL and HomeSource divisions except for the Aramingo Avenue HomeSource in Philadelphia.

[edit] Bankruptcy

The company could never return to the same profitability it enjoyed in the 1980's, and in 1999, citing increasing competition in the retail market, the company was forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. All 117 remaining stores were liquidated later that year. Many stores were converted to Drug Fair, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, and Phar-Mor.

[edit] Slogans

  • America's Discount Source is...DGS!
  • The DGS Savings Snowball is gonna git ya! (This was used to advertise the famous Black-Friday 24-hour sale when the stores were open 24 hours/day for a week after Thanksgiving)
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