Ames Announces 47 Store Closings
   ROCKY HILL, Conn., Aug 16, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Ames Department  Stores, Inc. (AMES) announced today that it will close 47 store locations.
   The stores will immediately begin liquidation and are expected to close by  the end of October.
   "We've continued to see a softening economy in the last several months and  don't anticipate much improvement in the short term. In keeping with our  ongoing review of operations, these stores have now become candidates for  closure. Closing stores is always difficult, especially for those associates  directly impacted by the closings. Wherever possible, we will find  opportunities for these associates in markets with ongoing Ames locations,"  said Joseph R. Ettore, Ames' Chairman & CEO. "In this tough economic  climate," he added, "we feel that it is in the Company's best interest to put  our efforts into our viable core business which represents just over 400 store  locations."
   The store closings will affect some 2,000 employees in 10 markets. A  complete listing of all the closing stores is attached and can also be found on  our website at www.AmesStores.com.
   Ames Department Stores, Inc., a FORTUNE 500(R) company, is the nation's  largest regional, full-line discount retailer with annual sales of approximately  $4 billion. With 452 stores in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West,  Ames offers value-conscious shoppers quality, name-brand products across  a broad range of merchandise categories. For more information about Ames,  visit www.AmesStores.com or www.AmesStores.com/espanol.
   To find the location of the Ames store nearest you, dial 1-800-SHOP-AMES.
   Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Information
   Statements, other than those based on historical facts which address  activities, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates  may occur in the future are forward-looking statements which are based upon  a number of assumptions concerning further conditions that may ultimately  prove to be inaccurate. Actual events and results may materially differ from  anticipated results described in any forward-looking statements. The  Company's ability to achieve such results is subject to certain risks and  uncertainties. Consequently, these cautionary statements qualify all of the  forward-looking statements and there can be no assurance that the results or  developments anticipated by the Company will be realized or that they will  have the expected effects on the Company or its business or operations.
   CLOSING STORES ILLINOIS (3) Chicago - 3445 South Martin Luther King  Drive Danville - 3363 N. Vermillion St. Wheaton - Main Street Plaza Shopping  Center, 288 E. Geneva Rd. INDIANA (6) Anderson - 2100 S. Scatterfield Rd.  Kokomo - Maple Crest Shopping Center, 2947 S. Washington St. Marion -  One North Park Mall, 1129 N. Baldwin Ave. New Castle - New Castle Plaza,  127 S. Memorial Dr. Terre Haute - Plaza North Shopping Center, 119 Fort  Harrison Rd. Terre Haute - Riverside Plaza, 3500 S. US Hwy 41 MAINE (1)  Newport - 26 Main St. MARYLAND (1) Salisbury - 258 Tilghman Rd. NEW  YORK (3) Buffalo - 2232 Delaware Ave. Ticonderoga - 1171 NYS Rte. 9N  Williamsville - Clarence Mall, 4401 Transit Road NORTH CAROLINA (1)  Wilmington - Long Leaf Mall, 4302 Shipyard Blvd. OHIO (15) Akron - 2375  Romig Rd. Amherst - 190 Milestone Ln. Bedford - 456 Northfield Rd. Canton -  3200 Atlantic Blvd. NE Defiance - 1800 N. Clinton St. Heath - Indian Mound  Mall, 771 S. 30th St. Logan - 32 Hocking Mall Marietta - 450 Pike St.  Massilon - 1970 Lincoln Way East Mt. Vernon - 1010 Coshocton Ave.  Northwood - 3700 Williston Rd. St. Clairsville - 67501 Mall Ring Rd.  Steubenville - Fort Steuben Mall, 100 Mall Dr. Toledo - Alexis-Lewis Shopping  Center, 1136 W. Alexis Rd. Willowick - Shoregate Shopping Plaza, 29400  Lakeshore Blvd. PENNSYLVANIA (12) Bradford - Bradford Mall, 1001 E. Main  St. Clearfield - Clearfield Mall, 1854 Daisy St. Ebensburg - Terra Step Plaza,  Hwy 22, RD# 4 Erie - 2080 Interchange Rd. Gibsonia - 5375 William Flynn  Hwy. Hermitage - 2996 E. State St. Johnstown - Richland Mall, 3200 Elton  Rd. Mill Hall - 284 Hogan Blvd. New Castle - 2522 W. State St. Philadelphia -  Boulevard Plaza, 11000 Roosevelt Blvd. Warminster - Center Point Place,  908 West St. West Mifflin - Kennywood Mall, 1300 Hoffman Blvd. VIRGINIA  (4) Chesapeake - Chesapeake Crossing Shopping Ctr., 1943 South Military  Hwy. Danville - Piedmont Mall, 325 Piedmont Dr. Roanoke - 2935  Hershberger Rd. NW Virginia Beach - 2866 Virginia Beach Blvd. WEST  VIRGINIA (1) Fairmont - Middletown Mall, 2500 Fairmont Ave.
   CONTACT: Ames Department Stores Mary McCabe, 860/257-2590 Amy  Romano, 860/257-5319URL: businesswire.comtoday's News On  The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internetwith Hyperlinks to your home  page.
   Copyright (C) 2001 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
   KEYWORD: CONNECTICUTINDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL SOURCE:  Ames Department Stores
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