Defunct Discount Department Stores

[PerfessorZ]

Caldor was the shiznits in our local area. They were around for a good time and left a huge void when they closed that wasn't filled for close to a decade. They had a pretty good photo department for a budget store - you could buy all the chemicals you needed to process your own b&w film even! Eventually a K-mart took over the space, but aside from that K-Mart, the nearest Target/Wal-mart alternative is 30+ minutes away. Most of the Caldors in our area became Kohls.

We had Ames and Jamesway, Barkers and Mammoth Marts in the next town over, but eventually that space just became a grocery store.

 

[perdidobay]

From my childhood in Memphis in the 1960's I remember spending a lot of my 10cent allowance, well that plus any deposit money I made from empty coke bottles that found on the 1/2 mile walk to the shopping center from my house, at TG&Y.
My parents shopped at a precursor to Sam's Club/Costco called Corondolet/Dixie Mart, the Corondolet was like a regular retail store and the DixieMart was a warehouse store that required a membership fee. I remember being 9 years old and buying my first transistor radio there! I thought I was so grown up!
Service Merchandise was a store we shopped at often as well.

Upton's department store that was much like Kohls, I shopped there a lot in the mid 90's, I don't remember when they went out of business, but I'm guessing the late 90's.

 

[cybrkitn]

Caldor was the shiznits in our local area. They were around for a good time and left a huge void when they closed that wasn't filled for close to a decade. They had a pretty good photo department for a budget store - you could buy all the chemicals you needed to process your own b&w film even! Eventually a K-mart took over the space, but aside from that K-Mart, the nearest Target/Wal-mart alternative is 30+ minutes away. Most of the Caldors in our area became Kohls.

We had Ames and Jamesway, Barkers and Mammoth Marts in the next town over, but eventually that space just became a grocery store.

What state are you in? I remember a Jamesway in up-state NY near my aunt, but didn't realize it was a chain. It's now a super Walmart.

 

[Jennasis]

Modells
Caldor
TSS

 

[hereyago]

Best
Robert Hall(I got my first mood ring as a kid there)
Zayres( they would be open 24 hours near Christmas and I would meet my df and go shopping)
Ames
Phar Mor
Drug Emporium
Upton"s( my first retail job)
Bradlees?
Montgomery Ward

 

[sksjasams]

Growing up I remember Zayres and Treasure Island.

As an adult I remember Pamida and Prange Way (also Prange's).

 

[RedAngie]

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

There are still a few Ben Franklin 5 & 10s around.

 

[here757]

Remember... Best
Hills

 

[here757]

Sorry, I thought someone upthread mentioned Burlington Coat Factory, but I was mistaken. The one near me closed several years ago, and I thought the whole chain went under. But I see there are plenty open across the country.



Sure, whatever types of closed stores people want to mention.

I'm praying both our burlingtons close! Instead u can now buy online

 

[bc7ate9]

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.
QUOTE]

We had Knox and Builder's Square in Minnesota.

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

We still have those in Northern Minnesota. Coast to Coast and Hardware Hank's too.

 

[powellrj]

Many of these are a blast from the past I had forgotten about. I will add a few more

Mr. Wiggs
Paul Harris
Brooks
Meis
Elderbeerman
Hooks drug store

 

[AustinTink]

Anyone mention Gibson's? Went there all the time with my mama.

 

[EMom]

Anyone mention Gibson's? Went there all the time with my mama.

Gibson's had the most amazing ice cream cones.

 

[Happy_Haunt999]

Has anyone said Gee Bee's or Fisher's Big Wheel yet?

 

[Cadiewampus]

I grew up in Atlanta- we had:

Richway- a discount version of Rich's (which became Macy's). Very similar to modern Target stores.
Service Merchandise- we got a lot of cheap IKEA type furniture there as newlyweds.
Woolco- big box version of Woolworth.
Kmart
Mervyns- my mom LOVED this store. Was like an early version of Kohl's.


Whatever happened to Goody's?? They were all over Charlotte, then suddenly went away about 7-8 years ago. They were like a Southern version of Kohl's.

There is still one Goodys that I know of. It is in Bremen which is 30 or 40 miles west of Atlanta.

Another one gone is Parisians. They had absolutely hands down the best customer service. Sold out to Belk

 

[AustinTink]

Gibson's had the most amazing ice cream cones.

And our had pony rides in the parking lot year round.

 

[MomofKatie]

There is still one Goodys that I know of. It is in Bremen which is 30 or 40 miles west of Atlanta.

Another one gone is Parisians. They had absolutely hands down the best customer service. Sold out to Belk

Wasn't Parisians based in Alabama? I think it was still around when we lived in Birmingham in the early 90s.

 

[BonnieA]

Besides many already mentioned, I will add Westons, Star, Family Bargain Center, Philadelphia Sales. These were in upstate NY.

 

[morgan98]

Has anyone mentioned Venture?

Walmart and Target fight it out now but back in the day it was Kmart and Venture.

I grew up in the Chicago area and I remember Venture very well. I bought my first 45's, albums and then cassettes there. I also remember Zayre and Kresge.

 

[Atlas722]

In the Cleveland area:
Topp's
Uncle Bill's
Giant Tiger

There was a Topp's at the SE corner of Mayfield and SOM Center Roads in Mayfield Heights, Ohio.