[2] The company was named after the ship Ann and Hope, which was built in 1798 by the firm Brown & Ives, famous merchants of early Providence, RI.

[4] Ann & Hope was founded by Martin Chase, who was born in 1906 in Kiev, Russian Empire (modern-day Ukraine), and moved with his family to Providence, Rhode Island, at age six.

[7] Other now-familiar features such as having a central checkout area and a liberal store return policy were also pioneered by Ann & Hope.

Many Ann & Hope locations had limited success renting to tenants, and before the chain's closing in 2001, many had been converted to store-run garden shops.

[10] Following a slow 1989–90 holiday season, the Seekonk, Massachusetts store experienced lay-offs, most notably in the home-wares and rug and blind departments.

In August 2007, the owners of Ann & Hope made public their intention to convert the Cumberland mill store to a "mixed use" development of retail and residential space.

The Cumberland mill building is now home to the Bargain City Galleria – a thriving flea market, food court and auction center.

In April and May 2011, Ann & Hope opened two new stores in Raynham and Weymouth, Massachusetts, buying out two Curtain Factory Outlet retailers.

In May 2013, Ann & Hope continued to grow with its newest Curtain & Bath Outlet location opening in Westborough, Massachusetts.

This included Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's response to constituents who expressed a desire that small garden shops be reopened.

[18] Despite this, it was announced on June 29, 2020, that the company would be closing all remaining outlet stores, with a possibility of keeping select garden center locations open.