Hudson’s (or J.L. Hudson). A popular chain in the Detroit area.
Also, I have fond memories of Fretter. An electronics and appliance store (again, Detroit based) ultimately brought down by Best Buy.
Dayton’s, based in Minneapolis. It became Marshall Field’s in 2001, and then Macy’s bought them in 2006.
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.
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.
TG&Y was another Oklahoma chain that is long gone.
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.
You forgot the Bon Marche
Stern’s. Most of them became Macy’s in late 90s early 00s.
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.
My Grandmother worked for Broadway Hale for most of her career.
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.
A popular one in Sydney, now defunct, was Grace Bros.
Are you free, Mr. Cunctator?
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.
Bamberger’s in NJ (consumed by Macy’s)
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.
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.
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.
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