Open Thread

Open Thread Update: Whatever Happened To….?

Radio Shack store entrance facade with closing sale sign

By 36 Comments Share This:

Last time we asked “Whatever Happened to…” and got a ton of responses.

Reader Jim wants to know what happened to Prell Shampoo and Graham crackers.  I’m happy to report that Prell is still around (Drop a pearl in it and it drops so slowly!) and a vintage bottle on eBay will set you back about $80!!

Other readers chimed in with a sad litany of all the wonderful retailers, large and small, national and local, that we’ve lost.

A Little History…

In the readers’ comments, Woolworth’s (founded 1879) just barely edged out Lord and Taylor (founded 1826) with 10 comments for the fice-and-dime department store vs. 9 for Lord & Taylor. While Lord & Taylor as we knew it is gone (it’s now online, purchased by another entity – and generating a lot of complaints),  Woolworth’s still exist outside of the US…and remains inside the US as the Foot Locker chain!

Sears (founded 1893) was next, appearing in 8 comments, but happily there are still 13 stores left open in the US and Puerto Rico.  We all missed bookstores of all kinds with Borders Books (gone since 2011) at 5 mentions, and B. Dalton’s (gone in 2009) and WaldenBooks (gone in 2011) tied at 3 each.  With 11 mentions for bookstores, its no wonder our Book Club is so popular!

Specialty Stores

After that came the specialty stores – a three way tie at four votes for Pier 1, Tower Records and Radio Shack.  Tower records has moved online as has Pier 1; Radio Shack has a network of authorized resellers in scattered locations.  Bringing up the rear with three mentions each were Bed Bath and Beyond, which moved online, Blockbuster, (hanging in with one brick and mortar store in Bend, Oregon!) and Sam Ash, founded 1924, which closed all its brick and mortar stores in July and moved everything online.

Reader Lilly gives us her rundown:

I miss Waldenbooks, B.Dalton, Borders, Jordan Marsh, Lord & Taylor, J Byrons, Burdines, Oshmans, Sports Authority, Bed Bath and Beyond, Sears, Kmart, Payless Shoesource, Fayva (shoes), Woolworth, Specs and all the record stores, Blockbuster, the JCPenney catalog.

Holiday Memories

For many of us, major retail stores were an essential part of the holiday experience.

P.M Bellace shares her thoughts…

Grew up in Philadelphia. The Christmas decorations in the John Wanamaker’s flagship store in center city were wonderful! Strawbridge & Clothier a few blocks away was also wonderful (One of the stores — Wanamaker’s I think– had a monorail that ran around the ceiling in the huge toy floor. Children only. Wonderful memories.

…I remember walking along 5th Ave with a friend, in the 1980s, stopping at all the Christmas windows. Some of the best were at Altman’s, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Saks Fifth Ave. Those were terrific times!

-Rose Marie W.

Woodward & Lothrop (Woodies) 11th & F Sts. N.W. D.C. The lovely Christmas decorations in the windows, High’s Dairy , Blockbuster, McCrory’s, Hahn’s shoes, Lerner’s, Baker’s shoes Sooo many!

-Carla G.

Two things I miss were particular to NYC. First, the Tower Records at Lincoln Center. Went to NYCBallet or NYCOpera on Friday nights and then went to Tower to investigate the music we had just seen/heard. Second, the Christmas Season in NYC. It dd not start until Macy’ s had the parade. The next day shoppers crowded a ten different department stores to see the decorations, from Bergdorf and Lord & Taylor, to Gimbel’s and Macy’s, to Orbach’s and Klein. Retail was fun!

-Barb

Reader Elizabeth‘s comment highlights how these stores and brands marked our  milestones over the years.

So many iconic stores listed here. Marshall Fields, Lord & Taylor, Borders, Sears. I took my kids to Sears for photos, got their winter coats and Christmas dresses there. I shopped for my school dance dresses at Lord & Taylor. I miss Linens N Things! I loved their store brand items and just hunting for new finds.

