Ames is closing??

[scottcomstock]

I just read in the Albany Times Union that Ames is closing its doors (http://www.timesunion.com/lede/wednesday/0814ameslede.asp), including its Potsdam store. Students, including myself, depended on that store for a great deal of their needs, like notebooks, inexpensive dorm furniture, clothing, etc. Who's going to pick up the slack?

[Pete]

It is the only store of its kind in Potsdam, and one of the anchor stores at the rapidly emptying mall in Massena. Hadn't heard this, I knew they had gone Chapter 11 for the first time, but figured they would pull out of it. Too bad for the area, especially Potsdam. Hopefully Wal mart eventually builds in the area as has been being debated forever in the area. Potsdam is really going to need it or the ony options willl be Wal Mart in Massena and Ogdensburg or KMart in MAlone. The prices and hours at the local merchants just are not that good.

[scottcomstock]

Originally posted by Pete
It is the only store of its kind in Potsdam, and one of the anchor stores at the rapidly emptying mall in Massena. Hadn't heard this, I knew they had gone Chapter 11 for the first time, but figured they would pull out of it. Too bad for the area, especially Potsdam. Hopefully Wal mart eventually builds in the area as has been being debated forever in the area. Potsdam is really going to need it or the ony options willl be Wal Mart in Massena and Ogdensburg or KMart in MAlone. The prices and hours at the local merchants just are not that good.

It's especially sad...I remember taking countless trips to Ames throughout my four years at Clarkson. Having to go to Massena or Ogdensburg for supplies is not going to be fun, especially for those students that don't have cars. Hopefully, there's a merchant in Potsdam that can step up and fill the void left by Ames.

And they're STILL fighting about a Wal-Mart?! Sheesh, they were fighting about that during my junior year ('98-'99)! (I got personally involved with a part of that...kind of a long story)

[Pete]

Prices are so high at local merchants and the hours aren'
t that great, so without changes, not much help there.

They, the town and village, want Walmart now, but it has been a waiting game. Wal mart hasn't made a move lately

The mall in Massena is rapidly losing stores. Something has to be done there to retain what they have, and draw in new major chains, not an easy task with the current economy.

[scottcomstock]

Originally posted by Pete
They, the town and village, want Walmart now, but it has been a waiting game. Wal mart hasn't made a move lately

I'd be very surprised if someone didn't make some kind of move at this point. Walmart could easily purchase the building, which would render moot the arguments I've heard about village annexation and invasion of the wetlands on/near Route 56.

Methinks Ruth Garner ought to resume discussions with Walmart if they're as stagnant as your statement implies. (is this the case?)

[Pete]

They are stagnant, but seem to be on Wal-Marts end. The town and village have supposedly tried to contact Wal Mart but Wal Mart has kept deferring saying they are still interested but that they have to research more or that they have a timetable and will be in touch. Different stories have been in the paper. The town and village were ready to go on all the annexation issues, but by that time Wal Mart was moving a lot slower. I would hope this would speed them up a little. It is potentially a decent market for them and picks up any business they did not get before at the other local stores.

[chuck]

http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/16/00/00/00/00/01/77/17711.gif

[Pete]

There was an article in the local paper about WalMart pretty much saying the ball is in their court. Nothing has been heard from WalMart in quite some time.