Zayre
Encyclopedia
Zayre was a chain of discount store
s that operated in the Northeastern, Southern and Midwestern United States
from 1956 to 1990. The company's headquarters was in Framingham
, Massachusetts
. In 1988, the Zayre department stores were sold to the parent company of the competing Ames chain, and Zayre's other businesses continued as the TJX Companies
, which includes T.J. Maxx
. The Zayre chain ceased to exist two years later, in 1990, although TJX is still in operation today.
, in 1956 as a discount department store
. It was initially focused on the Northeast
but soon expanded to other areas including a considerable midwestern presence. Early growth was aided by the Providence, Rhode Island
, based advertising agency, Bo Bernstein, fueling the growth of both companies. Zayre entered Minnesota
in the early 1970s by purchasing the locally owned Shopper's City
, and rebranding those locations as "Zayre Shopper's City". These stores were an early example of the hypermarket
concept, which included grocery, automotive, and a barber shop. This version of Zayre was found only in Minnesota. During the early 1970s the company started the T.J. Maxx chain. In 1984 it started the BJ's Wholesale Club
chain. In 1985, Zayre acquired California-based Home Club
.
Zayre has competed with such discounters as Fisher's Big Wheel
, Kmart
, Walmart and Hills Department Stores
.
Zayre also acquired a few locations in Ohio in 1986 from Meijer
; these locations were part of Meijer's failed "Meijer Square" concept.
In 1975 Zayre started a program entitled "Zayre '75" to remodel and update the stores. In 1985, Zayre purchased the former Gaylords store chain. However, many of the new stores opened up during the 1980s suffered from cluttered aisles and messy appearances. Zayre began to feature appearances from celebrities such as Sherman Hemsley
and Robert Guillaume
in "Grand-Reopenings" of their major stores. These events failed to improve their market share. In February 1988 they filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, and in October 1988 the Zayre stores were sold to the competing Ames chain. Zayre's other brands were reorganized under the corporate umbrella of the renamed TJX Companies
. BJ's Wholesale Club
and Home Club were later spun off from TJX. Both BJ's and TJX are still going strong today.
The acquisition of Zayre doubled the size of Ames Department Stores Inc., but it proved unprofitable. By 1990, Ames had closed 74 Zayre stores, and the rest were converted into Ames stores. Some of the former Zayre stores operated under the Ames name until Ames ceased operations in 2002.
Discount store
A discount store is a type of department store, which sells products at prices lower than those asked by traditional retail outlets. Most discount department stores offer a wide assortment of goods; others specialize in such merchandise as jewelry, electronic equipment, or electrical appliances...
s that operated in the Northeastern, Southern and Midwestern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1956 to 1990. The company's headquarters was in Framingham
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. In 1988, the Zayre department stores were sold to the parent company of the competing Ames chain, and Zayre's other businesses continued as the TJX Companies
TJX Companies
The TJX Companies, Incorporated , is the largest international apparel and home fashions off-price department store chain in the United States. Based in Framingham, Massachusetts, the company originally evolved from the Zayre discount department store chain, founded in 1956, which opened its first...
, which includes T.J. Maxx
T.J. Maxx
T.J. Maxx, sometimes referred to as TJ's or the Maxx, is an American department store chain owned by TJX Companies. With more than 900 stores T.J. Maxx is a major clothes retailer in the United States, whilst also operating stores in a number of other countries.-History:In 1976, T.J...
. The Zayre chain ceased to exist two years later, in 1990, although TJX is still in operation today.
History
Zayre was founded by brothers Max and Morris Feldberg, who immigrated to the United States from Russia in the early 1900s. Their first chain of stores was the Bell Shoppes, which sold women’s apparel. Zayre started in Hyannis, MassachusettsHyannis, Massachusetts
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...
, in 1956 as a discount department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
. It was initially focused on the Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
but soon expanded to other areas including a considerable midwestern presence. Early growth was aided by the Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, based advertising agency, Bo Bernstein, fueling the growth of both companies. Zayre entered Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
in the early 1970s by purchasing the locally owned Shopper's City
Shopper's City
Shopper's City was a chain of seven stores in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area in the 1960s and 1970s. It was one of the forerunners of the "big box" store. The chain was notable for being one of the first stores in Minnesota to open on Sundays...
