Having grown up in New England in the 1980s, certain commercials that aired during cartoons like “The Flintstones,” “Battle of the Planets,” and “G.I. Joe” on UHF channels 38 and 56 have long been seared into my brain.
I can sing the entire Rusty Jones jingle, and if you say the words “water country,” my internal dialogue repeats it and adds “have some fun!”
If you say, “It’s fun to find out what your voice really sounds like,” I’m ready to head to the Boston Museum of Science, and even having been to the New England Aquarium, the horns and excited kids begging their parents to take them there make me want to go right now.
Frugal Fannie’s, a discount women’s clothing chain, was also a staple with folksy ads featuring spokesperson and owner Kathleen “Fannie” Doxer. Those commercials tended to air at night during game shows and syndicated programming, but even as a young kid, I knew the phrase “Get your fanny to Frugals!”
Now, having survived a 2003 Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which briefly closed all its stores, Frugal Fannie’s is closing its final location.
Frugal Fannie’s starts going-out-of-business sale
Frugal Fannie’s Fashion Warehouse, a discount fashion retailer, is closing its doors after 43 years. Owners Kathleen Doxer and Orrin Doxer decided to end store operations due to health considerations, key staff retirements, and the end of their lease with no further options to renew, ABF Journal reported.
The company confirmed the closure on its website.
The owners retained SB360 Capital Partners to help run a Going Out of Business liquidation sale at the chain’s remaining Massachusetts store.
In 2002, the company pulled out of Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, leaving four Massachusetts locations, according to the Washington Post.
A year later, the company closed its Massachusetts locations and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
“Yesterday marked the beginning of the end for the fashion warehouse chain’s four remaining stores in Framingham, Westwood, Reading and Brighton. Citing poor sales, Frugal’s launched a liquidation that will run until the apparel racks are picked clean,” the Milford Daily News reported.
The original location in Westwood, Mass., was able to reopen months later, however, according to CBS News.
Frugal Fannie’s only sold women’s clothing. Shutterstock
Frugal Fannie’s shares closing sale info
Frugal Fannie’s Going Out of Business sale starts Sept. 24 at the original Westwood location.
“Shoppers seeking bargains on everyday apparel, outerwear, special occasion dresses, fashion jewelry, stylish accessories, home accents, and more will appreciate the mix of recognizable labels, competitive pricing, and the excitement of discovering unexpected finds. With day-in, day-out prices up to 50% less than department stores, customers will now find merchandise marked down even further, offering shoppers additional savings,” the company shared in a press release.
All sales are final. The retailer will be honoring its two-week return policy on previous sales until Oct. 7, according to its website.
Frugal Fannie’s will be taking cash and credit cards, but won’t accept checks.
Gift cards and merchandise credit will be accepted until Nov. 11.
In March, the chain shared a Facebook post celebrating its history and employees.
More than 40 years later, 90% of our team is made up of women, with many serving in leadership roles across the store. From merchandising to management to the sales floor, women help shape the experience here every single day.
Chains like Frugal Fannie’s are part of the community
Regional chains often have a folksy appeal that national brands lack. I used to go to Building 19 as a kid with my father, and while I don’t think I ever bought much, being brought to a dilapidated warehouse full of junk remains a strong memory.
Boston Globe writer Doreen Ludica Vigue felt a certain magic at Christmas Tree Shops, which helped heal her rift with her mother.
“We were no longer adversaries, but two giggly pals examining the bargains in each other’s carts,” she wrote.
Dave Barton, President of Bob’s Stores, seemed to understand that his chain was more than a store for many customers.
“Bob’s has been a stalwart of our local communities for nearly 70 years, and we know our customers remember us as having been there for major moments in their lives,” he said in a press release when the chain closed.
Frugal Fannie’s joins a long list
New England has lost a remarkable number of regional retail chains over the decades. As a Swampscott, Mass., native, I have a deep history with most of these chains.
Christmas Tree Shops
A chain that sold some seasonal merchandise but never sold real or artificial Christmas trees.
New England home-goods/discount icon founded on Cape Cod in 1970.
Operated 72 stores at its peak.
Filed Chapter 11 in 2023, then converted to Chapter 7 liquidation.
All remaining stores closed in August 2023.Source: Retail Dive
“I came here with my mother, and they were like ‘We aren’t closing yet! Not sure yet,’” Karen Basili told CBS News. “I always used to call it my happy place. I don’t know what else to say. I am going to miss it. I can’t believe how many stores are closing.”
Bob’s Stores
A go-to for team merchandise and pants before Kohl’s came to New England.
Connecticut-founded apparel and footwear retailer dating to 1954.
Became a major New England regional chain selling workwear, footwear, teamwear and family clothing.
Filed Chapter 11 in June 2024.
All 21 remaining stores closed in July 2024.Source: Shopping Center Business
“Doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of traffic inside, so kind of inevitable, but it’s kind of sad to see another casualty to store closings in Connecticut,” customer Radames Vazquez told WFSB at one of the chain’s locations.
