# Department store chains that are now defunct **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 24, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488 "2009-12-24T22:23:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/41 "2009-12-25T19:51:04Z")
[Hudson’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson's) (or J.L. Hudson). A popular chain in the Detroit area. Also, I have fond memories of [Fretter.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretter) An electronics and appliance store (again, Detroit based) ultimately brought down by Best Buy. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/42 "2009-12-25T20:02:49Z")
[Dayton’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton%27s), based in Minneapolis. It became Marshall Field’s in 2001, and then Macy’s bought them in 2006. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/43 "2009-12-25T21:04:39Z")
[Woolco](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolco). In Canada, most of the old stores were sold to Wal-Mart Canada, except the ones that were either downtown or unionized. Some other stores turned into Zellers, which is The Bay’s discount retail arm. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/44 "2009-12-25T21:25:29Z")
OTASCO started as a tire and auto accessory store. Later they started selling appliances and some hardware items. I bought my first window air conditioner from OTASCO in the late 70’s. Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company - OTASCO I miss them. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/45 "2009-12-25T22:05:59Z")
TG&Y was another Oklahoma chain that is long gone. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/46 "2009-12-25T22:18:04Z")
In looking at the Macy’s Wikipedia page, their corporate name-predecessor Federated Department Stores is responsible for eating up a lot of local store chains over the years. People talk about Walmart being the local main street killer, but Federated was/is the local department store obliterator. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/47 "2009-12-25T22:52:05Z")
> [@kitemaker\_chuck](#): > > In my area of western Washington state, I remember: > > Wig-Wam > Gov-Mart > Silo’s > People’s > Frederick & Nelson’s You forgot the [Bon Marche](http://www.angelfire.com/wa2/hwysofwastate/BonSeattle.html) ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/48 "2009-12-25T23:32:58Z")
[Stern’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stern's). Most of them became Macy’s in late 90s early 00s. ---
**Author:** ![LadyJane84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@LadyJane84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyJane84)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2009, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/49 "2009-12-25T23:45:47Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Wow…no Canadians have chimed in yet. We’ve had our share of department store chains that went defunct. Some were so prevalent that Americans and others who visited Canada would undoubtedly recognize them: > > Eaton’s. The biggest, oldest, and best-known nationwide department store in Canada just died some years ago. Nothing, apparently, could save it. Sears bought some Eaton’s stores and ran them as “eaton’s” (complete with lower-case “e”) for a while before getting rid of them. > > Simpson’s. Another nationwide chain. Bought by the Bay (another department store). > > Woodward’s. Based in western Canada, it was also bought by the Bay. > > Towers. Discount department store. Older Ontarians would remember this one because of its jingle: “At Towers everything connects–the last day of one sale is the first day of the next.” Bought by Zellers (the Bay’s discount department store). Another store that’s gone and missed is Bargain Harold’s. Man I loved that store. Also I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Bi-Way. Now that I think of it there aren’t really any discount stores in Ontario other than Zeller’s and Walmart. Which is a real shame. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/50 "2009-12-26T00:26:30Z")
My Grandmother worked for Broadway Hale for most of her career. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/51 "2009-12-26T01:14:45Z")
> [@LadyJane84](#): > > Another store that’s gone and missed is Bargain Harold’s. Man I loved that store. Also I can’t believe no one’s mentioned Bi-Way. Now that I think of it there aren’t really any discount stores in Ontario other than Zeller’s and Walmart. Which is a real shame. Oh yeah … Bargain Harold’s. If there was ever a department store that made Wal-Mart look elegant, Bargain Harold’s was it. Bi-Way was slightly better, but not much. Still, they were good sources for certain things, and you couldn’t beat their prices anywhere. Are there still Giant Tigers in Ontario? As I recall, they were kind of like Bargain Harold’s and Bi-Way. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/52 "2009-12-26T01:21:20Z")
A popular one in Sydney, now defunct, was [Grace Bros](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Brothers). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/53 "2009-12-26T01:34:52Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > A popular one in Sydney, now defunct, was [Grace Bros](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Brothers). Are you free, Mr. Cunctator? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/54 "2009-12-26T02:10:39Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > TG&Y was another Oklahoma chain that is long gone. We had one in my hometown. My cousin worked there when he was in high school. It was a lot like The Dollar stores you find today. I always wondered what happened. Our TG&Y was always busy. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/55 "2009-12-26T02:17:21Z")
Bamberger’s in NJ (consumed by Macy’s) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/56 "2009-12-26T03:52:05Z")
Anyone ever heard of Bradlees? I worked at one in high school in Fairfax County, VA. I was your humble “Sight-n-Sound” guy. I’m sorry if I sold you a crappy stereo. It was nothing personal, only business. > **[Bradlees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradlees)** > > Bradlees Department Store, more commonly known as Bradlees, was a discount department store chain based in Braintree, Massachusetts, which operated primarily in the Northeastern United States. Bradlees sold various retail items in its stores, including clothing, jewelry, health care, beauty products, footwear, furniture, electronics, housewares, and bedding. At its peak in the 1990s, Bradlees operated over 105 stores in seven states across the Northeast, with close to 10,000 employees. > Along wit... ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/57 "2009-12-26T04:01:47Z")
We had Lechemere’s here in Massachusetts. Not sure how widespread they were, but they were one of the first electronics “big box” type stores if I remember correctly. Then there was Jordan Marsh. And, I’m not sure if they’re all gone, but Building 19’s (Building 19; Building 19 1/2, 19 3/4 and on it went as they expanded.) Their motto was “good stuff cheap” and they purposely designed their stores to be “warehouse” style and were a mess. They had all sorts of funny slogans and sayings all over the place. Pretty cool store at the time. I think they’re gone now, too. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/58 "2009-12-26T04:41:03Z")
> [@Salem](#): > > And, I’m not sure if they’re all gone, but Building 19’s (Building 19; Building 19 1/2, 19 3/4 and on it went as they expanded.) Their motto was “good stuff cheap” and they purposely designed their stores to be “warehouse” style and were a mess. They had all sorts of funny slogans and sayings all over the place. Pretty cool store at the time. I think they’re gone now, too. [There are still 13 around.](http://www.building19.com/locations/locations.htm) ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/59 "2009-12-26T04:58:11Z")
> [@Wednesday\_Evening](#): > > Gottschalks (a CA department store chain) went bankrupt and closed this year. We had one in our city. The nearest department store is now 1/2 hour away. We now have an enormous Forever 21, though. :rolleyes: I had no idea there was someone here so close to me. To the list, I would add Two Guys and Steinbach’s from my youth in NJ, and chains such as Hechts, Hoschild-Kohn, and Stewarts in Baltimore. ---
**Author:** ![banjoDavid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@banjoDavid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/banjoDavid)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488/60 "2009-12-26T05:19:11Z")
My father told me it was founded by Eight Jewish Korean Veterans. E.J. Korvettes. In the suburbs of Chicago in the 60’s, I used to by singles and albums there, too. We had Zayre, which I think was Community beforehand, Goldblatts, and let’s not forget Marshall Fields. My mother’s favorite! Macy’s FUCKED UP big time by changing the name and lowering the quality. Carson, Pirie Scott is almost gone as well It’s all my fault. I do most of my shopping at the Salvation Army and thrift stores now [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/department-store-chains-that-are-now-defunct/522488.md?page=4)