Caldor

Carl and Dorothy Bennett blended their names into 'Caldor,' a Connecticut discount chain that grew into a Northeastern fixture sometimes called 'the Bloomingdale's of discounting' for its relatively upscale presentation. Owned for a time by Associated Dry Goods and then May, Caldor expanded aggressively into pricey markets like Manhattan just as Walmart and Target pushed east. Mounting losses pushed it into bankruptcy, and Caldor liquidated its roughly 145 stores in 1999.