The brothers Abraham and Joseph Neisner opened their first variety store in Rochester, New York, in 1911.

They incorporated the company in New York in 1916, by which time they had five stores, selling merchandise from 5 cents to one dollar.

[1] The company prospered during the Depression, and by 1935, Neisner's had 103 stores in 63 cities in 16 states.

[2] Abraham Neisner died in 1933, whilst travelling aboard the SS Rex.

Neisner's petitioned for bankruptcy protection on 1 December 1977[4] and the Ames Department Stores acquired the chain in November 1978.