, and rebranding those locations as "Zayre Shopper's City". These stores were an early example of the hypermarket
Hypermarket
In commerce, a hypermarket is a superstore combining a supermarket and a department store. The result is an expansive retail facility carrying a wide range of products under one roof, including full groceries lines and general merchandise...
concept, which included grocery, automotive, and a barber shop. This version of Zayre was found only in Minnesota. During the early 1970s the company started the T.J. Maxx chain. In 1984 it started the BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. , commonly referred to simply as BJ's, is a membership-only warehouse club chain operating on the United States East Coast, as well as in the state of Ohio...
chain. In 1985, Zayre acquired California-based Home Club
HomeBase
HomeBase was a home improvement warehouse chain in the Western United States based in Irvine, California.-History:Robert J. McNulty and George Handgis founded the chain as a warehouse club called the HomeClub, opening the first two stores in Norwalk and Fountain Valley, California in 1983...
.
Zayre has competed with such discounters as Fisher's Big Wheel
Fisher's Big Wheel
Fisher's Big Wheel was a discount department store chain based in New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States. The company operated stores under the Fisher's Big Wheel and Buy Smart names. At its peak, the chain comprised more than 100 stores in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The chain...
, Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
, Walmart and Hills Department Stores
Hills Department Stores
Hills Department Store was a Canton, Massachusetts, based discount department store chain. It was founded in 1957 in Youngstown, Ohio, and existed until 1999 when it was acquired by Ames. Most stores were located in Ohio, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, though the company had...
.
Zayre also acquired a few locations in Ohio in 1986 from Meijer
Meijer
Meijer, Inc. is a regional American hypermarket chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1934 as a supermarket chain, Meijer is credited with pioneering the modern supercenter concept in 1962. About half of the company's 196 stores are located in Michigan, with additional locations in...
; these locations were part of Meijer's failed "Meijer Square" concept.
In 1975 Zayre started a program entitled "Zayre '75" to remodel and update the stores. In 1985, Zayre purchased the former Gaylords store chain. However, many of the new stores opened up during the 1980s suffered from cluttered aisles and messy appearances. Zayre began to feature appearances from celebrities such as Sherman Hemsley
Sherman Hemsley
Sherman Alexander Hemsley is an American actor, most famous for his role as George Jefferson on the CBS television series All in the Family and The Jeffersons, and as Deacon Ernest Frye on the NBC series Amen. He also played Earl Sinclair's horrifying boss, a Triceratops named B.P...
and Robert Guillaume
Robert Guillaume
Robert "Bob" Guillaume is an American stage and television actor, best known for his role as Benson Du Bois on the TV-series Soap and the spin-off Benson, voicing the mandrill Rafiki in The Lion King and as Isaac Jaffe on Sports Night...
in "Grand-Reopenings" of their major stores. These events failed to improve their market share. In February 1988 they filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, and in October 1988 the Zayre stores were sold to the competing Ames chain. Zayre's other brands were reorganized under the corporate umbrella of the renamed TJX Companies
TJX Companies
The TJX Companies, Incorporated , is the largest international apparel and home fashions off-price department store chain in the United States. Based in Framingham, Massachusetts, the company originally evolved from the Zayre discount department store chain, founded in 1956, which opened its first...
. BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club
BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. , commonly referred to simply as BJ's, is a membership-only warehouse club chain operating on the United States East Coast, as well as in the state of Ohio...
and Home Club were later spun off from TJX. Both BJ's and TJX are still going strong today.
The acquisition of Zayre doubled the size of Ames Department Stores Inc., but it proved unprofitable. By 1990, Ames had closed 74 Zayre stores, and the rest were converted into Ames stores. Some of the former Zayre stores operated under the Ames name until Ames ceased operations in 2002.
Banners
These are the banners Zayre used before being acquired by Ames- Zayre
- T.J. MaxxT.J. MaxxT.J. Maxx, sometimes referred to as TJ's or the Maxx, is an American department store chain owned by TJX Companies. With more than 900 stores T.J. Maxx is a major clothes retailer in the United States, whilst also operating stores in a number of other countries.-History:In 1976, T.J...
- BJ's Wholesale ClubBJ's Wholesale ClubBJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. , commonly referred to simply as BJ's, is a membership-only warehouse club chain operating on the United States East Coast, as well as in the state of Ohio...
- Home ClubHomeBaseHomeBase was a home improvement warehouse chain in the Western United States based in Irvine, California.-History:Robert J. McNulty and George Handgis founded the chain as a warehouse club called the HomeClub, opening the first two stores in Norwalk and Fountain Valley, California in 1983...
- Zayre Shopper's City