Elizabeth

We’ll let these two readers bring up the rear:  

I’m from New England (CT) originally, now living in TN. I miss a lot of iconic brands I grew up with: Royal Lunch milk crackers, Cain’s Sandwich spread and Tartar Sauce, Borden’s dairy, Caldor’s, Ame’s, Bradlee’s, A&P, Durgin-Park, Howard Johnson’s, Lord & Taylors; Ponderosa, Bob’s Big Boy, Read’s, Woolworth’s, Kresge’s, Grant’s – and the Great Danbury State Fair!

–Linda

and last but not least…Rose Marie who mentions a favorite in every deli in my neighborhood.

I too miss Woolworth’s, Radio Shack, Tower Records & Bordens, plus Abraham & Straus, Sears Roebuck, W.T. Grant, Linens & Things, Flying A (gas stations), Waldenbooks, B. Dalton, National Shoes, Modell’s, Genovese Drug Stores, A&P, Flower Time, A.C. Moore, Pier 1, Leewards, Pergament, F.A.O. Schwartz, Rickel Home Centers, Lechters Housewares, Sunshine cookies & crackers, Hoffmann’s sodas, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Mason Mints, Pet milk, RCA Victor, S&H Stamps, Rheingold beer & Miss Rheingold contests.

-Rose Marie

Miss Rheingold!  I could dedicate an entire column just to old school breweries and their jingles.  (“Why is Ballentine Beer like a bugle call, why is Ballentine Beer like a fireman’s ball? And why is Ballentine Beer like a kite in a windy sky? There’s more spirit to it, that’s why! If you want to start living a life that’s livelier, live it with spirit!”)

 YOUR TURN

 Any brands or stores we missed? Let us know in the comments!

 

ORIGINAL COLUMN

My world was rocked last month with the announcement that Tupperware – yes, that Tupperware – filed for bankruptcy.

The company may or may not continue operations, but will complete the closing of its last US plant in 2025.

Anyone who attended a Tupperware party should pause for a moment to consider if – or when –  this newest addition to brands and items we considered ‘iconic” go the way of the dinosaur, along with….

Blockbuster

Radio Shack

Bordens

Tower Records

Woolworths

Toys “R” Us

Bordens and Radio Shack hit close to home to me.  I met Elsie the Cow during a trip to Freedomland as a tyke.  Radio Shack was my source for arcane cables, connectors and whatnot to repair – or upgrade – personal electronics, computer,  audio or video equipment.

It’s sad that we are losing jobs that people built lives, homes and families on…it’s almost like losing a bit of home and even our national identity.  Plus having to explain to younger people what “Sleepless in Seattle” and its “You’ve Got Mail” announcement meant!

YOUR TURN

But that’s me. How about you? What iconic brands do you miss and why? What brands do you think will be next? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments!

 

Virge Randall is Senior Planet’s Managing Editor. She is also a freelance culture reporter who seeks out hidden gems and unsung (or undersung) treasures for Straus Newspapers; her blog “Don’t Get Me Started” puts a quirky new spin on Old School New York City. Send  Open Thread suggestions to editor@seniorplanet.org.

 

Photo: Kristina Blokhin – stock.adobe.com

COMMENTS

36 responses to “Open Thread Update: Whatever Happened To….?”

  2. K-mart for $10/15 nice shoes; JC Penny too for sheet set
    sales. Yes, Bed, Bath small appliances. Modell for winter
    wear and exercise stuff. Is TG&Y still in South?
    NYC local favorites were Webbers and OddLot for amazing
    odd stuff. You walked in and found something you never
    knew you needed but waited all your life for.

    Reply to gretchen vanmatre

    1. Grew up in Philadelphia. The Christmas decorations in the John Wanamaker’s flagship store in center city were wonderful! Strawbridge & Clothier a few blocks away was also wonderful (One of the stores — Wanamaker’s I think– had a monorail that ran around the ceiling in the huge toy floor. Children only. Wonderful memories.

      Reply to P.M. Bellace

  4. So many iconic stores listed here. Marshall Fields, Lord & Taylor, Borders, Sears. I took my kids to Sears for photos, got their winter coats and Christmas dresses there. I shopped for my school dance dresses and Lord & Taylor. I miss Linens N Things! I loved their store brand items and just hunting for new finds.

