Rich's Department Stores
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| Rich's Department Stores | |
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| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Defunct | 1997 |
| Location | Salem, Massachusetts |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics and housewares. |
For the department store chain of Atlanta see Rich's.
Rich's, a family owned business established in 1962, grew out of Jerry's Army Navy Surplus in Salem, Massachusetts. The Rich family once operated about 40 stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts, which offered discounted merchandise.
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[edit] History
Rich's, founded by Jerry Rich, had employees who often stayed for long periods of time. Beverly Raymond was a Supervisor of Cashiers for almost 30 years in the Nashua store. Her manager, Loren Swindell, managed in Nashua for over 20 years, after a short stint with JM Fields.
Nearly 2,000 workers at the company's 26 stores in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont lost their jobs in late February 1997 after the chain went bankrupt on March 14, 1996.
[edit] Former locations
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
[edit] Maine
- Auburn - Auburn Plaza (72,000 sq ft (6,700 m²).; opened 1990, closed fall 1995, now Big Lots)
- Bangor - Airport Mall (77,352 sq ft (7,186 m²); Opened 1983 in former Woolco; converted to Ames in 1998. Ames closed 2002, now Marshalls and Dollar Tree)
- Biddeford - Five Points Plaza (67.332 sq ft.; opened 1974, became Staples; now vacant)
- Calais - Main St. (59,000 sq ft (5,500 m²).; opened 1990, closed 1995, now Marden's)
- Falmouth - Falmouth Plaza (68,000 sq ft (6,300 m²).; Opened 1983 in former King's Department Store; converted to Ames in 1997. Ames closed 2002, now Shaw's Supermarket)
- Farmington - Mt. Blue Shopping Center
- Waterville - JFK Plaza ( 77,950 sq ft (7,242 m²).; opened 1982, closed 1996, now a call center for L.L. Bean)
[edit] Massachusetts
- Danvers - Danvers Plaza (77,700 sq ft (7,220 m²).; Opened 1980s, now Stop & Shop)
- Fitchburg - Wallace Plaza (70,000 sq ft (7,000 m²). opened 1981, now Big Lots)
- Gardner - Timpany Plaza (67,000 sq ft (6,200 m²).; opened 1970, now Big Lots, Dollar Tree, and a theater)
- Greenfield - Rich's Plaza (65,000 sq ft (6,000 m²).; opened 1983, now Staples)
- Marlboro - Post Road Plaza (Opened 1970s, now Ocean State Job Lot)
- Methuen - Merrimac Plaza (70,000 sq ft (7,000 m²).; Opened 1988 in former Almy's, now A.J. Wright and Dollar Tree)
- Middleboro - Middleboro Crossing (opened 1989)
- Milford - Milford Plaza (80,000 sq ft (7,000 m²); Opened 1995 in former Fair Department Store, closed late 1996, now Big Lots)
- Plymouth - Miles Standish Plaza (75,000 sq ft (7,000 m²).; opened 1970, closed late 1996, now Stop & Shop)
- Salem - Highland Ave. (first store, opened 1961, now Wal-Mart)
- Whitinsville - Whitinsville Plaza (62,000 sq ft (5,800 m²)., opened August 1995 in former Fair Department Store, later a Wal-Mart, now an Ocean State Job Lot)
[edit] New Hampshire
- Concord - Fort Eddy Plaza (66,700 sq ft (6,200 m²).; opened 1979, now Borders and Staples)
- Gilford - Rich's Plaza (70,000 sq ft (7,000 m²).; opened October 1991, now Wal-Mart)
- Gorham - Mountain Valley Plaza (opened 1973; became Wal-Mart, currently vacant)
- Keene - 381 West St. (71,747 sq ft (6,666 m²).; opened 1981, now JCPenney)
- Manchester (72,550 sq ft (6,740 m²).; opened 1986 in former Lord's Department Store, converted to Ames in 1997. Ames closed 2002 and is now Building 19)
- Nashua - Turnpike Plaza (second store; opened 1965, closed June 1996, now Bob's Store and Staples)
- Portsmouth - Lafayette Rd (75,000 sq ft (7,000 m²).; opened 1973 in former Mammoth Mart, closed late 1996, now Big Lots and Goodwill)
- Rochester - Rochester Mall (opened 1970, closed late 1996; mall torn down for The Home Depot)
- West Lebanon - Upper Valley Plaza (50,000 sq ft (5,000 m²)., later expanded to 81,000 sq ft (7,500 m²).; oppened November 1968, converted to Ames in 1997. Ames closed 2002 and is now Kohl's)
[edit] Rhode Island
- South Kingstown - Wakefield Mall (71,000 sq ft (6,600 m²).; opened 1994 in former Woolworth; closed 1996, now Shaw's Supermarket)
[edit] Vermont
- Berlin - Berlin Mall (66,300 sq ft (6,160 m²).; opened 1986, converted to Wal-Mart in 2000)
- St. Johnsbury - Green Mountain Mall (60,526 sq ft (5,623 m²).; opened Fall 1991 in former Zayre, converted to Ames in 1997. Ames closed 2002. became JCPenney in 2007)
