Retail Timeline – From 1872 to 2016

Here is the most EPIC retail timeline from 1872 to today. ENJOY!

From Zayre88
1872 – Aaron Montgomery Ward founded his company
1879 – F.W.Woolworth opends its first five & dime store
1880 – Opening of the first McCrory variety store
1899 – S.S. Kresge Company founded by Sebastian S. Kresge
1902 – JC Penney is founded by James C. Penney
1906 – W.T. Grant opens first store
1906 – George Clinton Murphy opens the first G.C.Murphy’s in McKeesport, PA
1911 – Hechinger stores founded
1929 – Kresge Canadian subsidiary S.S. Kresge Company, Ltd. was founded
1934 – Service Merchandise founded
1948 – E.J. Korvette stores founded
1951 – Caldor stores founded by Cal and Dorothy Bennett
1953 – Simpson-Sears founded in Canada
1956 – Zayre department stores founded by Stanley and Summer Fieldberg
1957 – Hills department stores founded
1958 – Gilman Brothers, opened their first Ames store in Southbridge, Mass.
1958 – Bradlees department stores founded in Braintree, Mass.
1959 – W.T.Grant Co. becomes owner of Canada’s Zellers discount chain
1961 – Target stores founded
1961 – Jamesway stores founded in Jamestown NY
1961 – Shopko stores founded
1962 – Wal-Mart stores founded by Sam Walton in Arkansas
1962 – Rich’s department stores founded by the Rich family
1963 – Kohl’s stores founded
1966 – K-mart’s founder Sebastian S. Kresge died at age 99.
1969 – Zayre corporation acquires the Hit or Miss chain
1970 – Christmas Tree Shops founded
1970 – Venture department stores founded by May
1973 – Hannaford (Shop’n Save) opens its first Wellby Drug Store
1975 – October: W.T.Grant asks court for bankruptcy status
1976 – Spring: W.T.Grant Co. goes out of business (Grant / Grant City)
1976 – Opening of the first Price Club
1977 – Tj maxx store chain founded in Framingham, Mass.
1977 – S.S. Kresge Company is renamed Kmart Corporation
1977 – April: Mammoth Mart is acquired bu King’s
1978 – October: Food Fair Inc. (JM Fields) files for Chapter 11
1979 – April: Going out of business sale begins at JM Fields (79 stores)
1980 – Closing of the last Korvette store
1981 – Caldor is sold to Associated Dry Goods Corporation (ADG)
1982 – Consolidated Stores open their first closeout store (Odd Lots)
1983 – Last US Woolco stores are finally closed in january
1983 – Costco Wholesale Corporation formed
1985 – January: Stop & Shop acquires the Almy’s chain
1985 – Ames acquires G.C.Murphy stores
1985 – HQ Home Quarters Warehouse is introduced
1986 – Dayton-Hudson(Target) acquires 51 Gemco stores
1986 – May: Stop & Shop sells 64 Medi-Mart to Walgreens
1986 – ADG merges with the May Department Stores Company
1987 – Kmart sells most U.S. Kresge and Jupiter stores to McCrory Corp.
1987 – May: Stop & Shop decides that Almy’s will cease operations (19 stores)
1988 – Target acquires 31 Gold Circle stores
1988 – Zayre stores declares bankruptcy
1988 – Ames is acquiring the bankrupt 392 Zayre stores, closing 74 of them
1989 – May: Mars is going out of business
1989 – Ames sells 130 G.C.Murphy stores and 25 Bargain World stores in September
1989 – October: May Co. sells the 118-store Caldor chain and spins-off Venture
1990 – Kmart purchases The Sports Authority, a chain of sporting goods super stores.
1990 – Kmart is changing the red and turquoise logo to a large red “K” with a white “mart.”
1990 – Ames file to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in April.
1990 – Venture and Caldor are spun-off May Company in november
1990 – Stuart’s department stores files for chapter 11 in December.
1990 – Walmart becomes the world’s largest retailer with $32.6 billion in sales.
1991 – April: Jamesway is closing 11 unprofitable stores
1991 – October: Ames will close 77 of its 448 stores by next year.
1992 – February: McCrory’s files for bankruptcy protection.
1992 – May: Porteous acquired by Dunlap Co. (6 stores)
1992 – May: Stop & Shop spins off the 127-store Bradlees chain
1992 – May: Shop’n save sells 34 of it’s 41 Wellby Super drugstore to Rite Aid
1993 – January: Jamesway is closing 13 stores
1993 – July: Jamesway files for protection under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.
1993 – Price Club merges with Costco wholesale
1993 – October: Woolworth wants to close 970 stores in U.S. and Canada
1994 – Wal-Mart enters Canada with the acquisition of 122 of the 166 Woolco stores.
1994 – Rite Aid Buys LaVerdiere’s Drug Stores (72 locations)
1994 – Consolidated Stores acquires Toy Liquidators
1994 – Montgomery Ward acquires Lechmere stores.
1994 – September: Kmart is closing 110 stores.
