AMES DEPARTMENT STORES INC
8-K, 1996-05-16
VARIETY STORES
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                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C.  20549


                                 FORM 8-K
                              CURRENT REPORT.


                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934


      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  May 16, 1996
      ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        (May 16, 1996)


                         Ames Department Stores, Inc.       
            --------------------------------------------------
            (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Charter)


                                  Delaware                       
              ----------------------------------------------     
              (State Or Other Jurisdiction Of Incorporation)


              1-5380                                 04-2269444            
    ------------------------              ---------------------------------
    (Commission File Number)              (IRS Employer Identification No.)


    2418 Main Street; Rocky Hill, Connecticut               06067-0801
    -----------------------------------------               ----------
    (Address Of Principal Executive Offices)                (Zip Code)


                               (860) 257-2000                 
           ----------------------------------------------------
           (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


                               Not Applicable                                   
      --------------------------------------------------------------
      (Former Name Or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)




                       Exhibit Index on Page 4

                   Page 1 of 7 (Including Exhibits)<PAGE>




Item 5:   OTHER EVENTS


             Beginning on May 16, 1996, the Company will distribute,
          to certain of its banks and other lenders, principal trade
          vendors and factors, summaries of its unaudited financial
          results for the four and thirteen weeks ended April 27, 1996. 
          These monthly and year-to-date results (collectively, the
          "monthly results") are attached hereto as Exhibit 20 and are
          incorporated by reference herein.  

             Sales for the four weeks ended April 27, 1996 were $5.6
          million above the projections contained in the Form 8-K dated
          February 21, 1996 (the "Plan") primarily due to sales from nine
          (9) new stores opened in the last ten days of fiscal April, but
          which were not included in the plan for the month.  EBITDA
          was $2.3 million better than Plan and $1.9 million better than
          last year.  The EBITDA results for the four weeks reflected
          higher-than-planned gross margin and lower-than-planned
          expenses.  The gross margin rate for the four weeks was
          higher than planned.

             Sales for the thirteen weeks ended April 27, 1996 were
          $7.2 million below Plan primarily due to lower-than-planned
          sales in apparel.  EBITDA was $2.4 million better than Plan
          and $6.1 million better than last year.  The EBITDA variance
          from Plan for the thirteen weeks was due primarily to lower-
          than-planned expenses, partially offset by lower-than-planned
          other income.

             As of April 27, 1996, merchandise inventories were $0.9
          million above Plan.  Trade payables were $32.4 million above
          Plan due primarily to higher-than-planned merchandise receipts
          in March and April.  Borrowings under the Company's revolving
          line of credit were $31.5 million below Plan as a consequence
          of the higher-than-planned balance in trade payables.
          

<PAGE>
             The Company is distributing the monthly results to its
          banks and other lenders, principal trade vendors and factors 
	         to facilitate their credit analyses.  The summary results 
	         should not be relied upon for any other purpose and should be 
	         read in conjunction with the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal 
	         year ended January 27, 1996 and the Company's Form 8-K dated
          February 21, 1996.  The monthly results are being reported
          publicly solely because they are being distributed to a large
          number of the Company's vendors for purposes of their credit
          analyses.

             Although the Company has continued to make its monthly
          results public, the Company does not believe it is obligated 
       	  to provide such information indefinitely, other than as 
 	        required by applicable regulations, and the Company may cease 
	         making such disclosures and updates at any time.  The monthly 
	         results were not examined, reviewed or compiled by the Company's
          independent public accountants.  Moreover, the Company does
          not believe that it is obligated to update the monthly results 
	         to reflect subsequent events or developments.  The reported
          monthly results are subject to future adjustments, if any, that
          could materially affect such results.  However, in the opinion 
	         of the Company, the monthly results contain all adjustments
          (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a
          fair statement of the results for the periods presented.  

             

Item 7:   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
          INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS


          Exhibit: 20     Unaudited Financial Summary Results for the
                          Four and Thirteen Weeks Ended April 27, 1996

<PAGE>


                             INDEX TO EXHIBITS




     Exhibit No.                  Exhibit                        Page No.
     -----------                  -------                        --------


        20             Unaudited Financial Summary Results           6 
                       for the Four and Thirteen Weeks
                       Ended April 27, 1996.





















<PAGE>

                             SIGNATURES



   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf 
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.  



                                     AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
                                  ----------------------------------
                                             Registrant       




Dated:  May 15, 1996               By:  /s/ Joseph R. Ettore
                                      -----------------------------
                                        Joseph R. Ettore
                                        President, Director, and
                                        Chief Executive Officer


Dated:  May 15, 1996               By:  /s/ John F. Burtelow
                                      -----------------------------
                                        John F. Burtelow
                                        Executive Vice President,
                                        Chief Financial Officer


Dated:  May 15, 1996               By:  /s/ William C. Najdecki
                                      ------------------------------
                                        William C. Najdecki
                                        Senior Vice President,
                                        Finance





<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                             AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.          Exhibit 20
                                APRIL RESULTS VS. PLAN              Page 1 of 2
                                   MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                                      (Unaudited)
                                     (In Millions)
<CAPTION>
                                    April, 1996      Fiscal 1996 Year-to-Date
                                                Last                       Last
                              ActualPlan (a)  Yr (b)   Actual Plan (a)   Yr (b)
<S>                          <C>    <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
INCOME SUMMARY:
Net Sales                    $142.2  $136.6   $139.6   $438.7   $445.9   $438.3

FIFO  Margin     $             40.9    38.9     40.3    116.3    116.4    114.0
      Margin     %             28.8%   28.5%    28.9%    26.5%    26.1%    26.0%

