Bradlees History - Rise and Fall Retail Department Store 

Proud to have been a part of the Bradlees, Caldor, Ames generation. That's where all my matchbox/ hotwheels and other toys and clothes came from as a kid...

I miss those days! I worked at Bradlees in Lewiston, Maine for nearly 15 years and was working the day we closed the doors in June of 1996. It was surreal after all that time to punch the time clock, say goodbye as you walk through so much empty space that used to be merchandise laden aisles, knowing you wouldn't ever walk back through those doors again... I remember when us employees started getting the distinct feeling that things weren't moving in the right direction. Management announced they were no longer having 2 senior citizens discount days (A big draw for us), they opened a Bradlees in Manhattan -- of ALL places! Bradlees didn't belong in Manhattan among the likes of Saks, Nordstrom etc. WE knew that, why didn't they? Were they THAT desperate? It turns out, yes, they were! Then they added some convenience grocery items... tuna fish, boxed mac n cheese etc. Layaway fees were raised and our customers were NOT impressed. Warehouse deliveries were fewer. Rumors of possible closing surfaced which management steadily denied. It was discussed among employees in the break room. Someone apparently reported my opinion to a dept management who had power issues anyway and he called me in,his office, denied any evidence of possible closing and threatened to write me up if I talked about it again. I said "If that happens, you will need to be prepared to write the whole store up including management because I know for a fact I'm not the ONLY one concerned and talking privately about this! We never discuss these things with customers but when I'm off the sales floor on my own time, I like everyone else uses that time as my own. Are we done here?" He asked if I would sign that I was warned. I said "That will not happen." End of that meeting. And my union rep backed me when I told her about it! Anyway, the majority of my Bradlees memories are good ones!

I use to work at Bradlees in New City, New York in the 1980s. I met my wife at the bus stop there in the early 2000s.

My mother used to shop all the time at Bradlees. The think I loved about the store - at leas the one we went to - was that the toy section was it's own area on the other side of an archway. My mom used to drop my sister and I off there to look around while she shopped.

I miss Bradlees to this day!

Miss Bradlees as well. Met my wife there in 1988. She started there in high school. She was in management and stayed there until the "bitter end". Location is now a Target. To this day, my wife can't go into said Target because it brings back old memories of the Bradlees she loved.

Bordentown NJ is still vacant

Good summary of their history/downfall of Bradlees. Thanks. Bradless, KMart, Caldor, Ames, Jamesway, and then Walmart.

The Bradlees in the thumbnail was my Bradlees in Foxboro, MA. I worked there in the late 80's but left after I was moved from the Sight & Sound department to Toys.

Worked at Bradlees on Arnot Mall Big Flats, NY in the early 1990s. It seemed like Bradlees was unstoppable.

My dad worked at the corporate headquarters in Braintree, MA in the 70's.

JM Fields also helped pioneer the durable goods/grocery combo setup with Pantry Pride. The two stores were attached and shoppers could enter one from the other without having to go outside.

Woodbridge, NJ Bradlees. My first video game. SNES.

I grew up going to the first ever Bradlees in New London, CT.

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I worked at the Bradlees in Medford, Ma in high school it's now a Kohls as is the one that was in Woburn, Ma. The one in Somerville, Ma is now a Target

This was an interesting story. ty for posting..

The Bradlees in my home town of East Haven CT. was literally built over a swamp and had foundation issues. People used to say it was sinking😂 it closed in the late 90s I believe.

caldor would be a good one. New Jersey has 3 vacation locations, one is in Keyport i believe

Bradlees on Cummins Highway in Boston....sad die when it died. First it was Thom McKann and then Bradlees.

keep up the good work great video!

I remember Bradlees. Only time I ever went in one was during the liquidation sale.

CLARK NJ GRANTS BECAME BRADLEES WHICH BECAME TARGET. STOP & SHOP IS STILL IN NJ

So I did live in Groveville NJ in bordentown NJ there was a Bradlees the store has been empty from back then to now still empty. This is next to Bordentown shoprite off Rt 206

Can you do Montgomery Ward next please 😇👍📲

Great memories ❤

Near me Tow Guys became Bradley’s than Bradley’s became Calder then Calder became Kohls

Awesome sauce can you do a video on Gander Mountain

I still have my BRADLEES store credit card locked up in my chest and still owed them money but I don't know what max credit they approved me for back in the 90's I know I got a camcorder with it don't remember the price of it though.

We need a video about Gabes!

I know the initial family very well

That department store is coming back from what I hear ... I've never heard of them until maybe 2 days ago

If you have time, it would be nice to have a video about the company Northern Reflections. They are a clothing store that used to have stores in the US, but now they are only in Canada.. I am curious about why the company pulled out of the USA.. Thank you

The Beadless stores in myarea all became Kohls