MALL HALL OF FAME

Abraham and Joseph Neisner opened the first Neisner Brothers dime store in Rochester, New York in March 1911. The business enterprise went public, as Neisner Brothers, Incorporated, in 1916. By this time, a corporate headquarters had been established in Rochester.

The chain grew steadily through the early years of the 20th century. The 1928 store count stood at thirty-five. Fifty-eight stores were in service in 1929. Neisner's units numbered ninety-four in 1935. In 1937, the 100th store was dedicated, with 108 in operation by year's end.

In 1940, 114 stores were in business in sixteen states. By 1950, this number had increased to 123 units. Nineteen states, and the District of Columbia were now being served. The store count had increased again by 1955, when Neisner's operated 139 stores.

The 1960s were ushered in with 170 stores in nineteen states and the District of Columbia. 1965's variety store count was 174. The peak number of variety stores under the Neisner's nameplate was achieved in 1967, when there were 192 units.

The company was overseeing only 110 stores by 1970. 120 were in operation, in twelve states and the District of Columbia, by 1974. There were now two divisions; the "Convenience Discount Store" (or standard 5 & 10) and "discount department store" (known as BigN).

By the mid-1970s, the chain was struggling. Thirty-one stores closed in February 1978, leaving eighty-eight in operation. All business was sold to Connecticut-based Ames in January 1979. More stores were shuttered. Others were co-branded as either Neisner's-Ames or Ames-BigN. The Neisner's brand had been phased out by 1980.

NEISNER'S JUNIOR-ANCHORED SHOPPING MALLS:

*A. HARRIS CENTER, Dallas, TX (1956)

*GARDEN STATE PLAZA, Paramus, NJ (1957)
*SPENCER'S NORTH MALL, Spencer, Iowa (1964)