Lamonts

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Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
Type Department store
Founded 1965 Seattle, Washington
Headquarters Kirkland, Washington
Industry Retail
Products Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares.
Website None

Lamonts was a chain department store founded in Seattle, Washington in 1965. The company went bankrupt twice before being acquired by Gottschalks in 2000.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Rhodes Department Stores

Lamonts was created after the company's parent Pay 'n Save acquired Bells of Burien, a large clothing store in Burien, Washington, in 1967. Rhodes Department Stores of Seattle was acquired that same year. The three suburban Rhodes locations in Bellevue, Lake Forest Park, and University Village, along with the Bells of Burien store, were renamed Lamonts in 1969-70, after Lamont M. Bean, the chairman of Pay 'n Save at the time. The first store built from the ground up opened in 1966 at Westwood Village in White Center. Rhodes' downtown flagship store was closed in 1966.

[edit] Expansion

After steady growth through the 1970s and 80's, a huge growth plan was proposed for the 1990s. After a financial restructuring in 1992 Lamonts proposed to open three to four 25,000-to 30,000-square-foot stores a year in existing malls in Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota. This plan unfortunately coincided with the recession of the early 1990s which would put the company in massive debt eventually leading to its demise.

[edit] Connection with Troutman's Emporium

In 1999 Lamonts turned down a merge with rival chain Troutman's Emporium.[1] In 2000 during Lamonts bankruptcy, Troutman's offered a bid on the company but was outbid by Gottchalks. The company proposed to change some stores to Troutman's Emporium and sell others to The Bon Marche, an upscale department store chain based in Seattle.

[edit] Downfall

In the 1990s other more successful chains in areas with Lamonts stores such as Mervyns and JCPenney caused Lamonts to restructure in 1992 and to file for bankruptcy in 1995 and once more in 1999. An ill-timed expansion in the early 1990s put the company so far in debt that it never quite recovered. The first bankruptcy caused the chain to slim down from 57 to 43 stores and moved their headquarters from Bellevue to Kirkland to save costs. In 2000 Lamonts was acquired by Gottschalks and 34 of the 38 remaining Lamonts stores were converted into Gottschalks stores by the end of the year. Unfortunately, expectations of the locations' profitability fell short and as of 2006 most of the converted locations in urban areas have been shuttered.

[edit] Concept stores

In 1991 Lamonts launched Lamonts For Kids which focused on children's clothing. The first store opened in Boise, Idaho. Lamonts shut down the chain in 1994 because of poor operation. At its peak Lamonts For Kids operated 8 stores.

Lamonsters was a line of infant, toddler and children's clothing introduced in 1986. It was discontinued in 1995.

[edit] Former Locations

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Alaska

  • Northway Mall - became Gottschalks 2000
  • Dimond Center - became Gottschalks 2000
  • University Center - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2001, mall converted to University of Anchorage campus
  • Fairbanks - Shoppers Forum Mall - opened 1977, became Gottschalks 2000
  • Juneau - Nugget Mall - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2002, vacant
  • Soldotna
  • Wasilla - Cottonwood Creek Mall - closed late 1990s?, mall torn down 2007 for Target

[edit] Idaho

[edit] Montana

[edit] Oregon

  • Jantzen Beach Mall (now Jantzen Beach Supercenter) - opened 1972 as Liberty House, became Frederick & Nelson 1979, The Crescent 1985, Lamonts 1988, closed and demolished 1996
  • Lloyd Center - opened as The Crescent, became Lamonts 1988, closed 1996, now Ross Dress for Less and Barnes & Noble
  • Washington Circle - closed 1994
  • Warrenton - North Coast Plaza - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2002, now Ross Dress For Less

[edit] Utah

  • Ogden - Ogden City Mall - closed 1998, mall demolished

[edit] Washington

  • Aberdeen - Wishkah Mall - Opened 1981 - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2003, vacant
  • Bellevue
  • Crossroads Shopping Center - opened 1964 as Rhodes, became Lamonts 1970, Gottschalks 2000, closed 2003, became Jo-Ann Fabrics 2004
  • Factoria Square Mall - opened 1977, became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2005, became DSW Shoe Warehouse and TJ Maxx 2006
  • Northgate Mall - opened 1977, became Gottschalks in 2000, closed September 2006, demolished 2007 for Bed Bath & Beyond
  • University Village - opened 1957 as Rhodes, became Lamonts 1969, closing date mid-1990's; now Barnes & Noble
  • Westwood Town Center - opened 1966, became Gottschalks, closed 2003, now Marshalls and Bed Bath & Beyond
  • University City Shopping Center - opened 1991 in former Frederick & Nelson, closed 1996
  • Shadle Center - opened 1973, closed 1998, demolished 2003 for Wal-Mart expansion
  • Tacoma - 5915 6th Avenue - opened 1980s in former Lucky Store, became Gottschalks 2000, closed September 22, 2007, demolished October 25, 2007
  • Vancouver - Vancouver Plaza - opened 1987, closed 1996, became Bed Bath & Beyond
  • Walla Walla - Blue Mountain Mall - became Gottschalks 2000
  • Yakima - Valley Mall - opened 1972, became Gottschalks 2000

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Troutman Investment enters into discussions with Lamonts Apparel
  2. ^ Schroder RE acquires two regional malls
v • d • e
Store Conversions to Gottschalks
2000: Lamonts    1998: Harris Department Stores    1988: Samuel Leask & Sons    1987: Malcolm Brock