AMES DEPARTMENT STORES INC
8-K, 1997-09-04
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): September 4, 1997
  -----------------------------------------------------------------------    
                                                      (September 4, 1997)
                                                      -------------------

                       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          06067-2598
  ---------------------------------------------     -----------------
       (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 September 4, 1997, the Company will
            distribute, to certain of its banks and other lenders, principal
            trade vendors and factors, summaries of its financial results for
            the four and thirty weeks ended August 23, 1997.  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 August 23, 1997 were $0.4
            million above the projections contained in the Form 8-K dated
            August 7, 1997 (the "Plan").  EBITDA (as defined in Exhibit 20)
            was $1.3 million better than Plan and $1.0 million better than last
            year.  

               Sales for the thirty weeks ended August 23, 1997 were $19.9
            million below Plan.  EBITDA was $7.6 million better than Plan and
            $4.4 million better than last year.

               As of August 23, 1997, merchandise inventories were $27.6
            million below Plan.  Trade payables were $28.6 million below Plan
            and borrowings under the Company's revolving line of credit were
            $15.1 million below Plan.

               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 25,
            1997, the Company's Form 8-K dated August 7, 1997 and the
            Company's Form 10-Qs for the fiscal quarters ended April 26,
            1997 and July 26, 1997.  The monthly results are being reported
            publicly because they are being distributed to a large number of
            the Company's vendors for purposes of their credit analyses.

<PAGE>

               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           Financial Summary Results for the Four
                                      and Thirty Weeks Ended August 23, 1997
<PAGE>


                         INDEX TO EXHIBITS







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

            20          Financial Summary Results for the Four     6
                        and Thirty Weeks Ended August 23, 1997.



















<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:  September 3, 1997       By:  /s/ Joseph R. Ettore             
                                     ---------------------------------
                                     Joseph R. Ettore
                                     President, Director, and
                                     Chief Executive Officer


Dated:  September 3, 1997       By:  /s/ John F. Burtelow             
                                     -----------------------------------
                                     John F. Burtelow
                                     Executive Vice President,
                                     Chief Financial Officer


Dated:  September 3, 1997       By:  /s/ Gregory D. Lambert         
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     Gregory D. Lambert
                                     Senior Vice President,
                                     Finance


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                      AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.               Exhibit 20
                        AUGUST RESULTS VS. PLAN                   Page 1 of 2
                            MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In Millions)
<CAPTION>
                            August, 1997             Fiscal 1997 Year-to-Date
                      --------------------------  -----------------------------
                                           Last                           Last
                       Actual  Plan (a)     Yr      Actual  Plan (a)      Yr  
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
<S>                   <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
INCOME SUMMARY:
Net Sales              $156.2   $155.8   $153.4   $1,092.3  $1,112.2  $1,091.2

FIFO  Margin     $       42.6     40.8     40.0      305.1     300.2     295.0
      Margin     %       27.3%    26.2%    26.1%      27.9%     27.0%     27.0%

Total Expenses          (44.3)   (43.8)   (42.7)    (308.2)   (310.7)   (302.2)

Other Income              2.2      2.2      2.2       15.0      14.8      14.7
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
EBITDA                    0.5     (0.8)    (0.5)      11.9       4.3       7.5

Dep and Amort (net)      (0.6)    (0.7)    (0.4)      (4.0)     (4.2)     (2.8)
Net Interest Expense     (1.1)    (1.3)    (1.8)      (6.7)     (7.6)    (11.2)
Other Income (Expense)      -        -        -       (0.1)        -       0.4
Non-Cash Income Tax       0.4      0.9      0.8       (0.4)      2.5       1.8
      (Provision) Benefit
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
Net Income (Loss)       ($0.8)   ($1.9)   ($1.9)      $0.7     ($5.0)    ($4.3)
                      ======== ======== ========  ========= ========= =========


                                                   Balance at End of Period
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                                        Last  
                                                   Actual   Plan (a)     Yr   
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY:
Cash and Cash Equivalents                            $23.9     $29.2     $24.7
Merchandise Inventories, LIFO                        469.2     496.8     480.9
Other Current Assets                                  46.6      41.0      49.3
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Current Assets                           539.7     567.0     554.9
Net Fixed Assets                                      76.5      77.5      61.7
Other Long-Term Assets                                 8.1       4.2       5.3
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Assets                                  $624.3    $648.7    $621.9
                                                  ========= ========= =========

Trade Accounts Payable                              $168.0    $196.6    $157.6
Short-Term Debt (Revolver)                            84.9     100.0     118.2
Other Current Liabilities                            168.6     159.6     164.2
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Current Liabilities                      421.5     456.2     440.0

Long-Term Debt                                         9.3       9.3      13.2
Other Long-Term Liabilities                           32.0      31.7      33.1

Unfavorable Lease Liability                           15.9      15.5      17.7
Fresh-start Excess Net Assets (Negative Goodwill)     32.8      32.8      38.9

Paid-In-Capital                                       92.5      88.5      81.0
Retained Earnings (Deficit)                           20.3      14.7      (2.0)
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Stockholders' Equity                     112.8     103.2      79.0
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Liabilities & Equity                    $624.3    $648.7    $621.9
                                                  ========= ========= =========

<FN>
  (a) As reported on Form 8-K dated August 7, 1997.

NOTE: EBITDA is earnings (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes,
      LIFO expense, extraordinary or non-recurring items (including
      certain store closing expenses), depreciation, amortization and other
      non-cash charges and gains or losses on sale of properties.


                               Page 6 of 7
</TABLE>







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

<CAPTION>

                                                   Fiscal 1997 Year-to-Date
                                                   ------------------------
                                                       Actual   Plan (a)
                                                     ---------  ---------
<S>                                                  <C>        <C>
CASH FLOW SUMMARY:
Beginning Cash & Cash Equivalents                       $46.1      $46.1

Cash Flow from Operations:
   Net Income (Loss)                                      0.7       (5.0)
   Non-Cash Income Tax Provision (Benefit)                0.4       (2.5)
   Other                                                  3.9        3.6
                                                     ---------  ---------
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operations                     5.0       (3.9)

Changes in Working Capital:
   FIFO Inventory (Increase) Decrease                   (78.2)    (105.7)
   Trade Payables Increase (Decrease)                    22.3       50.8
   All Other                                            (12.8)     (19.3)
                                                     ---------  ---------
Net Changes in Working Capital                          (68.7)     (74.2)

Capital Expenditures                                    (20.8)     (22.9)

Other:
   Short-Term Borrowings (Payments)- Revolver            84.9      100.0
   Capital Lease Payments                                (1.7)      (1.5)
   Long-Term Debt Payments                              (10.3)     (10.3)
   Store Closing and Other                              (10.6)      (4.1)
                                                     ---------  ---------
Total Other                                              62.3       84.1
                                                     ---------  ---------

Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equivalents          (22.2)     (16.9)
                                                     ---------  ---------

Ending Cash & Cash Equivalents                          $23.9      $29.2
                                                     =========  =========
<FN>

(a) As reported on Form 8-K dated August 7, 1997


                                        Page 7 of 7
</TABLE>



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