Building 19
A store that sold absolute junk and was wildly fun to shop in. It was essentially where merchandise went after nicer discount chains couldn’t sell it.
Massachusetts/New England closeout-retail icon founded in Hingham in 1964.
Famous for its unusual discount merchandise and “Good Stuff Cheap” identity.
Had 13 stores when it filed for bankruptcy in 2013.
The chain disappeared, although two locations briefly reopened as The Rug Department.Source: Boston Magazine
Building 19 used to use a comic book-style for its ads.
“I miss the stores and the flyers that came in the Sunday paper,” Mike O’Leary posted on Facebook.
“Got a case of 100 hockey pucks for $4.99 at the Haverhill store way back when. Sign said they were ‘water damaged,’” Charlie Kattar added.
Ames
A low-end department store that was nicer than a dollar store, but not as nice as Walmart.
Rocky Hill, Connecticut-based discount department-store chain.
Had 327 stores remaining when it decided in 2002 to liquidate the entire company.
The chain had been a major Northeast discount retailer.
Ames had previously acquired Zayre, a deal that contributed heavily to its financial problems.Source: Washington Post
“As someone who worked retail when the company closed, that video hits hard. You forge all these relationships… friendships or more, some temporary, some life-long, within the four walls of the building you all worked in, and then you get that call, fixtures start disappearing, that shared experience is over,” LT_johnson shared on Reddit after watching a video about Ames.
Bradlees
A place where you could buy cheap clothes, toys, and an engagement ring.
Major Northeast discount department-store chain.
Had 105 stores and roughly 10,000 employees when it liquidated.
Final stores closed in 2001.
Particularly familiar to shoppers throughout New England and the Northeast.Source: The Patriot Ledger
“The thing about Bradlees isn’t that it was extraordinary. It’s that it was reliably, dependably there. It was the store you didn’t think about because you didn’t have to,” New England Unfiltered shared on Facebook.
Filene’s
One of the places I shopped in high school, buying slightly off-trend, but expensive clothes.
Legendary Boston/New England department-store name.
Founded in Boston and closely associated with Downtown Crossing.
The Filene’s name disappeared from U.S. retail after Federated’s 2005 acquisition of May Department Stores.
Macy’s replaced the remaining Filene’s stores in 2006.Source: Boston Public Library Research Guide
“My grandmother used to shop here many years ago. My aunt used to come to Filene’s, I come to Filene’s, my mother. It’s really just too bad. I’m really sad about it. It’s really sort of a monument I say. In Italy, that’s what they would call it, a historical monument,” shopper Lisa Pochey told NPR.
Jordan Marsh
A sort of higher-end shopping destination, a bit like a fancier Macy’s.
Major Boston/New England department-store institution.
The original Boston flagship was a major downtown shopping destination.
Macy’s acquired the Jordan Marsh chain through its acquisition of Allied Stores.
The Jordan Marsh name disappeared in 1996.Source: Cape Cod Times
Jordan Marsh, it seems, back in the day, used to be as famous for its muffins as for its clothes.
“Muffins from a department store? Actually, that’s not so unusual. Like nearly all grand department stores of the era, the Jordan Marsh flagship store in Boston’s Downtown Crossing housed an on-site cafe, or bakery, that served refreshments to shoppers,” New England Magazine shared.
Lechmere
If you wanted electronics, a bed, CDs, and who knows what else, Lechmere likely had it.
Massachusetts/New England department-store chain founded in Cambridge in 1913.
Had 27 stores when it was liquidated.
Twenty of those stores were in New England, including 12 in Massachusetts.
Closed in 1997 when parent Montgomery Ward went through bankruptcy.Source: CE Pro
“Lechmere, a retail chain in New England, seemed destined to last forever,” the Old School Boston Blog reported. “But this amazing store will, at least, last forever in my mind. How could a New England household name-caliber store with everything you could ever need or want under the sun at great prices go out of business? Very sad, indeed.”
Filene’s Basement
Famous for brides fighting over dresses during its wedding sale, with women literally trying on dresses in the aisle.
Boston-born discount institution that became famous for its bargain-hunting culture.
Original Downtown Crossing location opened in 1909 beneath Filene’s.
Became famous nationally for its “Running of the Brides” events.
Final stores closed in December 2011 after bankruptcy.Source: WBUR
Elizabeth Lentini and her husband, Orazio, of Natick, who visit the store at least once a month, shared their sorrow at its closing with MetroWest Daily News.
“I’m terribly disappointed,” she said as the couple left the store with two bags filled with men’s clothes and Christmas cards for later this year. “We’re going to miss it.”
Harry Shulman of Newton expressed similar sentiments.
“I haven’t gotten over the fact that Filene’s in downtown Boston closed down,” he said before entering the Framingham store. “I’m going to miss this one, but I’m going to check what’s available.”
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