Defunct Discount Department Stores

[MrJT]

When I was a kid (80s) we had Thrifty Drugstore. They had an ice cream counter. It was awesome.

 

[littleblackegg]

We had Burdines and Maas Brothers. They were both lovely dept stores. They were swallowed up in the whole Allied/Federated Department stores juggernaut.

 

[RangerPooh]

Thought of another department store chain that no longer exists, Fords.

 

[aristocatz]

Was Ames mentioned? My MIL worked there right up until they closed their doors.

 

[RangerPooh]

I grew up in the SF Bay Area in San Jose. Back in the 80's, we had:

Woolworth's
TG&Y
Mervyn's
Gottschalks
Pic N Save

not really discount stores, but:
I Magnin
Bullocks

I miss the Tower Records stores, too. I did a lot of hanging out in those stores as a teenager.

Grocery stores, we used to have an Alpha Beta near my house. I used to see ABCO around, too.

When we lived in San Jose there was a Alpha Beta right around the corner from us. There was a Kenny Shoes nearby too. Don't think I ever shopped at Tower Records but ember there was on on Blosson Hill across from Oak Ridge Mall.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Another type of defunct store I remember was a restricted store called GEX. It was for government employees and their families and maybe military too. One uncle worked for the county and we went with him a few times. Similar to the typical discount store of the day. I think you could even order a new car there. They had a carnival in the parking lot every summer.

We had something like that when I was growing up. It was called GETS and it was located in Daly City (San Francisco). We used to go there at least once a month.

 

[cybrkitn]

And as of april is sounds like kmart is closing stores.

I just read that Walmart will also be closing some of their stores as well around the same time. None of the Walmarts and Kmarts in NY are closing.

 

[bsblady01]

I just read that Walmart will also be closing some of their stores as well around the same time. None of the Walmarts and Kmarts in NY are closing.

our walmart is staying. we do not have a kmart where I am

 

[RedAngie]

I just read that Walmart will also be closing some of their stores as well around the same time. None of the Walmarts and Kmarts in NY are closing.

Yes, Walmart will be closing 154 U.S. stores. All of the 102 smaller Walmart Express locations, plus some underperforming Neighborhood Markets, regular sized stores, Supercenters, and Sam's Club membership stores. On the other hand, they plan to continue opening more regular and Supercenters. The list of closing stores is in the link.

http://patch.com/us/across-america/walmart-closing-269-stores-worldwide-154-united-states-0

I've never seen a Walmart Express nor a Neighborhood Market.

The first time I saw a Walmart was in the mid 1980s, in Florida. It was a smaller store in a small town strip shopping center that looked like it was built in the 1960s or 70s. There was a Winn-Dixie supermarket connected to it, as well as the usual pizza place, dry cleaner, hair salon, etc. I don't know if any such Walmarts still exist.

 

[North of Mouse]

CR Anthonys (the clerks put your payment in a pneumatic tube back in the money office fascinated me as a kid),

Love this!! Showing my age, but as a kid we had this store (Levys) that had a similar way to send money to the office, but it was a 'track' that the clerk hung a little box to the bottom of it and it zig zagged all over the place to get up to the office upstairs. I 'loved' to watch that - so fascinating to me!! I can still hear the clacking sound it made! Wow, have things come a long way!!

 

[Julie's Haircut]

A long closed toy store chain, Lionel Kiddie City.

Also a place called Discount Harry. They sold toys, bicycles, etc. and party supplies year round, plus seasonal things. Swimming pools, patio furniture, grills, etc. in spring and summer. Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations in fall.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

We had PharMor and Woolworths. I truly miss PharMor

Oh wow yes PharMor was really cool! I remember going there a lot back in the day. I don't know how I keep forgetting these places.

 

[roseaster]

This is for my South Jersey/Philly people. I apologize for the earworm.

 

[usnuzuloose]

When we lived in San Jose there was a Alpha Beta right around the corner from us. There was a Kenny Shoes nearby too. Don't think I ever shopped at Tower Records but ember there was on on Blosson Hill across from Oak Ridge Mall.

I loved Alpha Beta, remember they used to have the books for rebates? It was excellent. I used to work security at the Alpha Beta warehouse.

 

[Shutterbug]

i remember Childrens Palace, a huge toy store. I loved how the the front of the store had a castle like facade.
The first set of contacts I ever got was from the optical department at Monkey Wards.
Locally there was Ben Franklin stores. Basically a dime store but was fun to shop there.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Before Walmart and Target went nationwide, there were plenty of other similar stores in my area. Some held on until the Walmart era, others went out of business a long time before.

Walmart came to my area about 1994; Target about 1999.

There was

E.J. Korvettes (they had a great record album department)
Two Guys ("Two Guys, Naturally" in their TV commercials. During the scene in Rocky Horror Picture Show where Brad and Frank'n'Furter were in bed together, people would yell out the slogan)
Bradlees
Caldor
Jefferson Ward (I think it was associated with Montgomery Ward)
Woolco (sort of a super Woolworth's)
J.M Field's
several others

but my favorites was a Philly metro chain called Clover, the discount division of the Strawbridge & Clothier full line department store. They held on until about 1996, when they could no longer compete.




I'm sure other areas of the country had their own regional or local chains that went defunct.

You have to be from where I live, South Jersey, because I remember all the stores you listed. My absolute favorite was Clover...man I miss that store!

 

[RedAngie]

This is for my South Jersey/Philly people. I apologize for the earworm.

I used to enjoy those commercials. I thought Ideal was still is business in Hammonton, but going on their website it looks like they moved to Washington Township.

That commercial looks like it was filmed at Atlantic City Race Track, which I think is also closed down.

 

[RedAngie]

You have to be from where I live, South Jersey, because I remember all the stores you listed. My absolute favorite was Clover...man I miss that store!

I lived in South Jersey as a teen and young adult. Before that I was in Philly, after South Jersey I moved to northern Delaware. 8 years in Southern California, then back to Delaware. So, yes, the bulk of my life in the Philly metro area.

Got my first credit card from Strawbridge & Clothier as a HS senior (as part of my parents' account) and used it mostly at Clover. Yes, Clover was my favorite. We lived close to the first Clover that opened, on Route 70 in Cherry Hill near the Marlton border. They tried a bunch of things in the building after Clover closed, but none seemed to last very long. I'm not sure what's in there these days.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

Child World, Au Cotton, Contempto Casual are a few I can think of off hand.

 

[maxaroni]

You have to be from where I live, South Jersey, because I remember all the stores you listed. My absolute favorite was Clover...man I miss that store!

I am in South Jersey for nearly 30 years, however, born and raised in North Jersey....lived there nearly 30 years. At this point of my life, 1/2 of my life in each half of the state. I have been enjoying this thread for so many reminders of Norh Jersey. Also, realizing how much has changed since we moved to South Jersey.