1995 – Jamesway emerges from chapter 11 protection in January and re-files in October
1995 – T.J. Maxx, buys its biggest off-price rival, Andover-based Marshalls.
1996 – Jordan Marsh Name Changed to Macy’s on its 18 stores
1996 – Consolidated Stores acquires KB Toys
1996 – March 13, Rich’s files Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, closes 14 of its 29 stores.
1996 – March: Grossman’s is closing it’s 60 stores in 8 Northeastern states
1996 – Ames closes 17 stores (5 in Maine / 11 in New York / 1 in PA)
1996 – Kmart sells 860 Auto Centers to Penske
1997 – Rich’s department stores closing its last 13 stores.
1997 – Kmart sells the operations of Builders Square and Kmart Canada (127 stores).
1997 – October: Wards, which is operating under Chapter 11 protection, closes 48 stores.
1998 – April: 40 canadian Kmart stores will close and 59 will be converted to Zellers stores.
1998 – The 155 Hills department stores are acquired by Ames.
1998 – Venture stores are going out of business.
1998 – AutoZone acquires 112 Auto Palace stores
1999 – Caldor is going out of business.
1999 – February: Service Merchandise to close 134 of 347 stores
1999 – February: Bradlees emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection.
1999 – Kmart celebrated its 100th anniversary as a retailer.
1999 – ShopKo acquires Pamida Holding Co., a retailer operating 148 discount stores in small rural markets
1999 – September, Hechinger (HQ) is going out of business, and will close all 117 stores.
1999 – Eaton’s declares bankruptcy, Sears Canada buys few stores, name and trademark.
2000 – July 25, Kmart to close 72 stores.
2000 – December 26th, Bradlees is going out of business, closing 105 stores.
2000 – December 28th, Montgomery Ward (Wards) is going out of business (227 stores).
2001 – The last 300 McCrory’s stores are closed after a century of retail.
2001 – August, Ames is filling for chapter 11 after the closing of 47 stores.
2001 – Target plans to open 36 new stores in 21 states in the year.
2001 – January, Sears, Roebuck & Co. will close 89 US. stores.
2001 – January, JCPenney will close 44 underperforming stores.
2001 – August – Ames is closing 47 stores. Link
2001 – Filene’s Basement files for bankruptcy
2001 – December – Ames is closing 54 stores, mostly former Hills.
2002 – Sears Canada closing it’s Eatons division in february.
2002 – January: K-mart closing 284 underperforming stores in the U.S. Link
2002 – Kmart & Penske agree on the closing of the last 563 Penske Auto Centers at Kmart stores.
2002 – Ames & Walmart introducing dollar store sections.
2002 – August: Ames announces it goes out of business.
2002 – October: Ames is closing its 327 remaining stores.
2002 – K-mart testing a new prototype store and new logo in White Lake, MI.
2002 – Target plans 94 new stores for 2003, analysts say.
2003 – January: K-mart closing 326 stores in 44 states.
2003 – May: Kohl’s plans to open up to 100 new stores for 2004.
2003 – Christmas Tree Shops is bought by Bed Bath and Beyond
2003 – October: The last Porteous department store will close.
2003 – WiseBuys stores is founded un upstate NY. Joe Ettore is on the board.
2003 – Decathlon USA is closing 14 of it’s 18 stores in New England.
2004 – Albertsons to buy 202 Shaw’s supermarkets in $2.5B deal.
2004 – April: JCPenney sells it’s Eckerd division to CVS and Jean Coutu(Brooks)
2004 – May Company acquires Marshall’s Fields from Target Corp.
2004 – Toys “r” us could split off it’s Babies “r” us division and sell toys business
2004 – August: Target could buy Hudson’s Bay of Canada, or just its Zellers division
2004 – K-mart and Sears, Roebuck & Co. to merge to create Sears-Holding Corporation.
2004 – Frank’s Nursery & Crafts is going out of business
2005 – Walmart sales tops 256 billion for fiscal year 2004
2005 – Federated Dept. stores (Macy’s)will merge with May Company (Filene’s)
2005 – March: Target to open 26 new stores
2005 – April: Shopko to be acquired by a private equity firm based in Minneapolis
2005 – October: Target opens 60 new stores, Kohl’s opens 57 new stores and enters Florida
2005 – October: Walmart announces it wants to open more than 555 new units in 2006
2005 – Sears Holdings wants to acquire Sears Canada
2006 – Hudson’s Bay Co. reaches takeover deal with U.S. businessman Jerry Zucker
2006 – Sears Canada rejects bid made by it’s U.S. parent Sears Holdings
2006 – February: Sears Holdings drops the Sears Essentials store format
2006 – Walmart report sales at year end of $312,4 billion and a net income of $11.2 billion.
