Jump to content

List of defunct retailers of the United States

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Below is a list of notable defunct retailers of the United States.

Across the United States, a large number of local stores and store chains that started between the 1920s and 1950s have become defunct since the late 1960s, when many chains were either consolidated or liquidated. Some may have been lost due to mergers, while others were affected by a phenomenon of large store closings in the 2010s known as the retail apocalypse.

Automotive

[edit]
  • Al's Auto Supply – Chain that operated in Washington, California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Alaska; purchased by CSK Auto. Founded by Abe "Al" Wexler in Everett, Washington in the late 1950s;[1][2] sold 15 store chain to Paccar in 1987;[3] Paccar sold chain (along with Grand Auto) in 1999 to CSK Auto which eventually rebranded stores as Schucks.[4][5][6]
  • Auto Palace  – A New England-based chain that had 112 stores in six states before it was acquired and rebranded by AutoZone in 1998[7][8][9]
  • Auto Works  – Began in Michigan in 1976 by Perry Drug Stores and which grew mostly through acquisitions[10][11] prior to being sold to Northern Automotive in 1988.[12] In turn, Northern became CSK and CSK sold Auto Works to Hahn Automotive in 1993[13] before Hahn finally closed Auto Works in 1997.[14] At its height, there were 252 stores in eight states.
  • Chief Auto Parts – acquired and rebranded by AutoZone in 1998[15][16]
  • CSK Auto – (CSK = Checker, Schucks, Kragen) based in Phoenix, Arizona with stores nationwide; bought by O'Reilly Auto Parts in 2008[17][18]
  • Parts America – Sears created the Parts America store concept in 1995 and tried to convert full service Western Auto stores into the parts only Parts America brand until it sold the stores to Advance Auto Parts in 1998.[19][20][21] Upon merger, Parts America stores were rebranded Advance Auto Parts and the website partsamerica.com became a web only store for Advance Auto Parts. With financial backing from Sears, Advance Auto Parts decided to make the partsamerica.com into a portal for web purchasing of auto parts as part of a joint venture with CSK Auto.[22] The website appeared to have been deactivated by 2009.[23]
  • Super Shops – filed for bankruptcy in 1998[24][25]
  • Trak Auto – Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and West Coast; founded by Robert Haft (Crown Books) in 1981; purchased and rebranded by Advance Auto Parts in 2002[26][27]
  • Western Auto – nationwide, once had 1,800 locations, purchased by Sears in 1987[28][29] and sold to and rebranded by Advance Auto Parts in 1998[30][31]

Camping, sports or athletic stores

[edit]
  • MC Sports – filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2017
  • Modell's Sporting Goods – first store opened in 1889. On March 11, 2020, the company filed for bankruptcy, and announced it would close all 115 stores. At the time of the announcement, Modell's was the world's oldest sporting goods chain
  • Olympia Sports – the company was founded in 1975, and on July 22, 2022, the company filed for bankruptcy and announced it would close all 35 stores by September 30th
  • Oshman's Sporting Goods – founded in Houston in 1933; acquired by Gart Sports in 2001; most stores rebranded as Sports Authority
  • Sportmart – merged with Gart Sports in 1998 and closed in 2000
  • Sports Authority – bankrupt in 2016 and liquidated. Brand was acquired by Dick's Sporting Goods
  • Sports Unlimited – First store in 1983. In 2008 closed all stores and moved online.
  • Sport Chalet – went bankrupt and closed in 2016
  • Sportswest – owned by Pay 'n Save and spun off in 1984; acquired by Big 5 Sporting Goods in 1988
  • Sunny's Surplus – went bankrupt in 2000 but emerged in 2001; filed for bankruptcy again in 2007 and closed most locations; three reopened in late 2007 but shut down again in 2008

Catalog showrooms

[edit]

