Looking back on 72 years of Fred’s

Six years after its first store opened in Mississippi, the Fred’s retail chain set up its corporate headquarters in Memphis. The company called the Bluff City home from 1953 until recently.

Earlier this month, Fred’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, announcing plans to close its roughly 300 remaining stores. Fred’s grew throughout its lifespan, achieving $1 billion in sales by 2002. At its 2012 peak, Fred’s had 712 stores. Competition and brand identity challenges contributed to the company’s pending liquidation.

While many stores in Memphis have closed, the next 30 days could be your last chance to shop at Fred’s.

– The 100 Companies staff