Defunct Discount Department Stores

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I saw "Venture" mentioned, wow I remember that place from back in the day.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

Community Discount, Montgomery Wards, Gimbels, Zayre, Topps

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Growing up there were also May Company Stores that later became Robinsons May. When I lived in NorCal we had Gottschalks. I do remember going to a Marshall Fields when Grandma and I visited Chicago and how much she loved the candy they sold there or am I thinking of something else...I think it started with an "F.." maybe Fanny May, is that right?

Frango Mints were very popular at Marshall Fields in Chicago.


Some stores that I haven't seen mentioned:

S.E. Nichols (Nichols Discount City) They were gone by the late 1960s
Value City-in this area they took over closed Bradlees/Caldor/Clover locations in the late 90s/early 00s, but went out of business around 2008.
Wilmington Dry Goods, or simply Dry Goods

I don't think it was a chain, but there was a large store called Mr. Big somewhere near Atlantic City, NJ. The neon sign outside would flash Mr. BIG BIG BIG. I was only in there once, and it was a total hellhole.

In the 1960s and maybe the early 70s, some low rent neighborhoods had junk shops called John's Bargain Stores.






I accompanied my mother once to that original Burlington Coat Factory, probably in the late 60s. I think it closed when the BCF chain became successful.

I bought my first "stereo" at Grant's about 1972. Bradford brand, their own line. Radio, record player, and 8 track in one unit, plus two little speakers. I thought I was so cool because of it.

Korvette's did indeed have a great record department. For a mainstream store, they had a surprisingly good selection of punk and new wave. Low prices, too. I was sad when they closed.

Speaking of Korvette's, it was mentioned in an old Saturday Night Live Weekend Update from the late 70s. Jane Curtin apparently liked Roseanne Rosannadanna's blouse, so she asked if it came from Saks Fifth Avenue. Roseanne replied, "what, this? Nah, I got it at Korvettes. It was really cheap." Something about Roseanne's delivery just cracked me up.

Two long closed fast food chains:
Burger Chef
Gino's-they had the Gino Giant long before McDonald's had the Big Mac. Gino's also sold Kentucky Fried Chicken. There were no KFC outlets here at the time.

As for Acme supermarkets, many people pronounce it as a three syllable word: Ac-a-me.

 

[bsblady01]

Do you guys remember Ames and Jamesway they were like a kmart but they did not last long

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Do you guys remember Ames and Jamesway they were like a kmart but they did not last long

Yes, there were a few Ames and Jamesways in my area. I think all of them around here closed by 1990 or so.

 

[Happy_Haunt999]

So many of the above, add Rinks, Nichols (in the 80s), Watt and Shand, Gimbels, and then there was Phar-Mor.

 

[GaryDis]

I never considered Gimbels to be a discount department store.

 

[Happy_Haunt999]

I never considered Gimbels to be a discount department store.

The OP said it can be any store we remember not just Discount Dept Stores.

 

[eastendlights]

Abraham & Straus, Orbachs, Bambergers, Bonwit Teller, Fortunoff

Some of my father's favorite places to hang-LOL-Rickel and Pergament Home Centers

 

[cijay]

I think fondly of the grand, tacky, weird-smelling 5-and-dime stores of my childhood: The Met, Woolworths & Saan Store. Nothing left now, but I do think Army & Navy might still be open.

Lord I miss Zellers - I never imagined I would until we all saw how disappointing Target turned out to be. I'd love somebody to wave a magic wand and put all the Zellers back where they used to be.

Actually Giant Tiger is very similar to SAAN. I just remember that - I don't have any near me though. I only need the cheap stores for underpants, hair dye and the odd Lego or Play-Dough for my wee nieces and nephews so Superstore is fine. (Joe brand ginch is really great!)

 

[eastendlights]

Shoe stores Thom McAn and Kinney
Robert Hall
Boy, I feel old-LOL.

 

[BillBrasky]

If you're from Massachusetts, you might be familiar with Spag's in Shrewsbury. Got bought out by a discount chain years ago, and then had closed for a few years, but is in the news again as it's finally being torn down. When I was a kid in the 80s we would drive here (35 minutes away) for everything. Hardware, housewares, sporting goods. Since then, of course, many big box stores opened a fraction of the distance away.

 

[Julie's Haircut]

Abraham & Straus, Orbachs, Bambergers, Bonwit Teller, Fortunoff

Some of my father's favorite places to hang-LOL-Rickel and Pergament Home Centers

I heard of those department stores but only ever shopped in Bambergers. Most Bambergers turned into Macy's, but Macy's owned Bamberger's for a long long time before that.

Other DIY stores before Home Depot and Lowe's monopolized everything: Channel, Hechinger, Grossman's, Builder's Square.

Shoe stores Thom McAn and Kinney
Robert Hall
Boy, I feel old-LOL.

Mom used to buy my dress clothes at Robert Hall, suits for Easter, etc. I think my father shopped there too.

Another shoe store was Fayva.
Thom McAn is still available at K-Mart.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you're from Massachusetts, you might be familiar with Spag's in Shrewsbury. Got bought out by a discount chain years ago, and then had closed for a few years, but is in the news again as it's finally being torn down. When I was a kid in the 80s we would drive here (35 minutes away) for everything. Hardware, housewares, sporting goods. Since then, of course, many big box stores opened a fraction of the distance away.

OMG, DH and I miss Spags! We used to spend easily half a day there, lol!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Well, since we can mention any store, then... I already miss this one!

Started going there when I was quite little. My kids sort of hated it, but I liked it. You never knew what you might find in there - if you were willing to pick through some stuff. And there was always the free coffee (and powdered cream)! The small MA chain closed a few years back.

 

[MillauFr]

Yes things do change. 30 years from now WalMart and Target could very well be out of business and Amazon will by breathing its last breath.

 

[jl]

Ben Franklin stores, kinda like a JJ Newberry's/Woolworth's & also Jonas Brothers.

 

[ICF]

Has anyone mentioned, or familiar with, Ayr-Way?

I'm from Indiana (as I'd guess you are too), and had those where I grew up. I think it was where Target ended up moving into.

We also had....

Hills
Phar-Mor
Woolworths
Service Merchandise (in Indy)

 

[cybrkitn]

We had TSS (Times Square Stores) Kliens, Sears, Woolworth, Kresge, Caldor, Bradlees, JC Penny. EJ Korvettes was my favorite as it was only 1/2 mile from my house and spend many an afternoon wandering through that store. I have to agree their music department was the best.

You know, I was going to mention TSS, but forgot to add it. The only thing I remember about that store was that it was big and long (from my perspective as a child back then). Once they went out of business, it was torn down and a new shopping center was built with a Babies R Us, Sports Authority and a Modell's.

Speaking of Modell's. That is one store I also forgot to add. Now-a-days it's sports and fitness type store. But I remember when it wasn't and fell into the same category as Caldor's and such. I bought my first vinyl record at Modell's and used to get clothes for school there.

 

[Kellykins1218]

We had Kresge's, Gold Circle, Hills, Zayre, Grant's, Gaylord's, Miracle Mart, Big Wheel, Woolworth's, Service Merchandise, Ames