Clover Discount Store
Encyclopedia
Clover was a discount chain of 26 stores operated by Strawbridge & Clothier
in Pennsylvania
, New Jersey
, and Delaware
. Clover stores averaged 80000 sq ft (7,432.2 m²), but the first five stores it opened, ran about 95000 sq ft (8,825.8 m²) to 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²).
's Target store chain and Federated’s Gold Circle
Discount store. The name was taken from S&C's periodic sale days, Clover Days. The similarities to Target were evident throughout the life of Clover. The earliest locations included a food
store (Clovermarket) adjacent to the main store. S&C did not operate the food stores for long and they were converted to Acme or P.L.U.S. (an A&P
no-frills format).
In 1978, Strawbridge & Clothier partnered with the Rouse Company developing two mini-malls next to their Cinnaminson and Center Square stores, that were called Clover Square. These had a mixture of national and regional chains and independent stores. The malls opened with a food court in one corner of the square-shaped corridor. These malls later became Outlet Square. Now, they are both supermarkets.
In 1995, May Department Stores
purchased Strawbridge's. Kimco Realty Corporation
paid $35.5 million for 23 Clover stores, leaving Strawbridge with three Clover sites. Kohl's
subsequently purchased 5 Clover stores. Kimco liquidated the Clover stores and sold the buildings. Due to unfavorable lease agreements, the Clover stores located in Shore Mall
in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, Hamilton Township
, NJ, and Penrose Plaza in Southwest Philadelphia
were unable to be divested along with the rest of the chain. Gordon Brothers Partners, Inc. of Boston
was retained to liquidate the 23 stores that were sold and to operate the remaining three stores through December 31, 2006.
Strawbridge's parent, May Department Stores
, was sold to Federated Department Stores in 2006 and the Strawbridge's name was rebranded in favor of Macy's
.
When Clover closed many of its stores were purchased by Kohl's
.
Strawbridge's
Strawbridge's was a department store in the northeastern United States with stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. In its day a gracious urban emporium, the downtown Philadelphia flagship store added branch stores starting in the 1930s and together they enjoyed annual sales of over a...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. Clover stores averaged 80000 sq ft (7,432.2 m²), but the first five stores it opened, ran about 95000 sq ft (8,825.8 m²) to 100000 sq ft (9,290.3 m²).
History
The first Clover store opened in 1971. The management of Strawbridge & Clothier based their Clover store format on Dayton HudsonDayton's
Minneapolis-based Dayton's was among the leading department stores in the United States for nearly a century after its founding in 1902 by George Draper Dayton. In 1969, the Detroit-based J.L. Hudson Company merged with the Dayton Corporation to form the Dayton-Hudson Corporation, adding 21...
's Target store chain and Federated’s Gold Circle
Gold Circle
Gold Circle was a discount department store chain based in Ohio. Founded in 1967, it was a division of Federated Department Stores with 76 stores when the chain was sold and dismantled in 1988...
Discount store. The name was taken from S&C's periodic sale days, Clover Days. The similarities to Target were evident throughout the life of Clover. The earliest locations included a food
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
store (Clovermarket) adjacent to the main store. S&C did not operate the food stores for long and they were converted to Acme or P.L.U.S. (an A&P
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, is a supermarket and liquor store chain in the United States. Its supermarkets, which are under six different banners, are found in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. A&P's liquor stores, known as...
no-frills format).
In 1978, Strawbridge & Clothier partnered with the Rouse Company developing two mini-malls next to their Cinnaminson and Center Square stores, that were called Clover Square. These had a mixture of national and regional chains and independent stores. The malls opened with a food court in one corner of the square-shaped corridor. These malls later became Outlet Square. Now, they are both supermarkets.
In 1995, May Department Stores
May Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
purchased Strawbridge's. Kimco Realty Corporation
Kimco Realty Corporation
Kimco Realty Corporation, , a Real Estate Investment Trust , owns and operates North America’s largest portfolio of neighborhood and community shopping centers. As of September 30, 2011, the company owned interests in 937 shopping center properties comprising 137,100,000 sqft of leasable space...
paid $35.5 million for 23 Clover stores, leaving Strawbridge with three Clover sites. Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
subsequently purchased 5 Clover stores. Kimco liquidated the Clover stores and sold the buildings. Due to unfavorable lease agreements, the Clover stores located in Shore Mall
Shore Mall
Shore Mall is a regional mall, opened in 1968, located in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey on U.S. Route 40 / U.S. Route 322. The mall is accessible from Exit 36 off the Garden State Parkway. The mall is owned by Cedar Shopping Centers. The mall has a gross leasable area of 620,000 ft², located...
in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, Hamilton Township
Hamilton Township
-Indiana:* Hamilton Township, Delaware County, Indiana* Hamilton Township, Jackson County, Indiana* Hamilton Township, Sullivan County, Indiana-Iowa:* Hamilton Township, Decatur County, Iowa* Hamilton Township, Franklin County, Iowa...
, NJ, and Penrose Plaza in Southwest Philadelphia
Southwest Philadelphia
Southwest Philadelphia is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The section can be described as extending from the western side of the Schuylkill River to the city line, with the SEPTA Media/Elwyn Line serving as the northern border...
were unable to be divested along with the rest of the chain. Gordon Brothers Partners, Inc. of 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...
was retained to liquidate the 23 stores that were sold and to operate the remaining three stores through December 31, 2006.
Strawbridge's parent, May Department Stores
May Department Stores
The May Department Stores Company was a national department store chain in the United States, founded in 1877 by David May. The company ceased to exist in 2005 when it was merged with Federated Department Stores, Inc . Prior to the merger it was headquartered in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri...
, was sold to Federated Department Stores in 2006 and the Strawbridge's name was rebranded in favor of Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
.
When Clover closed many of its stores were purchased by Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
.