Rich's Department Stores
Type	Discount Department Store
Founded	1962 Salem, Massachusetts
Headquarters	Salem, Massachusetts
Industry	Retail
Products	Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics and housewares.
Website	None

For the department store chain of Atlanta see Rich's.

Rich's, a family owned business established in 1962, grew out of Jerry's Army Navy Surplus in Salem, Massachusetts. The Rich family once operated about 40 stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts, which offered discounted merchandise.

History

Rich's, founded by Jerry Rich, had employees who often stayed for long periods of time. Beverly Raymond was a Supervisor of Cashiers for almost 30 years in the Nashua store. Her manager, Loren Swindell, managed in Nashua for over 20 years, after a short stint with JM Fields.

Nearly 2,000 workers at the company's 26 stores in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont lost their jobs in late February 1997 after the chain went bankrupt on March 14, 1996.

Former locations

Maine

• Auburn - Auburn Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1990, closed fall 1995, now Big Lots)
• Bangor - Airport Mall ( sq ft ( m²); Opened 1983 in former Woolco; converted to Ames in 1998. Ames closed 2002, now Marshalls and Dollar Tree)
• Biddeford - Five Points Plaza (67.332 sq ft.; opened 1974, now Staples)
• Calais - Main St. ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1990, closed 1995, now Marden's)
• Falmouth - Falmouth Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; Opened 1983 in former King's Department Store; converted to Ames in 1997. Ames closed 2002, now Shaw's Supermarket)
• Waterville - JFK Plaza (  sq ft ( m²).; opened 1982, closed 1996, now a call center for L.L. Bean)

Massachusetts

• Danvers - Danvers Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; Opened 1980s, now Stop & Shop)
• Fitchburg - Wallace Plaza ( sq ft ( m²). opened 1981, now Big Lots)
• Gardner - Timpany Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1970, now Big Lots, Dollar Tree, and a theater)
• Greenfield - Rich's Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1983, now Staples)
• Marlboro - Post Road Plaza (Opened 1970s, now Ocean State Job Lot)
• Methuen - Merrimac Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; Opened 1988 in former Almy's, now A.J. Wright and Dollar Tree)
• Middleboro - Middleboro Crossing (opened 1989)
• Milford - Milford Plaza ( sq ft ( m²); Opened 1995 in former Fair Department Store, closed late 1996, now Big Lots)
• Plymouth - Miles Standish Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1970, closed late 1996, now Stop & Shop)
• Salem - Highland Ave. (first store, opened 1961, now Wal-Mart)
• Whitinsville - Whitinsville Plaza ( sq ft ( m²)., opened August 1995 in former Fair Department Store, now Wal-Mart)

New Hampshire

• Concord - Fort Eddy Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1979, now Borders and Staples)
• Gilford - Rich's Plaza ( sq ft ( m²).; opened October 1991, now Wal-Mart)
• Gorham - Mountain Valley Plaza (opened 1973; currently Wal-Mart, although Wal-Mart is slated to move in 2007)
• Keene - 381 West St. ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1981, now JCPenney)
• Manchester ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1986 in former Lord's Department Store, converted to Ames in 1997. Ames closed 2002 and is now Building 19)
• Nashua - Turnpike Plaza (second store; opened 1965, closed June 1996, now Bob's Store and Staples)
• Portsmouth - Lafayette Rd ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1973 in former Mammoth Mart, closed late 1996, now Big Lots and Goodwill)
• Rochester - Rochester Mall (opened 1970, closed late 1996; mall torn down for The Home Depot)
• West Lebanon - Upper Valley Plaza ( sq ft ( m²)., later expanded to  sq ft ( m²).; oppened November 1968, converted to Ames in 1997. Ames closed 2002 and is now Kohl's)

Rhode Island

• South Kingstown - Wakefield Mall ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1994 in former Woolworth; closed 1996, now Shaw's Supermarket)

Vermont

• Berlin - Berlin Mall ( sq ft ( m²).; opened 1986, converted to Wal-Mart in 2000)
• St. Johnsbury - Green Mountain Mall ( sq ft ( m²).; opened Fall 1991 in former Zayre, converted to Ames in 1997. Ames closed 2002 and is currently vacant)

Source

• Retailers from Woolworth to Wal-Mart

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