UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment [X]) *

AMES DEPT STORES INC

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

030789507

(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2002

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

[X] Rule 13d-1(b)

[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)

[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. 030789507

Names of Reporting Persons.
I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (Tax ID: 22-2370029)

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

(a)

(b)

SEC Use Only

Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware Corporation

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each
Reporting
Person With

Sole Voting Power

1091450 **see Note 1**

Shared Voting Power

Sole Dispositive Power

1091450 **see Note 1**

Shared Dispositive Power

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

1091450 **see Note 1**

10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions)

N/A

11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

3.71

12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

Item 1.

(a)

Name of Issuer

AMES DEPT STORES INC

(b)

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

2418 Main St, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-2598

Item 2.

(a)

Name of Person Filing

Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.

(b)

Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence

1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401

(c)

Citizenship

Delaware Corporation

(d)

Title of Class of Securities

Common Stock

(e)

CUSIP Number

030789507

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a)

[ ]

Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

(b)

[ ]

Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(c)

[ ]

Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(d)

[ ]

Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

(e)

[X]

An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f)

[ ]

An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

(g)

[ ]

A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h)

[ ]

A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

(i)

[ ]

A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

(j)

[ ]

Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4.

Ownership.

Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

(a)

Amount beneficially owned:

1091450 **see Note 1**

(b)

Percent of class:

3.71

(c)

Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:

1091450 **see Note 1**

(ii)

Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

1091450 **see Note 1**

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

** Note 1 ** Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (“Dimensional”), an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, furnishes investment advice to four investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and serves as investment manager to certain other commingled group trusts and separate accounts. These investment companies, trusts and accounts are the “Funds.” In its role as investment advisor or manager, Dimensional possesses voting and/or investment power over the securities of the Issuer described in this schedule that are owned by the Funds, and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of the Issuer held by the Funds. However, all securities reported in this schedule are owned by the Funds. Dimensional disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities. In addition, the filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that the reporting person or any of its affiliates is the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this Schedule 13G for any other purposes than Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Item 5.

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [X].

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

All securities reported in this schedule are owned by advisory clients of Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc., no one of which, to the knowledge of Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc., owns more than 5% of the class. Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. disclaims beneficial ownership of all such securities.

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

N/A

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

N/A

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group

N/A

Item 10.

Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

	DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS INC.

	February 3, 2003
	Date

	/s/ Catherine L. Newell
	Signature

	Vice President and Secretary
	Title

AMES DEPARTMENT STORES INC SC 13G/A