Cook's (department store)

Cook's began in 1961, with the purchase of 5 Uncle Bill's Discount Department Stores and three other small discount department store chains in the Midwest and East. The 47-store Rink's Discount Department Stores chain was purchased from Gray Drugs in 1981, at which point the chain reached its peak of 115 stores.[1][3] In 1984, the chain closed a total of 41 stores in the Spring of 1984, shortly before declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[4] 12 further stores were closed during bankruptcy, reducing the chain to 32 stores before exiting bankruptcy in late 1986.[3] The chain filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy again in 1987, planning to close 26 of 29 stores and operate 3 stores, two in Lima, Ohio and one in Wauseon, Ohio.[5] It was announced in November 1987 that the final three stores were to liquidate, closing before the end of the year.[6]