• Headquarters: Newton, MA

  • Founder: Oliver "Ollie" Cohen

  • Employees: 8,000

  • Stores: 250

  • Slogan: Count on us for more! / For King size savings!

  • Founded: 1956

  • Closed: 1984

COMMENTARY:

It's very hard to find detailed information on chains that have closed more than 30 years ago. King's stores operated in the northeast states at least. In 1977, they acquired the troubled Mammoth Mart chain that had stores in many New England states. I do remember seeing a closed King's in the Portsmouth, NH area several years ago. I have also seen an original King's shopping cart at a convenience store in Bingham, Maine on Route 201. The metal basket had «King's» etched on its frame and the plastic parts were yellow.

OVERVIEW:

King’s was founded in 1956. In 1974, the Mammoth Mart chain filled for bankruptcy and was acquired by King's Department Stores, Inc. in 1978. After acquiring other department store chains there were about 130 stores in 1979 reaching from New England, New York state, PA VA, KY and TN, with the highest concentration of stores on MA & CT. Kings Department Stores, Inc. changed their name to KDT Industries, Inc. but I don't know when. King's had financial troubles after the acquisition and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1982. King's had 8,000 employees and sales of $1,344,000,000 before filling for Chapter 11. The chain finally closed in 1984. Ames acquired King's in 1984, opening new stores at many former King's locations. If you have more details, contact us today.

SELECT LOCATIONS:

Maine

Auburn

Augusta

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Calais

Ellsworth

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Vermont

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Maryland

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North Carolina

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Winston-Salem (2


Virginia

Newport News

Norfolk (2)

Richmond (2)

Virginia Beach


ALTERNATE KING'S LOGOS:

Former King's in Gilford NH

This website is not affiliated with the former King's Department Stores chain or KDT Industries.