Lamonts

Infobox_Company
company_name = Lamonts Apparel, Inc.
company_
company_type = Department store
foundation = 1965 Seattle, Washington
defunct = 2000
fate = Acquired by Gottshalks
location = Kirkland, Washington
industry = Retail
products = Clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares.
homepage = None

Lamonts was a chain department stores founded in Seattle, Washington in 1965. It was known for its casual wear and children's clothing, which was spun off as a concept store Lamonts For Kids for several years before closing. At its peak, Lamonts operated over 70 department Stores and specialty Stores throughout the Western United States. The company restructured in the early 1990s, went bankrupt twice, and closed down many underperforming stores before being acquired by Gottschalks in 2000.

History

Rhodes Department Stores

Lamonts was created after the company's parent Pay 'n Save acquired Bells of Burien, a large clothing store in Burien, Washington, in 1967. Rhodes Department Stores of Seattle, established around 1903, was acquired that same year. The three suburban Rhodes locations in Bellevue, Lake Forest Park, and University Village, along with the Bells of Burien store, were renamed Lamonts in 1969-70, after Lamont M. Bean, the chairman of Pay 'n Save at the time. The first store built from the ground up opened in 1966 at Westwood Village in White Center. Rhodes' downtown flagship store was closed in 1966.

Expansion

After steady growth through the 1970s and 80's, a huge growth plan was proposed for the 1990s. After a financial restructuring in 1992 Lamonts proposed to open three to four 25,000-to 30,000-square-foot stores a year in existing malls in Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota. This plan unfortunately coincided with the recession of the early 1990s which would put the company in massive debt eventually leading to its demise.

Connection with Troutman's Emporium

In 1999 Lamonts turned down a merge with rival chain Troutman's Emporium. [ [http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1999/01/11/daily8.html Troutman Investment enters into discussions with Lamonts Apparel] ] In 2000 during Lamonts bankruptcy, Troutman's offered a bid on the company but was outbid by Gottschalks. The company proposed to change some stores to Troutman's Emporium and sell others to The Bon Marche, an upscale department store chain based in Seattle.

Downfall

In the 1990s other more successful chains in areas with Lamonts stores such as Mervyns and JCPenney caused Lamonts to restructure in 1992 and to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1995 and once more in 2000. An ill-timed expansion in the early 1990s put the company so far in debt that it never quite recovered. The first bankruptcy caused the chain to slim down from 57 to 43 stores and moved their headquarters from Bellevue to Kirkland to save costs. Company officials blamed a bad inventory mix and poor sales due to unusually cold Spring and Summer seasons that finally pushed them over the edge. In 2000 Lamonts was acquired by Gottschalks out of Bankruptcy Court and 34 of the 38 remaining Lamonts stores were converted into Gottschalks stores by the end of the year. Unfortunately, expectations of the locations' profitability fell short and as of 2007 most of the converted locations in urban areas have been shuttered.

Concept stores

In 1991 Lamonts launched Lamonts For Kids which focused on children's clothing, one of Lamonts most profitable departments. The first store opened in Boise, Idaho. Other stores were opened in Salt Lake City and Omaha. The stores, usually opened within malls, featured bright colors and graphics, play areas and specially designed fixtures targeted to children. Wide aisles, extra large dressing rooms to accommodate double strollers, and in-store restrooms with changing tables for infants were also included. The focal area in the store's center, dubbed "Lamonster Land", included video monitors with cartoons and other entertainment for kids, as well as books and stuffed animals. [Prinzing, Debra. "Lamonts' spinoffs won't surface here - unless...." Puget Sound Business Journal 12.n12 (August 5, 1991): 4(2). ] Lamonts shut down the chain in 1994 because of poor operation. At its peak, Lamonts For Kids operated 8 stores.

Lamonsters was a line of infant, toddler and children's clothing introduced in 1986. It was discontinued in 1995.

Former Locations

Alaska

*Anchorage:*Northway Mall - became Gottschalks 2000:*Dimond Center - became Gottschalks 2000:*University Center - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2001, mall converted to University of Anchorage campus
*Fairbanks - Shoppers Forum Mall - opened 1977, became Gottschalks 2000
*Juneau - Nugget Mall - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2002, vacant
*Soldotna
*Wasilla - Cottonwood Creek Mall - closed late 1990s?, mall torn down 2007 for Target

Idaho

*Coeur d'Alene - Silver Lake Mall - opened in former Fred Meyer; became Gottchalks 2000, The Bon Marché 2001, Bon-Macy's 2003, Macy's 2005
*Idaho Falls - Country Club Mall - opened 1971 as Britt's, became Lamonts 1976, Gottschalks 2000, closed ca. 2003, now World Gym and Dollar Tree
*Lewiston - Lewiston Center Mall - became Gottschalks 2000
*Moscow - Palouse Mall - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2006, demolished 2007 for Old Navy and Bed Bath and Beyond
*Pocatello - Pocatello Mall - opened 1976, became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2004, mall demolished for Fred Meyer
*Twin Falls - Magic Valley Mall - opened 1992, closed 1996 [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3601/is_n28_v38/ai_11910820 Schroder RE acquires two regional malls] ]

