Lechters Housewares was a national chain of kitchen-supply stores in the United States, based in Harrison, New Jersey.[1] Many of its stores were in malls. Its store-brand products used the name Cooks Club. It owned the Costless Home Store and Famous Brands Housewares Outlet chains.
In 1975, the firm was started by Albert Lechter as a company that ran housewares departments located in leased space within New Jersey discount stores. Two years later, Lechter teamed up with Donald Jonas to change the business by opening a single stand-alone kitchenware speciality store in a Rockaway, New Jersey, shopping mall.[1] By 1988, the firm had 234 stores. The company went public in 1989.[1] In 1992, the firm grew to 455 stores in 37 states[1] and finally 490 stores in 41 states by the end of 2000.[2] In later years, the company tried to compete with houseware superstores such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Linens 'n Things by expanding rapidly beyond its original kitchenware specialty, a move which created a cash flow problem and contributed to company's downfall.[3]
In 2000, it renamed its stores Lechters Thinkkitchen in advertising, but it was not able to convert its stores to the brand when it declared bankruptcy. It went out of business in 2001.[4][5][6]
References
- Where Impulse Buying Hasn't Died New York Times, 1992-09-26^
- Monte Williams. Citing a Failed Bid to Change, Lechters Will Close 166 Stores New York Times, 2001-02-10^
- Diana G. Lasseter. A rescue plan goes bad Business News New Jersey, February 7, 1996^
- Lechters to Close 166 Stores, Cut 725 Jobs Los Angeles Times, 2001-02-10^
- Lechters Is Seeking Buyer or Liquidation Los Angeles Times, 2001-09-28^
- Lechters to Shut Stores, Liquidate Los Angeles Times, 2001-10-13^