<PAGE>   1
                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


XX           QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
--           OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

             For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1996

                                       OR

--           TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
             OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                         COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-17941


                         SPECIALTY RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


         DELAWARE                                           22-2686442
(State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer Identification
 incorporation or organization)                          Number)


    150 EAST 58TH STREET,                                     10155
     NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                     (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)


        REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE (212) 935-5030


                                 Not Applicable
(Former name, address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
YES  X         NO
    ---           ---

         Number of shares of common stock outstanding at October 10, 1996
(latest practicable date): Issued and Outstanding: 6,485,294
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                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1:  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                SPECIALTY RETAIL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCY IN

                       NET ASSETS AVAILABLE IN LIQUIDATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        (000'S OMITTED)
                                                 SEPTEMBER 30,   DECEMBER 31,
                                                     1996            1995
                                                 -------------   ------------
ASSETS                                           (UNAUDITED)

<S>                                               <C>              <C>
                          TOTAL ASSETS            $      1         $      1
                                                  --------         --------

LIABILITIES

Note payable bank                                       19               19
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities             2,416            2,416
Accrued lease obligation                             2,020            2,020
Subordinate notes payable                            1,255            1,404
Advances from related parties                        1,340            1,111
Accrued interest payable and dividends               1,026              902
                                                  --------         --------
                         TOTAL LIABILITIES           8,076            7,872
                                                  --------         --------

Net deficiency in assets
available in liquidation                          $ (8,075)        $ (7,871)
                                                  ========         ========

STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY IN ASSETS:

  Preferred stock, 6% cumulative
    callable, $100 par value, 4,550
    shares issued and outstanding                      455              455
  Common stock, $.01, par value;
    15,000,000 authorized;
    6,485,294 shares issued and
    outstanding                                         65               65
  Additional paid in capital                         2,975            2,975
  Accumulated deficit                              (11,570)         (11,366)
                                                  --------         --------

NET STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY IN ASSETS            $ (8,075)        $ (7,871)
                                                  ========         ========
</TABLE>


            See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.








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<PAGE>   3
                SPECIALTY RETAIL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

           CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN DEFICIENCY

                     IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE IN LIQUIDATION


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                            (000'S OMITTED)    (000'S OMITTED)
                                          THREE MONTHS ENDED  NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                             SEPT 30, 1996      SEPT 30, 1996
                                             -------------      -------------
                                             (UNAUDITED)         (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                         <C>                     <C>
Changes in deficiency in net assets
  available in liquidation
  attributed to:
    Decrease in subordinated notes
      payable                               $    40                 $   148
    Increase in advance from related
      parties                                   (96)                   (229)
    Increase in accrued interest and
      dividends                                 (41)                   (123)
                                            -------                 -------

                                                (97)                   (204)

Deficiency in net assets available in
  liquidation at beginning of period         (7,978)                 (7,871)
                                            -------                 -------

Deficiency in net assets available in
  liquidation at September 30, 1996         $(8,075)                $(8,075)
                                            =======                 =======

</TABLE>

            See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


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<PAGE>   4
                SPECIALTY RETAIL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

         CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN DEFICIENCY IN NET ASSETS

                                   (UNAUDITED)

                                   (IN 000'S)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Additional
                       Preferred  Stock  Common     Stock    Paid-in    Accum
                        Shares    Amount Shares     Amount   Capital   Deficit      Total
                        ------    ------ ------     ------   -------   -------      -----
<S>                      <C>      <C>    <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>         <C>
Bal, Jan 1, 1996         4.5      $ 455  6,485.3     $65      $2,975   $(11,366)   $(7,871)

Decrease in Sub-
  ordinate Notes                                                            148        148

Advances from
  Related Parties                                                          (229)      (229)

Increase in Accrued
  Interest                                                                 (103)      (103)

Dividends accrued
on Preferred Stock        --         --       --      --          --        (20)       (20)
                         ---      -----  -------     ---      ------   --------    -------

Bal, Sept 30, 1996       4.5      $ 455  6,485.3     $65      $2,975   $(11,570)   $(8,075)
                         ===      =====  =======     ===      ======   ========    =======


