Cook's (department store)

(Redirected from Cook United)

Cook's was a chain of discount department stores in the United States, from 1961 to 1987. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the chain grew to a peak of 115 stores before filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy first in 1984, then in 1987, before filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy later that year.[1][2]

Cook's Discount Department Stores
Founded1961 (1961)
Defunct1987 (1987)
FateBankruptcy and liquidation
HeadquartersCleveland, Ohio
Number of locations
115 (1981)
ParentCook United
SubsidiariesRink's
Uncle Bill's
Ontario
Whitehall's

History

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Cook's began in 1961, with the purchase of 5 Uncle Bill's Discount Department Stores and three other small discount department store chains in the Midwest and East. The 47-store Rink's Discount Department Stores chain was purchased from Gray Drug in 1981, at which point the chain reached its peak of 115 stores.[1][3] In 1984, the chain closed a total of 41 stores in the Spring of 1984, shortly before declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[4] 12 further stores were closed during bankruptcy, reducing the chain to 32 stores before exiting bankruptcy in late 1986.[3] The chain filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy again in 1987, planning to close 26 of 29 stores and operate 3 stores, two in Lima, Ohio and one in Wauseon, Ohio.[5] It was announced in November 1987 that the final three stores were to liquidate, closing before the end of the year.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "COOK UNITED, INC". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. 11 May 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  2. ^ "Discount store opens". Tampa Bay Times. November 1, 1979. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Exner, Rich (September 30, 1986). "Cook United comes out of bankruptcy, looks to expand". UPI. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Cuff, Daniel (October 2, 1984). "Cook United Files Under Chapter 11". The New York Times. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "COOKS PLANS DRASTIC CUTBACK". The Akron Beacon Journal. May 6, 1987. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "Final three Cook United stores to fold". News-Journal. November 25, 1987. Retrieved March 27, 2020.