Circa-1920

Circa-1928

Circa-1933

Circa-1942

Montgomery Ward carried out a massive expansion in the late 1920s. There were only 3 Chain Stores in 1927. By late 1928, 244 were in business. In 1930, the chain was operating an astounding 556! This number fell to 409 as a result of The Great Depression, but had rebounded to 625 by 1940.

At the end of World War II, Wards' top level management was (mistakenly) convinced that another economic depression was going to hit the nation. As a result, the chain's move into the burgeoning suburban marketplace was delayed for several years. 

No new Wards stores would be opened between 1941 and 1957. The first shopping center-centric location was finally dedicated in 1958. By this time, arch rivals Sears & Roebuck and J.C. Penney were well-entrenched in America's booming suburbs.