This is the usual small town plaza with a discount store, supermarket and pharmacy. The shopping center opened years ago and had a 43,000 sq-ft. Grants department store and an IGA Supermarket. Grants was later replaced by Mammoth Mart.

Ames opened in September 1983. In the mid 1990’s, the Farmington store and nearby Skowhegan Ames were both closed.  During the same time, both towns welcomed a new Walmart store. 

The former Ames was replaced by Bob's Discount, a Maine-based closeout chain and the former IGA by Save-A-Lot. The picture above is showing both stores. Family Dollar may have taken a former LaVerdiere's pharmacy space. Bob's Discount closed many stores including the Farmington store. The chain finally went out of business. A flea market recently occupied the former Bob's but closed in 2012.  Big Lots opened a store to replace it in the fall of 2012.