Breaking! 35 Ames Stores Coming Back To New England

It's true. What is old is new again. Your childhood just called and wants its' Ames Department Stores back. It was annouced this week that 35 Ames stores are coming back to New England.  Who would have thought that brick and mortar is cool again. Maybe those clever kids on Tik Tok have created a fun Ames mashup?

It's not just one Ames. A whopping 35 Ames stores are coming back to New England, according to Boston 25:

The chain, formerly based in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, says seven distribution centers will also open near Ames locations to handle deliveries and that all of the new stores will feature an Ames Cafe. The new Ames website will also feature online ordering and home delivery. Plans for a pharmacy have also been submitted to “participating locations.”

The original Ames did not feature a pharmacy, which will be an added benefit for one-stop shopping convenience.

Seeing the name Ames, it can't help but trigger sentimental feelings for the days before trying to catch up with emails at the dinner table. What other forgotten stores of our childhood come to mind? 

How about Lechmere, Zayers and Circuit City? How about my favorite, Strawberries Records! Adding to those familar names, can we include Radio Shack, Tower Records, Sam Goody and Block Buster? Who doesn't reminisce about Orange Julius? I still may have a shirt (that doesn't fit) from Chess King.

Even our friends at Jordans Furniture jump on the nostalgia bandwagon each holiday season with thier famous Enchanted Village holiday display. They know just how to tantalize thier customers by selling fresh made blueberry muffins using the original Jordan Marsh recipe. If that doesn't help us get through a Winter, nothing will.

Welcome back Ames. I will come and visit, until they bring back Spags. 

With the holiday's coming, I can't help but remember being little Jaybeau, growing up in Worcester, driving by the stores of our childhood.  Around Thanksgiving, driving in Dad's giant Buick, the moment came. We'd drive by, not Toys R Us. It was Zayers. I'd BEG him to stop so we can look at the toys available for Christmas.

Growing up, my family wasn't a drive-by-toy, family. We had to either earn it, or wait for a birthday or holiday. Just because we were driving by Zayre, even if we had to stop, that didn't mean I'd get a toy in July! But, I was (and still am) a DREAMER. I live in a place of hope each day. When Heidi is down, I can come up with instant quotes of hope, perfectly delivered with Dr. Phil level execution. She calls them cliches', until my quote earns a spot in reality. The future is predicted. Then it is wisdom. Ok, where was I? Oh ya, the stores.

In Worcester, we had our OWN version of Toys R Us called Child World on Chandler Street. It was everything kids. Today, I think it's a Starbucks. 

It's hard to believe, but yes, Ames Department Stores are coming back! According to Boston 25:

Ames Department Stores, a once-prominent New England-based discount retail chain, has announced details on a plan to open nearly three dozen brick-and-mortar locations across the United States. In an updated online post, Ames said that its new scheduled opening date for 35 stores begins in June 2026. The chain previously said some new locations in New England would be opening in spring 2023.

It's reported that the new Ames stores will work on featuring a pharmacy and cafe.

So, let's take a ride back in time to visit the stores of our childhood!