2006 – August: Jean Coutu Group sells it’s Eckerd and Brooks pharmacies to Rite Aid
2006 – September: Filene’s name phased out as Federated converted Filene’s to Macy’s
2006 – October: Grand opening of 59 Target stores
2007 – January: Rite Aid shareholders approved the merger with Brooks & Eckerd
2007 – March: Tweeter is closing 49 stores
2007 – June: Dunlaps Department Stores goes out of business (38 stores 9 brands)
2007 – CompUSA announces the closing and liquidation of 126 stores
2007 – Levitz Furniture files for bankruptcy
2007 – Seaway Capital acquires Wisebuys and Hackett’s and merges the two chains
2008 – March: Grand opening of 26 Target stores
2008 – May: Home Depot is closing 15 stores
2008 – May: Linens’n Things files for bankruptcy protection / closing 120 stores
2008 – July: Mervyn’s files for bankruptcy protection
2008 – July: Steve & Barry’s files for bankruptcy protection
2008 – July: Dawahare’s goes out of business, closing 22 stores
2008 – July: Tjx Company looking to sell the Bob’s Stores chain
2008 – August: Boscov’s files for bankruptcy protection
2008 – October 14: Linens’n Things is going out of business
2008 – October 17: Mervyn’s is going out of business
2008 – November: Tweeter is going out of business, closing all remaining stores
2008 – November 3: Circuit City is closing 155 stores in the U.S.
2008 – November 10: Circuit City files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
2008 – November: Steve & Barry’s is filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation
2008 – December : Woolworths UK is going out of business (UK chain formerly part of the U.S. company)
2008 – December : KB Toys is going out of business
2009 – January 2: Goody’s Family Clothing is filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation
2009 – January 6: Woolworths Group (UK) closing it’s last stores
2009 – January 16: Circuit is Going out of business
2009 – January 30: Closing of the last Steve & Barry’s store
2009 – February: Hechinger’s website is closing down
2009 – June: closing of the last Fortunoff store
2009 – July: closing of the last Gottschalks department stores
2009 – October: Kohl’s will open 35 new stores at former Mervyn’s locations
2010 – December: TJX corporation announces a consolidation that would eliminate the A.J. Wright chain
2011 – January 13: Target announces it will enter Canada with the acquisition of up to 220 Zellers leases
2011 – January: Ultimate Electronics files for Chapter 11
2011 – April: Going out of business sale ends at Ultimate Electronics
2011 – October 17 – Lowe’s is closing 20 U.S. stores
2011 – Filene’s Basement is going out of business Link
2011 – Syms is going out of business
2011 – December 27 – Sears Holdings announces it will close 100 to 120 Sears & Kmart stores.
2012 – March – Target Canada has confirmed a list of 76 stores to open in 2013 (out of a possible 125 to 135).
2012 – April – Best Buy will close 50 stores.
2012 – May – Sears Holdings announces it will reduce its stake in Sears Canada (92% to 51%)
2012 – June – The new owners of Charming Shoppes Inc. will close the Fashion Bug store chain by 2013.
2012 – July 12 – Target Canada has finalized the main list of new stores for 2013: 127 new Target locations confirmed.
2012 – July 12 – Zellers announces it will close the remaining 65 stores not acquired by Target by March 2013.
2012 – September – Nordstrom announces it will open 4 stores in Canada in 2014-2015
2013 – Zellers announces it will keep 3 stores in operation after the closing of the rest of the chain in March 2013.
2013 – Office Max and Office Depot announce they will merge.
2013 – May – Target Canada opens stores in western provinces
2013 – May – Nordstrom launches Nordstrom.ca
2013 – July – Shaw’s supermarket is closing 6 NH stores.
2013 – August – Stop & Shop pulls out of New Hampshire (6 supermarkets closing)
2013 – August – Market Basket opens its first store in Maine
2014 – October – Sears Holdings announces it will close 77 Sears & Kmart stores by the end of 2014
2015 – January – Target announces it will close all 133 Target stores in Canada.
2015 – February – RadioShack files for bankruptcy and may sell up to 2400 stores
2015 – March 22 – Target Canada is closing 16 of 133 stores
2015 – April 1 – Target Canada has closed 30 more stores
2015 – April – Target Canada closes the last of its 133 stores to the public on April 12.
2015 – May 6 – Canadian Tire acquires 12 former Target Canada stores
2015 – May 8 – Walmart Canada acquires 13 former Target Canada stores
2015 – May 11 – Lowe’s Canada acquires 11 former Target Canada stores
2015 – September – Macy’s said it plans to close between 35 and 40 stores in 2016
2016 – Walmart will close 269 stores worldwide including 154 U.S. locations (Neighborhood Markets, Discount stores/Supercenters, and Sam’s Clubs)
2016 – JCPenney will close 8 stores in April 2016
2016 – February – Kohl’s announced the closing of 18 stores.2016 – March – Sports Authority files for Chapter 11 – 140 stores scheduled to close in 2016.
2016 – Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank closing 250 stores
2016 – April – The company operating Bob’s Stores,Sport Chalet and Eastern Mountain Sports files for Chapter 11.
2016 – April – Sears Holdings will close 78 stores (68 Kmart and 10 Sears)
2016 – May – Aeropostale files for Chapter 11 and will close 113 of its 739 U.S. stores and all 41 locations in Canada.