J.M. Fields

Headquarters: Salem, MA
President: n/a
Employees: n/a
Stores: 79
Slogan: n/a
Founded: n/a
Closed: 1979

COMMENTARY:

I’ve learned about JM Fields a few years ago when looking for information on past discount chains of New England. It turns out that many existing discount stores in Maine and New Hampshire were former JM Fields. The former Bradlees in Newington NH was among these and the former Shaw’s supermarket once located near that Bradlees was a JM Fields Grocery store. This situation was similar in Concord NH where the Bradlees Plaza was anchored by JM Fields department store and grocery store. At that particular store, the original JM Fields building was still there until it was razed and replaced by Lowe’s.

That same building style also was on the former Caldor in Bedford NH. There was a Marshalls at left of Caldor that later became A.J.Wright but could have been a JM Fields supermarket in the early days of this shopping plaza. Many former JM Fields stores in New Hampshire and elsewhere were replaced by Bradlees. In Bedford it was by Caldor, and elsewhere Kmart, Home Quarters, Tj maxx and others replaced JM Fields.

OVERVIEW:

J.M. Fields department stores was 100% owned by Food Fair Inc. Food Fair operated supermarkets under that name and under Pantry Pride. Back then, most JM Fields stores were built adjacent to Food Fair's Pantry Pride grocery stores. They were the first "supercenters" of that era. According to an article about the opening of a new store dated from November 1971, the chain had back then 78 stores on the east coast from Maine to Florida. In October 1978, Food Fair filed for bankruptcy. In April 1979, the company began the Going out of business sale at all 79 JM Fields location.

The company had stores in many states including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. TO BE CONTINUED ...