15 Much-Loved Stores That Went Out of Business

How and where we shop has changed drastically in the last twenty years. For many, spending hours browsing the mall or finding a quiet corner to flip through magazines in a bookstore is long gone.

Our lifestyles have changed so much that we lack time for day-long shopping trips. Shopping online and having items shipped to your door is time-saving and convenient. As a result, traditional physical stores are closing frequently, and some much-loved stores that went out of business have either completely shut down or now solely operate online.

Though the convenience of online shopping is great, we lost a few great brands along the way. Here are 15 examples of much-loved stores that went out of business—once iconic and beloved by customers—that didn’t survive the transition to e-commerce. Do you see any old favorites?

Blockbuster

Blockbuster opened in 1985 and closed in 2013. If you grew up in the 1990s, you probably remember spending Friday nights searching for the next great movie to watch. Digital video has taken over today, and most Blockbuster stores are gone. However, one location is still open in Bend, Oregon.

Borders

This mega-bookstore opened in 1971 with one location in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It then expanded to hundreds of stores all over the US. The brand was known for stocking a vast selection of books, even when online shopping increased in popularity. The company started losing money after 2006 and closed all its stores in 2011.

K-B Toys

K-B Toys opened in 1922 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as a candy store. In 1946, the first wholesale toy store was opened. Low sales and high competition forced the company into bankruptcy, and the brand closed all its stores in 2009. At one time, it was the second-largest toy store chain in the US, with 461 locations nationwide.

Ames

Ames was founded in 1958, four years before Walmart. It was a discount store that sold various merchandise, including housewares, clothes, electronics, jewelry, and more. Ames stayed open for 44 years before filing for bankruptcy. It closed 327 stores and laid off 21,500 employees. The final Ames store was closed in 2002.

Lord & Taylor

The nation’s oldest department store opened in 1826 in New York. In 2017, it sold its flagship store for $850 million. The company kept many stores open until it filed for bankruptcy in 2020.

Thom McAn

The first Thom McAn store opened in 1922 in New York. It sold a few different styles of shoes at low prices. Within five years, the company opened 300 stores; by 1939, it had opened 650. In 1996, Thomas McAn closed all its locations.

Sports Authority

Founded in Fort Lauderdale in 1987, Sports Authority became the largest sporting goods chain in the country. At one time, it had stores in 41 states and Puerto Rico. In 1990, Kmart acquired the company; in 2006, a private equity firm purchased it. Sports Authority filed for bankruptcy in 2016 because of competition from Amazon and other well-known sporting goods brands.

Gadzooks

The fashion store Gadzooks was founded in 1983 in Texas. It began as a t-shirt store but quickly expanded to include fashions appealing to teenagers. In 2003, the company dropped the male clothing line and focused entirely on female customers. However, two years later, Gadzooks closed its stores for good.

Herman’s World of Sporting Goods

This store started out as a music store in 1916. In 1970, it became a sporting goods store. The first sporting goods superstore was Herman’s in Paramus, New Jersey. Unfortunately, Herman filed for bankruptcy in 1993; by 1996, every store had been permanently closed.

Anchor Blue

Teen clothing store Anchor Blue launched in 1972. In its heyday, it had over 300 stores in the US. The company struggled during the 2009 economic downturn and filed for bankruptcy in 2011.

Pier 1 Imports

Founded in 1962 as Cost Plus Imports, Pier 1 specialized in imported decor and home furnishings. In January 2020, the company had over 1,000 stores across the US and Canada. However, in February 2020, it filed for bankruptcy, and then in May of the same year, it asked the bankruptcy court to close all stores. Today, Pier 1 exists online only.

Kinney Shoes

Kinney Shoes opened its doors in 1894 and was known for its moderately priced footwear. At its peak, Kinney Shoes had 467 stores. One hundred four years after launching, Kinney Shoes closed all 467 stores in 1998.

Radio Shack

The first Radio Shack opened in 1921 as a ham radio store in Boston. Over the years, it became the go-to store for almost everything electronic. It was also the first store to sell a mass-marketed, fully assembled computer. However, RadioShack struggled as stores like Amazon and Best Buy became more popular. In 2015, the company filed for bankruptcy. Sprint then purchased it, but in 2017, it filed for bankruptcy again.

Service Merchandise

Catalog Showroom Service Merchandise opened its first store in 1934. It sold a range of merchandise, including toys, small appliances, sporting goods, electronics and jewelry. Catalog showrooms work differently than retail stores. Customers choose what they want from a catalog in the store, fill out a form, and hand it to a cashier. Employees then get the items from the warehouse. Floor items were only for display. While there were some advantages, filling out a form and waiting for your items was time-consuming and inconvenient. The concept wasn’t practical, and the last Service Merchandise stores closed in 2002.

Tower Records

Tower Records was launched in 1960 in Sacramento, California. As its name implies, its stores were packed with records, tapes, CDs, and movies. As digital movies and music became more popular, the brand struggled, and in 2004, it filed for bankruptcy. 2006, the company’s assets were liquidated, and the last store closed in December 2006.

14 Insanely Overpriced Fast Food Chains You Shouldn’t Bother With

Fast food is now a luxury. My family and I have completely limited our fast-food outings. Just ordering a basic meal can cost close to $15, and spending even more is easy. Some fast food spots, though, are more expensive than others.

Being shocked by a food bill will surely leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth. So when you plan an outing, consider the cost of where you will eat rather than just your favorite meals. At these prices, a sit-down restaurant with a more comfortable ambiance where you can better enjoy visiting with friends and family might be a more affordable choice.

So, to help you have the best experience, I chose 14 ridiculously expensive fast-food chains you should be aware of. Many of the restaurants on this list come from my own experience and occasionally wrecked budget. Here are 14 insanely overpriced fast-food chains you shouldn’t bother with.

The Purpose of a Budget and 11 Reasons Why You Need One

The primary purpose of a budget is to track your income and expenses. A budget also ensures your bills are paid on time, helps you plan for the future, helps identify any bad spending habits or areas where you could reduce your spending, and ensures that your spending reflects your priorities. By creating a budget and sticking to it, you can ensure your needs are met, your bills are paid on time, you get out of debt, and you meet your financial goals.

The cost of living in the United States has skyrocketed in the last four years. So, what happens when the cost of living goes up? We stop buying certain things. I can think of many items and luxuries I’ve let go of because they’ve gotten so expensive.

Honestly, with the increasing prices, it’s not worth it. Maybe you’re experiencing the same dilemma. It’s hard to decide how to buy the things we need without breaking the bank. To help with those tough decisions, we curated these things based on luxuries and wants instead of needs.

Some may be more difficult than others to let go. However, in the end, we think it makes sense. What about you?