Building #19 discount retailer files for bankruptcy

HINGHAM — Boston-area discount retailer Building #19, famous for its comic book-style circulars and the motto ''Good Stuff ... Cheap,'' is closing its doors after a nearly half century in business.

The Hingham-based company, with 10 stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, filed for bankruptcy last week. The company is seeking permission to hire a liquidation consultant and close by Dec. 8.

The company once had stores in Worcester and Shrewsbury.

Building #19 was co-founded in 1964 by Jerry Ellis, a laid-off appliance salesman.

The chain, which sells salvaged goods, overstocks, surplus and irregular merchandise, often made fun of its no frills, disorganized stores. One recent circular said ''Suffer a little. Save a lot.''