Watley's (Store Chain)

Watley's was a store chain formed in 1952 by John Watley (1921-1956). It was originally a small department store, but it became a Wal-Mart style store chain in 1955, with the original name being bought and the original store being sold. When John Watley died in 1956, it was expanded, and stores were built throughout the midwest. In 1964, it became US-wide. They experienced their peak year in 1989, and went bankrupt in 2010.