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):  October 14, 1994
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      (October 14, 1994)


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


                            (203) 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 Exhibit)




ITEM 5: OTHER EVENTS

        Beginning on October 14, 1994, Ames Department Stores, Inc.
        ("Ames" or the "Company") will distribute to its banks and other
        lenders, principal trade vendors and factors, summaries of its
        unaudited financial results for the five and thirty-five weeks
        ended October 1, 1994.  These monthly and year-to-date results
        (collectively, the "monthly results") are attached hereto as
        Exhibit 20 and are incorporated by reference herein.

        Compared with the projections contained in the Form 8-K dated May
        27, 1994 (referred to herein as the "Plan"), sales for the five
        weeks ended October 1, 1994 were $9.4 million less than Plan and
        EBITDA (as defined in Exhibit 20) was $4.4 million less than Plan
        and $0.3 million greater than last year.  In September, the
        unfavorable sales variance was primarily due to shortfalls in
        ladies and childrens apparel, most home products, and convenience
        goods.  September's gross margin rate was also less than Plan due
        primarily to higher-than-planned markdowns in apparel and
        convenience goods.  Expenses were slightly above Plan due
        primarily to lower-than-planned other income (which is netted
        against expenses in the management format) because of lower
        purchase discounts resulting from better-than-planned trade
        payable terms.  Store non-payroll, field and home office expenses
        were less than Plan in September.

        Sales for the thirty-five weeks ended October 1, 1994 were $27.9
        million less than Plan and EBITDA was $5.1 million less than Plan
        but $11.3 million greater than last year. The year-to-date
        unfavorable sales variance was due primarily to shortfalls in
        ladies apparel, crafts, and convenience goods.  The lower
        year-to-date gross margin rate was due to higher-than-planned
        markdowns, particularly in apparel.  The unfavorable impact on the
        year-to-date EBITDA from the lower-than-planned sales and gross
        margin rate was partially offset by lower-than-planned expenses
        and additional gains on property sales.  Year-to-date store, field
        and home office expenses were all less than Plan.

        As of October 1, 1994, LIFO inventories were $33.0 million greater
        than Plan, primarily in hardline categories.  As previously
        reported, the Company decided to temporarily build inventory
        levels above those projected in the Plan to support several new
        sales promotions for the Fall and Christmas seasons.  Trade
        payables were $22.7 million greater than Plan due primarily to the
        higher-than-planned inventory purchases and improved payment
        terms.  Outstanding borrowings under the Company's revolving line
        of credit as of October 1, 1994 were $13.2 million greater than
        Plan due primarily to the additional inventory purchases,
        partially offset by the better-than-planned trade payable terms.

        









                              Page 2 of 7



        Ames 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 29, 1994,
        the Company's Form 10-Q for the first and second fiscal quarters
        ended April 30 and July 30, 1994, respectively, and the Company's
        Form 8-K dated May 27, 1994.  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.

        During the pendency of its reorganization case, Ames disclosed
        publicly its monthly results through filings with the Office of
        the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee and continued to report publicly its
        monthly results during the fiscal year ended January 29, 1994. 
        Although Ames expects to continue to make its monthly results
        public for the fiscal year ending January 28, 1995, Ames does not
        believe it is obligated to provide such information indefinitely,
        other than as required by applicable regulations, and Ames may
        cease making such disclosures and updates at any time.  The
        monthly results were not examined, reviewed or compiled by Ames'
        independent certified public accountants.  Moreover, Ames 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 Five
                         and Thirty-five Weeks Ended October 1, 1994.
                 























                              Page 3 of 7




                           INDEX TO EXHIBITS







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


         20        Unaudited Financial Summary Results      6
                   for the Five and Thirty-five Weeks  
                   Ended October 1, 1994.











































                              Page 4 of 7




                              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:  October 13, 1994             By: /s/ Joseph R. Ettore        
                                     -----------------------------
                                     Joseph R. Ettore
                                     President, Director, and
                                     Chief Executive Officer



Dated:  October 13, 1994             By: /s/ John F. Burtelow        
                                     ------------------------------
                                     John F. Burtelow
                                     Executive Vice President,
                                     Chief Financial Officer



Dated:  October 13, 1994             By: /s/ William C. Najdecki     
                                     -----------------------------     
                                     William C. Najdecki
                                     Senior Vice President,
                                     Chief Accounting Officer














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