King's Department Stores

Ghost Corp Apparel — resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.

King's Department Stores began in Brockton, Massachusetts, in 1956, joining the great mid-century stampede toward self-service discount retail. By January 1975, the chain operated 110 stores across 17 eastern, southern, and midwestern states: a formidable kingdom of practical goods, fluorescent lighting, and the eternal hunt for a deal.

Expansion came with some serious baggage. King's acquired a controlling stake in bankrupt Mammoth Mart in June 1977, then acquired Barker's Discount Department Stores in 1980. The corporate parent changed its name from King's Department Stores, Inc. to KDT Industries, Inc. on June 4, 1981. The name got more corporate; the retail weather got worse.

KDT filed for Chapter 11 protection on August 5, 1982. That month it announced 66 King's-store closings, and the chain contracted sharply. In 1984, Ames Department Stores acquired KDT Industries for $28.5 million, obtaining 42 remaining King's stores and converting them to Ames locations. The crown had left the building, presumably through the clearance aisle.

Our King's Department Stores collection celebrates the ambitious regional discounter that turned everyday shopping into an expedition for towels, toys, tools, and maybe a miracle at the register. Long live the bargain-bin monarchy.