    Reply to Elizabeth

  13. Our Radio Shack was Great and one very knowledgeable guy who worked there. That’s my biggest “miss”!!!
    Woolworth’s where I rode my bike to pop a balloon & pay that amount for a banana split.
    My family’s pawn shop most of all

    Reply to 53Classic

    1. OMG I biked to the Woolworth in the mall in Center Moriches every weekend in summer. The counter girls were all so nice – I think they felt bad I didn’t get the penny one; the last weekend in August one gal was very particular about which balloon they picked…and I finally got my penny banana split. thanks for the memory.

      Reply to Virge

      1. I miss Waldenbooks, B.Dalton, Borders, Jordan Marsh, Lord & Taylor, J Byrons, Burdines, Oshmans, Sports Authority, Bed Bath and Beyond, Sears, Kmart, Payless Shoesource, Fayva (shoes), Woolworth, Specs and all the record stores, Blockbuster, the JCPenney catalog.

  18. I too miss Woolworth’s, Radio Shack, Tower Records & Bordens, plus Abraham & Straus, Sears Roebuck, W.T. Grant, Linens & Things, Flying A (gas stations), Waldenbooks, B. Dalton, National Shoes, Modell’s, Genovese Drug Stores, A&P, Flower Time, A.C. Moore, Pier 1, Leewards, Pergament, F.A.O. Schwartz, Rickel Home Centers, Lechters Housewares, Sunshine cookies & crackers, Hoffmann’s sodas, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Mason Mints, Pet milk, RCA Victor, S&H Stamps, Rheingold beer & Miss Rheingold contests

    Reply to Rose Marie Wilson

    1. I concur on all of these. Two things I miss were particular to NYC. First, the Tower Records at Lincoln Center. Went to NYCBallet or NYCOpera on Friday nights and then went to Tower to investigate the music we had just seen/heard. Second, the Christmas Season in NYC. It dd not start until Macy’ s had the parade. The next day shoppers crowded a ten different department stores to see the decorations, from Bergdorf and Lord & Taylor, to Gimbel’s and Macy’s, to Orbach’s and Klein. Retail was fun!

      Reply to Barb

      1. Yes, we have similar experiences! I passed by Tower Records at Lincoln Center once, but didn’t have time to go in. Trips from the suburbs to NYC were rare, but I remember walking along 5th Ave with a friend, in the 1980s, stopping at all the Christmas windows. Some of the best were at Altman’s, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Saks Fifth Ave. Those were terrific times!

  19. I have so many memories of riding in the very back of a station wagon. I know there are bigger cars such as mini vans and SUVs that are way more comfortable for riding in than my old Pinto wagon was, but I had so much fun and so many adventures.

    Shopping online is very efficient but at Christmas time I really miss the huge Sears catalog for dreaming on the floor.

    Reply to Nancy S

  20. I’m from New England (CT) originally, now living in TN. I miss a lot of iconic brands I grew up with: Royal Lunch milk crackers, Cain’s Sandwich spread and Tartar Sauce, Borden’s dairy, Caldor’s, Ame’s, Bradlee’s, A&P, Durgin-Park, Howard Johnson’s, Lord & Taylors; Ponderosa, Bob’s Big Boy, Read’s, Woolworth’s, Kresge’s, Grant’s – and the Great Danbury State Fair!

    Reply to Linda Inness

  22. I thought I was the only one who miss the stores of yesterday…I now on line shop for most things…In the apple it is too dangerous to be shopping with the increase in crime on the rise..the enjoyment and sense of wholeness you experienced when you would stop at Woolworth for a quick bite or Horn and Hardart for soda are gone..Hearns use to fulfill many dreams when Lord and Taylor’s, Macy’s and Bloomingdale was beyond your reach…yes the stores of yesterday are gone but the memories are here

    Reply to Gene

  26. When I went to Minneapolis to see a show, I made a point to stop at The Mall of America. They have a Toys r Us! I took a pic of someone dressed like Geoffry out front of the store. I’m also lucky to live just under three hours away from the last Blockbuster store ever! It’s in Bend, OR. :-)

    Reply to Dorrie

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