Jamesway, the mid-Atlantic discount department store chain, went out of business and closed all its stores by the end of 1995 after two bankruptcy filings, ceasing operations in states like Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey due to financial losses. Some former locations were acquired by Ames, while others were later repurposed as different businesses, leaving behind nostalgic memories of the regional retailer.

Key Details about Jamesway's Discontinuation:

Final Closure: All approximately 90 stores closed in late 1995, with liquidation sales running from October to Christmas that year.

Causes: The chain faced significant financial losses and multiple bankruptcies, failing to make a profit after 1990.

Geographic Reach: Jamesway operated throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Legacy: Some stores were converted into Ames, another defunct discount chain, and many former Jamesway buildings now house other retailers or storage facilities, as seen in locations like Bradford and North Warren, PA.

What Happened Next:

Ames Acquisition: Ames Department Stores bought about 13 former Jamesway locations, though Ames itself later went out of business in 2002.

Repurposed Buildings: Many Jamesway sites became Planet Fitness, Dunham's Sports, or even storage facilities, with the brand name disappearing from retail.