Montana

*Missoula - Southgate Mall - opened 1979, originally Nordstrom Women's Store, closed 1996, now Herberger's Home Store

Oregon

*Corvallis - downtown - opened as Lipman's, became Frederick & Nelson 1979, The Crescent 1988, Lamonts late 1988, Gottschalks 2000, closed 2004
*Eugene - Valley River Center - opened as The Crescent, became Lamonts 1988, Troutman's Emporium 1996, Copeland Sports 2003, The Sports Authority 2007
*Portland:*Jantzen Beach Mall (now Jantzen Beach Supercenter) - opened 1972 as Liberty House, became Frederick & Nelson 1979, The Crescent 1985, Lamonts 1988, closed in 1995 and demolished 1996:*Lloyd Center - opened as The Crescent, became Lamonts 1988, closed 1995, now Ross Dress for Less and Barnes & Noble:*Washington Circle - opened c. 1988, closed 1995:*Clackamas Promenade - opened as Lamonts in 1990, closed in 1994
*Warrenton - North Coast Plaza - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2002, now Ross Dress For Less

Utah

*Ogden - Ogden City Mall - closed 1998, mall demolished

Washington

*Aberdeen - Wishkah Mall - Opened 1981 - became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2003, vacant
*Bellevue:*Crossroads Shopping Center - opened 1964 as Rhodes, became Lamonts 1970, Gottschalks 2000, closed 2003, became Jo-Ann Fabrics 2004:*Factoria Square Mall - opened 1977, became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2005, became DSW Shoe Warehouse and TJ Maxx 2006
*Burien - downtown - opened 1957 as Bells of Burien, became Lamonts 1967, Gottschalks 2000, closed ca. 2003, demolished April 2007 for new town center
*East Wenatchee - Wenatchee Valley Mall - opened 1978, closed 2000, became Ross Dress For Less and Bed Bath & Beyond
*Federal Way - SeaTac Mall (now known as The Commons At Federal Way) - opened 1975, became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2002, demolished for movie theater
*Issaquah - The Commons at Issaquah - opened 1995, closed 2000, divided among smaller stores
*Kennewick - Columbia Center - became Gottschalks 2000, closed and became The Bon Marché Men's & Children's in 2001, Bon-Macy's Men's & Children's 2003, Macy's Men's & Children's 2005
*Kirkland: Totem Lake Mall - Opened 1973, became Gottschalks 2000, closed 2004, vacant
*Lake Forest Park - Lake Forest Park Towne Center - opened 1964 as Rhodes, became Lamonts 1970, Gottschalks 2000, closed 2004, now Gold's Gym
*Lakewood - Lakewood Mall (now Lakewood Towne Center) - closed 1995, mall demolished and rebuilt
*Lynnwood - Alderwood Mall - opened 1979, closed 2000, demolished 2004 for Nordstrom
*Marysville - Marysville Town Center - Opened 1988, became Gottschalks 2000
*Moses Lake - Grant County Mall - (Opened 1993 in old K-Mart building, became Gottschalks 2000)
*Olympia - Capital Mall (now Westfield Capital) - opened 1978, closed 2000, became Best Buy 2002
*Port Angeles - Port Angeles Shopping Center - became Gottschalks 2000
*Puyallup - South Hill Mall - Closed 2000, now Circuit City and Linens 'n Things
*Seattle:*Northgate Mall - opened 1977, became Gottschalks in 2000, closed September 2006, demolished 2007 for Bed Bath & Beyond:*University Village - opened 1957 as Rhodes, became Lamonts 1969, closed 1994; became Barnes & Noble & Eddie Bauer in 1995.:*Westwood Town Center - opened 1966, became Gottschalks, closed 2003, now Marshalls and Bed Bath & Beyond
*Silverdale - Kitsap Mall - opened 1985, became Gottschalks 2000, closed April 2006, now Cost Plus World Market and Barnes & Noble
*Spokane:*University City Shopping Center - opened 1993 in former Frederick & Nelson, closed 1996:*Shadle Center - opened 1973, closed 1998, demolished 2003 for Wal-Mart expansion
*Tacoma - 5915 6th Avenue - opened 1980s in former Lucky Store, became Gottschalks 2000, closed September 22, 2007, demolished October 25, 2007
*Vancouver - Vancouver Plaza - opened 1987, closed 1994, became Bed Bath & Beyond
*Walla Walla - Blue Mountain Mall - became Gottschalks 2000, mall demolished to be rebuilt in 2008, anchors to remain.
*Yakima - Valley Mall - opened 1972, became Gottschalks 2000

References

* The Seattle Times/Seattle P-I archives.
* [http://www.gottschalks.com/Commerce/StoreLocator.aspx?tbxCityZip=% List of Gottschalks locations]