CALDOR

Space in an abandoned textile mill was adapted into a 1,500 square foot appliance store by Port Chester, New York's Carl and Dorothy Bennett. The fledgling C. Caldor & Company welcomed first customers in November 1951. Its name was an amalgamation of the first names of its founders...CArL and DORothy = "Caldor." 

A move toward general discounting was made in the late 1950s, with several new product lines offered. These included men's, women's and children's apparel, hardware, paint, auto accessories, housewares, garden and patio items, stationery, luggage, jewelry camera-photo, furniture, toys, hobbies, giftware, health & beauty aids and sporting goods. As the chain grew, so did its stores. These would eventually cover between 80,000 and 120,000 square feet. 

New York City-based Associated Dry Goods bought the Caldor operation in May 1981. Under ADG's leadership, the chain expanded exponentially. By 1984, there were 100 stores. Associated Dry Goods was acquired by St. Louis-based May Department Stores in July 1986. Under May's leadership, the expansion of Caldor slowed considerably. In October 1989, they divested their holdings in the discount chain to an entity known as Odyssey Partners.

Another period of rapid growth ensued, with 158 Caldor stores in operation by 1995. However, competition from Wal-Mart resulted in the chain filing for bankruptcy and closing stores. By January 1998, with a second bankruptcy in motion, the end was at hand. Additional store closings could not put the company back on steady ground. 

The Caldor chain went out of business in the months between January and May 1999. On hand to divide-up shuttered stores were Wal-Mart, Bradlees, Ames and Wisconsin-based Kohl's.

CALDOR-ANCHORED SHOPPING MALLS:

*CONNECTICUT POST CENTER, Milford, CT (1977)
*SWANSEA MALL, Swansea, MA (1979)
*WARWICK MALL, Warwick, RI (1984) [previously The Outlet Company]