Bargain Town USA: Difference between revisions
(New page: '''Bargain Town USA''' was a discount retail chain founded by Mervyn Barstein and Max Corenblum in 1957. The chain specialized in relatively small-footprint (12,000 square fo...) |
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The chain specialized in relatively small-footprint (12,000 square foot) stores convenient to low- and middle-income consumers not served by larger discounters, but did not shy away from locating near retail giants like Wal-Mart, counting on customers who needed to make quicker stops. The store was famed for its advertising jingle, "That's why people from all over town say 'if you like bargains, you'll love Bargain Town'." | The chain specialized in relatively small-footprint (12,000 square foot) stores convenient to low- and middle-income consumers not served by larger discounters, but did not shy away from locating near retail giants like Wal-Mart, counting on customers who needed to make quicker stops. The store was famed for its advertising jingle, "That's why people from all over town say 'if you like bargains, you'll love Bargain Town'." | ||
The chain grew to 60 locations in the Southeast by October [[1987]], when it was sold to Montgomery's KinderCare, Inc. (later renamed Enstar). The company, which operated several other retail chains, experimented with different retail formulas for apparel sales under the Bargain Town division. A few stores, specializing in apparel, were named '''Bargain Town R. P.''' (for "Right Place, Right Price"), but those were quickly converted to the [[Max $10]] nameplate, selling mens and women's apparel for no more than $10 per item. The biggest success, however, were the smaller-footprint "[[Simply | The chain grew to 60 locations in the Southeast by October [[1987]], when it was sold to Montgomery's KinderCare, Inc. (later renamed Enstar). The company, which operated several other retail chains, experimented with different retail formulas for apparel sales under the Bargain Town division. A few stores, specializing in apparel, were named '''Bargain Town R. P.''' (for "Right Place, Right Price"), but those were quickly converted to the [[Max $10]] nameplate, selling mens and women's apparel for no more than $10 per item. The biggest success, however, were the smaller-footprint "[[Simply Fashions|Simply $6]]" women's clothing stores, where all items were $6 or less. Typically one of these stores would be located adjacent to one of Enstar's "Shoe City" footwear outlets. | ||
Enstar's chairman and board of directors resigned in [[1990]] amid a securities fraud scandal related to dealings with convicted trader Michael Milken. The company filed for bankruptcy and sold the Bargain Town USA chain to closeout specialist Variety Wholesalers. | Enstar's chairman and board of directors resigned in [[1990]] amid a securities fraud scandal related to dealings with convicted trader Michael Milken. The company filed for bankruptcy and sold the Bargain Town USA chain to closeout specialist Variety Wholesalers. | ||
The Barstein family bought the Simply $6 chain out of Enstar's bankruptcy and converted it into [[Simply | The Barstein family bought the Simply $6 chain out of Enstar's bankruptcy and converted it into [[Simply Fashions]]. Bargain Town USA is unrelated to "Children's Bargain Town U.S.A.", a Chicago toy store chain, also founded in 1957, which was one of the forerunners of "Toys 'R' Us". | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 13:06, 29 March 2009
Bargain Town USA was a discount retail chain founded by Mervyn Barstein and Max Corenblum in 1957.
The chain specialized in relatively small-footprint (12,000 square foot) stores convenient to low- and middle-income consumers not served by larger discounters, but did not shy away from locating near retail giants like Wal-Mart, counting on customers who needed to make quicker stops. The store was famed for its advertising jingle, "That's why people from all over town say 'if you like bargains, you'll love Bargain Town'."
The chain grew to 60 locations in the Southeast by October 1987, when it was sold to Montgomery's KinderCare, Inc. (later renamed Enstar). The company, which operated several other retail chains, experimented with different retail formulas for apparel sales under the Bargain Town division. A few stores, specializing in apparel, were named Bargain Town R. P. (for "Right Place, Right Price"), but those were quickly converted to the Max $10 nameplate, selling mens and women's apparel for no more than $10 per item. The biggest success, however, were the smaller-footprint "Simply $6" women's clothing stores, where all items were $6 or less. Typically one of these stores would be located adjacent to one of Enstar's "Shoe City" footwear outlets.
Enstar's chairman and board of directors resigned in 1990 amid a securities fraud scandal related to dealings with convicted trader Michael Milken. The company filed for bankruptcy and sold the Bargain Town USA chain to closeout specialist Variety Wholesalers.
The Barstein family bought the Simply $6 chain out of Enstar's bankruptcy and converted it into Simply Fashions. Bargain Town USA is unrelated to "Children's Bargain Town U.S.A.", a Chicago toy store chain, also founded in 1957, which was one of the forerunners of "Toys 'R' Us".
References
- Kelly, Mary Ellen (August 1, 1988) "One-price clothing chains set to slug it out." Discount Store News
- Kelly, Mary Ellen (February 20, 1989) "Bargain Town's Max $10 debuts; one-pricer features new wrinkles ." Discount Store News
- "Small size & convenience are draw - Bargain Town USA, discount store chain." (May 8, 1989) Discount Store News
- Kelly, Mary Ellen (March 15, 1993) "Barstein: dreams can be bought … back - Bargain Town USA." Discount Store News
External links
- Bargain Town USA commercial on YouTube.com