BOSTON – Shaw’s Supermarkets plans to buy control of 18 former Ames Department Stores in New England and operate the sites as grocery stores.

According to Ames bankruptcy court filings, Shaw’s has an agreement to pay $48.5 million for leasing rights to 16 stores, plus two stores owned by Ames, subject to bankruptcy court approval and higher bids.

Shaw’s plans to take control of Ames leases in Waltham, Dedham, Beverly, Stoneham, Fall River, Sturbridge and Worcester, as well as stores in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Connecticut.

According to court documents, Shaw’s wants to buy an Ames’ owned store in Lewiston, and acquire leasing rights to former Ames stores in Saco and Wiscasset. Shaw’s spokesman Bernard Rogan on Thursday would not confirm which locations are being targeted, but said that more information would be available after a bankruptcy court hearing on Nov. 15.

Shaw’s recently announced plans to add or replace 30 stores in the next three years, at $12 million to $14 million per store, Rogan said. The plans include expansion of the Main Street store in Bangor and the addition of stores in Sanford and Falmouth.