Total Expenses                (39.2)  (39.6)   (40.6)  (126.2)  (129.3)  (131.9)

Other Income                    1.9     2.0      2.0      5.4      6.0      7.3
                             ---------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                          3.6     1.3      1.7     (4.5)    (6.9)   (10.6)

Depreciation and Amort (net)   (0.4)   (0.4)    (0.2)    (1.2)    (1.1)    (0.5)
Net Interest Expense           (1.6)   (1.9)    (1.9)    (4.2)    (5.0)    (5.1)
Other Inc (Exp), Incl LIFO        -       -      0.1        -        -      0.3
Non-Cash Inc Tax Ben (Exp)     (0.5)    0.3      0.1      2.9      3.8      4.8

                             ---------------------------------------------------
Net Income (Loss)              $1.1   ($0.7)   ($0.2)   ($7.0)   ($9.2)  ($11.1)
                             ===================================================


                                                      Balance at end of Period
                                                                         Last  
                                                      Actual  Plan (a)   Yr (b)
                                                     ---------------------------
BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY:
Cash and Cash Equivalents                               $18.8    $19.2    $20.2
Merchandise Inventories, LIFO                           478.0    477.1    520.5
Other Current Assets                                     44.7     42.0     40.0
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Current Assets                              541.5    538.3    580.7
Net Fixed Assets                                         62.4     64.4     44.6
Long-Term Assets                                          5.8      5.1      5.0
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Assets                                     $609.7   $607.8   $630.3
                                                     ===========================

Trade Accounts Payable                                 $171.6   $139.2   $150.9
Short-Term Debt (Revolver)                               83.5    115.0    103.1
Other Current Liabilities                               167.2    171.8    160.4
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Current Liabilities                         422.3    426.0    414.4

Long-Term Debt                                           14.0     14.1     29.6
Other Long-Term Liabilities                              37.9     34.8     43.0

Unfavorable Lease Liability                              18.3     18.1     22.4
Fresh-start Excess Net Assets (Negative Goodwill)        40.9     40.9     47.1

Paid-In-Capital                                          81.0     81.0     81.0
Retained Earnings (Deficit)                              (4.7)    (7.1)    (7.2)
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Stockholders' Equity                         76.3     73.9     73.8
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Liabilities & Equity                       $609.7   $607.8   $630.3
                                                     ===========================

<FN>
  (a) As reported on Form 8-K dated February 21, 1996.
  (b) Certain reclassifications have been made in the fiscal 1995 account
      balances: 
      (i) Net sales have been restated to reflect the effect of recording senior
          citizen discounts as markdowns which conforms with the fiscal 1996
          treatment.  This restatement has no impact on the fiscal 1995 reported
          gross margin, EBITDA and net income.
      (ii)EBITDA has been restated to reflect the cash disbursements related to
          the closing of a distribution center for which a reserve had been
          established in fiscal 1994.  This restatement has no impact on fiscal
          1995 reported net income.

NOTE: EBITDA, as amended in January, 1996,  is earnings (loss) before net
      interest expense, income taxes, LIFO expense, extraordinary or non-
      recurring items (including certain pre-opening expenses), depreciation,
      amortization and other non-cash charges and gain or loss on the sale
      of properties after January 28, 1996.  Prior to January, 1996, EBITDA was
      similarly defined, except that it included all pre-opening expenses and
      all gains or losses on the sale of properties.

                                    Page 6 of 7
</TABLE>







<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                      AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.             Exhibit 20
                         APRIL RESULTS VS. PLAN                 Page 2 of 2
                            MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In Millions)

<CAPTION>

                                           April, 1996     Fiscal 1996 YTD
                                          Actual Plan (a)   Actual Plan (a)
<S>                                     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
CASH FLOW SUMMARY:
Beginning Cash & Cash Equivalents          $20.0    $25.3    $14.2    $14.2

Cash Generated from (Used in) Operations:
   Net Income (Loss)                         1.1     (0.7)    (7.0)    (9.2)
   Non-Cash Income Tax Exp (Ben)             0.5     (0.3)    (2.9)    (3.8)
   Other                                     0.7      0.6     (1.2)    (0.3)
                                        ------------------------------------
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operations        2.3     (0.4)   (11.1)   (13.3)

Changes in Working Capital:
   FIFO Inventory (increase) decrease      (34.0)   (17.1)   (75.8)   (73.6)
   Trade Payables increase (decrease)       16.0     12.7     58.9     26.5
   All Other                                (5.2)    (6.1)   (22.1)   (21.5)
                                        ------------------------------------
Net Changes in Working Capital             (23.2)   (10.5)   (39.0)   (68.6)

Capital Expenditures                        (0.5)    (2.8)    (5.6)    (7.5)

Other:
   Short-Term Borrow.(Pymnts)- Revolver     24.9     10.0     79.2    110.7
   Capital Lease Payments                   (0.4)    (0.3)    (1.0)    (0.9)
   Long-Term Debt Payments                  (0.2)    (0.8)    (9.8)    (9.8)
   Restructuring and Other                  (4.1)    (0.6)    (7.8)    (4.9)
   Financing Fee Payments                      -     (0.7)    (0.3)    (0.7)
                                        ------------------------------------
Total Other                                 20.2      7.6     60.3     94.4
                                        ------------------------------------

Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equiv    (1.2)    (6.1)     4.6      5.0
                                        ------------------------------------

Ending Cash & Cash Equivalents             $18.8    $19.2    $18.8    $19.2
                                        ====================================
<FN>

(a)As reported on Form 8-K dated February 21, 1996


                                        Page 7 of 7
</TABLE>



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