EDITORIAL: Could Ames Be Returning to CT? Short Answer: Probably Not.

Photo Credit: The Caldor Rainbow

The last year has been plagued with news articles announcing the return of Ames Department Stores to the North East. Trustworthy news companies have lent their credibility to the press releases from the retailers. The original announcement was met with great fanfare with customers rejoicing at the opportunity to shop at the store again. 

Just before Christmas in 2022, news organizations reported that Ames Department Stores would be reopening under new ownership of the Molyneux Group, the apparent owners of Bradlee Stores IP as well. The chain announced plans to reopen seven stores in Spring of 2023, with the first locations opening in Connecticut before expanding into New York State. Well, Spring 2023 came and went with no stores opening, no permit filings, no lease announcements, nothing to prove this was actually going to happen. 

Ames Department Store launched a website using the retailer's old URL amesstores.com where consumers could stay tuned for announcements. The maintenance of this website was spotty, with a lot of downtime. The retailer said on social media that these were server issues, hosting issues, and IT companies that appear to have just been created to be tagged in the post. This all seems to be an elaborate hoax for social media attention.

Now here we are, in March of 2024. Ames Department Stores announced plans to open 35 stores in 2026 with more coming in 2027. The retailer says the new stores will feature pharmacies, cafes, 7 distribution centers, and more. News sites have reported on the reopening of the store again, but again, no proof to back up these claims. I looked up business licenses in CT and NY for Ames Department Stores, Silver Knight Group, and Molyneux Group; all which came back to nothing but the original Ames that was revoked in the early 2000s.  

​Getting back to the matter at hand; Is Ames returning to Connecticut? Probably not. This might be just an elaborate hoax; or maybe a social experiment? A data harvesting operation or just click bait for profit? Only time will tell. 
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Read up on the history of Ames Department Stores from The Caldor Rainbow, an online retail blog documenting the retailers of yesterday. thecaldorrainbow.blogspot.com/2007/07/ames-vacancies-sweep-up-in-connecticut.html