Chess King
Encyclopedia
Chess King was a United States
men's clothing retailer created by the Melville Corporation
. From its founding in 1968 it grew to over 500 locations by the mid 1980s, before an eventual decline, sale, and closure of the chain in 1995.
shoe business noted a "wide open market" for young men's clothing, which gave birth to the idea of starting a young men's clothing and shoe store. Market research reportedly found that chess
and auto racing
were popular interests of young men.
The first Chess King branch opened in the Dedham Mall in Dedham, Massachusetts
(just outside Boston
), in March 1968. In 1970, The New York Times
described the store's concept as "teen-male apparel dress shops whose stores are highly identifiable, with bold coloring and designs aimed at appealing to the 12-to-20 male market." Five additional locations were opened in 1968, and 21 more in 1969. By late 1972, it had already grown to about 150 locations. By 1978, it had 300 locations. And by 1984, it had grown to over 500 stores.
The retailer was successful through the 1980s as a purveyor of wild '80s fads and fashion, but changing fashion trends contributed to the chain falling on hard times at the beginning of the 1990s.
Chess King was sold in 1993 to Merry Go Round Enterprises
(MGRE), and in January 1994, MGRE filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. In November 1995, the Chess King chain was closed.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
men's clothing retailer created by the Melville Corporation
Melville Corporation
Melville Corporation, formerly based in Rye, New York, was a large retail holding corporation incorporated in 1922 as the Melville Shoe company by Ward Melville. It changed its name to CVS Corporation in 1996...
. From its founding in 1968 it grew to over 500 locations by the mid 1980s, before an eventual decline, sale, and closure of the chain in 1995.
History
In 1967, traveling salespeople from Melville's Thom McAnThom McAn
Thom McAn is a brand of shoes distributed by Footstar, Inc., formerly the Melville Corporation . The brand is currently sold in Kmart and Wal-Mart stores, and consists of leather dress, casual, and athletic shoes...
shoe business noted a "wide open market" for young men's clothing, which gave birth to the idea of starting a young men's clothing and shoe store. Market research reportedly found that chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
and auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
were popular interests of young men.
The first Chess King branch opened in the Dedham Mall in Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
(just outside Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
), in March 1968. In 1970, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described the store's concept as "teen-male apparel dress shops whose stores are highly identifiable, with bold coloring and designs aimed at appealing to the 12-to-20 male market." Five additional locations were opened in 1968, and 21 more in 1969. By late 1972, it had already grown to about 150 locations. By 1978, it had 300 locations. And by 1984, it had grown to over 500 stores.
The retailer was successful through the 1980s as a purveyor of wild '80s fads and fashion, but changing fashion trends contributed to the chain falling on hard times at the beginning of the 1990s.
Chess King was sold in 1993 to Merry Go Round Enterprises
Merry-Go-Round (retailer)
Merry-Go-Round was a national clothing retail chain owned by Merry-Go-Round Enterprises Inc that thrived during the 1970s and 1980s, fell into bankruptcy during the 1990s, and eventually went out of business in 1996. It was famous for its ability to profit from short-lived fads and also owned men's...
(MGRE), and in January 1994, MGRE filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. In November 1995, the Chess King chain was closed.