Bal, Jan 1, 1995         4.5      $ 455  6,485.3     $65      $2,975   $(10,997)   $(7,502)

Decrease in Sub-
  ordinate Notes                                                            134        134

Advances from
  Related Parties                                                          (240)      (240)

Increase in Accrued
  Interest                                                                  (61)       (61)

Dividends accrued
on Preferred Stock        --         --       --      --          --        (20)       (20)
                         ---      -----  -------     ---      ------   --------    -------

Bal, Sept 30, 1995       4.5      $ 455  6,485.3     $65      $2,975   $(11,184)   $(7,689)
                         ===      =====  =======     ===      ======   ========    =======
</TABLE>

            See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.




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<PAGE>   5
                SPECIALTY RETAIL SERVICES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

        NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

                           SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1995

Note A - Basis of Presentation

         The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and
Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote
disclosures normally included in the consolidated financial statements prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted.
It is suggested that these unaudited condensed financial statements be read in
conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
included in the Company's 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.


         In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal
recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the consolidated statement of
deficiency in net assets available in liquidation and changes in deficiency in
net assets available in liquidation at September 30, 1996 and for all periods
presented herein have been made. The consolidated statements of changes in
deficiency in net assets for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1996 are
not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the year ended December
31, 1996.


B - Liquidation of business

         On October 24, 1991, Specialty Retail Services, Inc. (the "Company")
announced that the Board of Directors of Gobi-Primak, Inc., ("Gobi"), its
principal operating subsidiary, had determined that there were no further
sources of capital available to meet the severe working capital shortages faced
by Gobi, and further announced that it intended to explore various alternatives,
including the sale of Gobi.

         On November 5, 1991, Fleet Credit Corporation ("Fleet") sent Gobi a
letter of an event of default under Gobi's loan agreement with Fleet, demanding
immediate repayment of all sums outstanding under the loan agreement. The
Company entered into an arrangement with Fleet, whereby Fleet would take
peaceful possession of all of Gobi's assets and begin the orderly liquidation of
Gobi's assets.

         Fleet immediately appointed a liquidator, Alco Capital, to supervise
the liquidation of all of Gobi's assets. In 1992, all of the assets of Gobi were
liquidated.


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<PAGE>   6
ITEM 2.       MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF DEFICIENCY IN NET ASSETS
              AVAILABLE IN LIQUIDATION


         In the third quarter of 1994, the Company settled a disagreement with
subordinated note holders. The subordinated note holders began to be paid
amounts due, commencing October 1, 1994, with payments scheduled to continue
through June 1, 1999. The principal of approximately $267,000 is included in the
Consolidated Statement of Deficiency in Net Assets in Liquidation, and the
balance of approximately $37,000 will be recognized as interest in future
periods as per the subordinated note terms. These obligations have been
personally guaranteed by a director of the Company. The director is currently
satisfying the notes, and as payments are made, the Company will have an
obligation to repay the director. The director has the option to pledge certain
securities to the payees of these notes, in which event the Company shall be
released of all obligations to those payees.

         During 1992, Gobi's senior lender, Fleet Credit Corporation ("Fleet"),
completed the liquidation of Gobi's assets and generated funds to reduce the
note payable to the bank by approximately $1,400,000.

         There are no assets available for disbursement to unsecured creditors.



                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION


ITEM 3.       DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

         On November 5, 1991, Gobi was notified by Fleet that an Event of
Default existed under Gobi's Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Loan
Agreement dated as of April 25, 1989. The Company's Board of Directors elected
to turn over all of Gobi's assets to Fleet for liquidation on a peaceful
possession basis. Fleet immediately began the liquidation of Gobi's assets. In
1992, all of the assets of Gobi were liquidated.


ITEM 6.       EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

              (a)  Exhibits - none

              (b)  Reports on Form 8-K - none





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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




                                                SPECIALTY RETAIL SERVICES, INC.
                                                (Registrant)



                                                /s/  Murray Steinfink
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Murray Steinfink
                                                Chairman and President









Date: October 10, 1996

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