Despite the opening of new stores, Lechmere's sales continued to decline, until when C. George Scala was named CEO in 1980. He changed the merchandise mix again to housewares, appliances, sporting goods, electronics, and music. In 1981, the company name was simplified to Lechmere, Inc. It also began expanding outside its New England base, including locations such as Charlotte, North Carolina, Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia. From 1983 to 1988, annual sales grew from $200 million to over $700 million, while operating profit grew from $19 million to $22 million, in approximate figures.
