Lechmere ( "leech-meer") was a Massachusetts-based chain of retail stores that closed in 1997. At the time of its closing, it had 27 stores, including 20 in New England. The chain offered electronics, appliances, and various household goods. It also had locations in New York and the Southeastern United States. History The origins of the chain date to 1913, when Russian immigrant and founder Abraham Cohen purchased a harness shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cohen subsequently renamed it Lechmere Harness Shop for the district of Cambridge it was located in, Lechmere. As the automobile rose in popularity over the next decade, the store began selling tires and was renamed Lechmere Vulcanizing Company. When his children—sons Maurice, Philip, and Norman and daughter Nan—entered the business after World War II, it added sales of consumer appliances. In 1948, the company was renamed Lechmere Tire & Sales Company, and was incorporated. Household goods, televisions, and other goods were added to the merchandising mix in the 1950s, as were luggage, sporting goods, toys, and lawn and garden accessories. The first store moved to a former bus garage on 88 First Street in Cambridge in 1956, furthering the expansion of the merchandise mix. Lechmere also began advertising on television in the 1950s, and ended all of its prices in 88 to represent the store's address. The First Street building was expanded in 1962 to a store, to which office equipment, jewelry, hardware, and further goods were added. A second store later opened on November 1, 1965 in Dedham. In 1968, in order to capitalize further growth, the Cohens sold the chain to Dayton's, a department store based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The new parent company became Dayton Hudson Corporation soon after the purchase, and is now Target Corporation. Dayton maintained Lechmere as a separate subsidiary and mostly left its operations in the Cohens' hands. With Dayton Hudson's resources now behind it, Lechmere opened stores in Danvers and Springfield. Their long-standing logo was introduced in fall 1970 and used until store closure. The Cohens retained day-to-day control of the chain until the mid-1970s. With the Cohens' retirement, Lechmere's merchandise mix changed to a discount department store line. Due to declining sales, the chain began cutting prices as well. Stores in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Framingham, Massachusetts, were added in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Lechmere introduced many retailing innovations, including discount pricing and a central pick-up counter to make