Ames Department Stores T-Shirt
XS / Army
$19.99
Product Details & Size Guide
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Celebrate Ames Department Stores and its unusual start in a former textile mill in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Opened in 1958 by the Gilman brothers and Philip Feltman, the company focused on smaller towns and rural communities, later growing through acquisitions that included Big N, King’s, Zayre, and Hills. From its peak of 700 stores to its announced chainwide closure in 2002, Ames left a lasting mark on American discount retail and regional shopping memories.
Ames Department Stores began in 1958, when Connecticut brothers Milton, Irving, and Herbert Gilman and partner Philip Feltman opened a discount store in a former textile mill in Southbridge, Massachusetts. The business adopted the mill’s sign as its name and focused on smaller towns and rural communities in the Northeast. It grew through store construction and acquisitions, including Big N in 1978, King’s in 1984, G.C. Murphy in 1985, and Zayre in 1988. The Zayre purchase added hundreds of stores but also brought conversion costs and heavier debt. Ames filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990, closed many stores, and emerged on December 30, 1992. It later took over former locations of several retailers and acquired Hills Department Stores in 1998, becoming the country’s fourth-largest discount chain. A second bankruptcy followed in 2001. In August 2002, Ames announced it would close its remaining stores and liquidate. The chain had been based in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and at its peak operated 700 stores across 20 states and the District of Columbia.
Celebrate Ames Department Stores and its unusual start in a former textile mill in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Opened in 1958 by the Gilman brothers and Philip Feltman, the company focused on smaller towns and rural communities, later growing through acquisitions that included Big N, King’s, Zayre, and Hills. From its peak of 700 stores to its announced chainwide closure in 2002, Ames left a lasting mark on American discount retail and regional shopping memories.
Ames Department Stores began in 1958, when Connecticut brothers Milton, Irving, and Herbert Gilman and partner Philip Feltman opened a discount store in a former textile mill in Southbridge, Massachusetts. The business adopted the mill’s sign as its name and focused on smaller towns and rural communities in the Northeast. It grew through store construction and acquisitions, including Big N in 1978, King’s in 1984, G.C. Murphy in 1985, and Zayre in 1988. The Zayre purchase added hundreds of stores but also brought conversion costs and heavier debt. Ames filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990, closed many stores, and emerged on December 30, 1992. It later took over former locations of several retailers and acquired Hills Department Stores in 1998, becoming the country’s fourth-largest discount chain. A second bankruptcy followed in 2001. In August 2002, Ames announced it would close its remaining stores and liquidate. The chain had been based in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and at its peak operated 700 stores across 20 states and the District of Columbia.
| XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL | 3XL | 4XL | 5XL | |
| Width, in | 16.50 | 18.00 | 20.00 | 22.00 | 24.00 | 26.00 | 28.00 | 30.00 | 32.00 |
| Length, in | 27.00 | 28.00 | 29.00 | 30.00 | 31.00 | 32.00 | 33.00 | 34.00 | 35.00 |
| Sleeve length, in | 8.60 | 8.90 | 9.20 | 9.50 | 9.70 | 10.00 | 10.40 | 10.80 | 11.20 |
| Size tolerance, in | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 | 1.50 |
Product features
- 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton (lightweight 4.2 oz/yd²) for a soft, breathable feel
- Retail fit with crew neckline — neat, easy to layer
- Structural details: side seams, shoulder tape, and ribbed knit collar to retain shape
- Labeling and prints: tear-away label; DTF or DTG printing used for crisp chest and sleeve designs
- Ethically made blanks (Fair Labor Association, Platinum WRAP), REACH certified
Care instructions
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Iron, steam or dry: medium heat
- Do not dryclean
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Bella+Canvas 3001, two year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland
Warnings, Hazard: For adults
Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: low heat, Iron, steam or dry: medium heat, Do not dryclean