Remember Ames? The department store is returning to New England

Ames Department Stores recently announced that it will opening a number of new locations in New England beginning in spring 2023.

In a statement, Cross Moline Ventures President Shannon de Molyneux confirmed that Ames will be opening seven stores next year, starting in Connecticut and moving into New York and Pennsylvania.

Once those stores launch, Ames will open in Rhode Island in 2024 and build an expansion plan for the 2024-2025 season, according to de Molyneux.

“We will start expanding where demand is high, and slowly move into lower demanded states over the next five to 10 years,” de Molyneux said.

Ames is considering Meriden, Connecticut, as its new home. The discount chain’s old headquarters in Rocky Hill were demolished.

Back in 2002, Former Ames Chairman and CEO Joseph R. Ettore announced the chain would close all 327 store locations. More than 20,000 workers were left unemployed when those stores shuttered.

Exact locations and opening dates for the initial seven stores are expected to be announced in February 2023.

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