The name American Stores has its genesis in the occupation of the Chaguaramas naval base by American soldiers during World War II in the 1940s.
The furniture store got started by Sajard Hosein and his wife Dora in 1950. That was 64 years ago. Hosein would buy the furniture of American soldiers leaving Trinidad's shores to head back home, repair it and resell it, hence the name American Stores. The first store was located on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.
Today, this $100 million family-owned business has 13 stores and a warehouse in T&T: three in Port-of-Spain (Duncan, Prince and Henry Streets); St James, Mt Hope, Arima, Sangre Grande, Chaguanas, Couva, San Fernando and Pt Fortin; and two in Tobago on Milford Road and Main Street. The T&T-headquartered American Stores Ltd is set for expansion.
Tana de Freitas, the company's chief operating officer, said American Stores plans to open another ten stores in Trinidad, and expand throughout the region. "We're looking to go in the way of Walmart, so we want to keep expanding the company," she said.
The Couva branch was opened in 2012. Three more are planned in southeast, central and north Trinidad, which includes a flagship store in St James. The company has a sevenmember board, three of whom are non-family members.