There were once Ames stores all over Maine before the company went bankrupt and the last stores closed in 2002.Now, the company appears to be trying to make a comeback.Ames says it will start opening new stores in June 2026 with plans to open a total of 35 stores by late 2027. The company says it will open even more brick-and-mortar stores in 2028.Ames will not say where the stores will open, just that they will be opening across the country.According to an announcement on their website, they plan to open seven distribution centers. There will also be an Ames Cafe available at each of the first 35 locations scheduled to open, and the Ames website will let customers place online orders and schedule home delivery.The website says the company has also submitted plans for a pharmacy at some locations. It is important to note that the website has had many technical issues over the last several months.Before the company's collapse, it was the fourth largest discount chain in the country, behind Walmart, Target and Kmart. It was founded in Massachusetts in 1958.