Clothing, shoe and specialty stores

[edit]
  • Abby Z. – plus size design label founded by Abby Zeichner in 2004.[45] The Abby Z flagship store opened in SoHo, New York at 57 Greene Street in 2008 and closed in 2009[46] when its parent company filed for bankruptcy.[47]
  • Anchor Blue – youth-oriented mall chain, founded in 1972 as Miller's Outpost. The brand had 150 stores at its peak, predominantly on the West Coast. Anchor Blue declared bankruptcy in 2009 and shuttered more than 50 stores, and gradually shrank to include stores solely in California. It went bankrupt once more in 2011, with the remaining stores closed before Easter of that year.[48]
  • Anderson-Little – men's specialty retailer originally associated with a large Massachusetts-based men's clothing manufacturer; also known as Anderson Little-Richman Brothers; owned for many years by F. W. Woolworth Company. Ceased operations in 1998,[49][50][51][52][53][54] revived as a small online retailer in 2008.[49]
  • Casual Corner – liquidated in 2005
  • Chess King – sold to Merry-Go-Round in 1993; liquidated along with that chain in 1995
  • Christopher & Banks – bankrupted in 2021 from financial loss, because of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • County Seat – founded in 1973, the denim-focused mall retailer expanded in the 1980s to nearly 500 stores. It filed for bankruptcy in 1996 and shuttered stores, and another bankruptcy in 1999 put the company out of business.[55]
  • Cygnet Shops – women's fashion store that closed in 1975
  • DEB – closed its stores in 2015, and returned later that year as an online-only retailer selling plus-size clothing
  • Delia's – founded in 1993 as a juniors' clothing catalog, Delia's (stylized as dELiA*s) expanded to more than 100 physical locations before cheaper competitors sent it to bankruptcy in 2014.[56] It was reopened in 2015 as an online retailer, but this was unsuccessful and has been licensed by online fashion company Dolls Kill since 2018.
  • Disney Store – owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. Closed the majority of its retail stores in 2021 mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with merchandise moved online and to department stores such as Target and JCPenney.[57]
  • Edison Brothers Stores – operator of numerous shoe and clothing chains, including Bakers Shoes, Wild Pair, J. Riggings, Oaktree, Foxmoor and Fashion Conspiracy. Company was liquidated in 1999, though some chains it operated, including Bakers, have survived.
  • Fashion Bug – plus-size women's clothing retailer that once spanned more than 1000 stores. Parent company Charming Shoppes, which owned other plus-size retailers including Lane Bryant, shuttered the brand in early 2013.
  • Florsheim – mall shoe store; still sells online
  • Gadzooks – Founded in 1983 as a T-shirt store, Gadzooks grew to a 250-store mall fashion retailer before making an ill-advised decision to discontinue menswear. The company was purchased by competitor Forever 21 out of bankruptcy in 2005, with its stores either closed or converted to F21 formats.
  • Gantos – a women's specialty clothing retailer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In late 1993, the company announced bankruptcy reorganization, closing 50 stores between 1993 and 1994,[58] and the chain announced the liquidation of its remaining 114 stores by the end of the decade, ceasing operations in 2000.[59]
  • Gottschalks – Founded in 1904, this middle-market regional department store was once the largest independently owned, publicly traded department store in the United States. Bankruptcy claimed the brand in 2009.[60]
  • Hahn's Shoes (1876–1995) – Washington, D.C. region
  • Harold's – founded in 1948 in Norman, Oklahoma, and liquidated through bankruptcy in 2008[61]
  • Hess Shoe Store (1872–1999)  – Baltimore, Maryland region.
  • J. Brannam – a unit of the F. W. Woolworth Company established in 1979 that operated primarily in the southern U.S.;[62] closed in 1985[63]
  • J. Byrons – Florida-based retailer, sold to Uptons, closed in 1996
  • Jay Jacobs – Seattle-based clothier; founded in 1941 and closed in 1999
  • Kids "R" Us – a division of Toys "R" Us, created in 1983 to sell children's and preteen clothing; folded in 2003
  • Kinney Shoes – manufacturer and retailer established in 1894 and purchased by F.W. Woolworth in 1963
  • Kleinhans – a men's clothier in Buffalo, New York that operated from 1893 until 1992
  • Klopfenstein's – a men's clothier in the Seattle-Tacoma area founded in 1918 and in operation until 1992[64]
  • The Limited – filed for bankruptcy and liquidated in 2017. Its products became available again online after the brand was acquired by Sycamore Properties.
  • Margo's LaMode – Dallas-based women's clothing store that closed in 1996 after corporate parent underwent bankruptcy reorganization
  • Martin + Osa – Established in 2006 as the more mature counterpart to American Eagle Outfitters, the chain grew to 28 stores before millions in losses forced its parent company to discontinue it. The brand's stores and e-commerce site disappeared in 2010.
  • Merry-Go-Round – Merry-Go-Round had more than 500 locations during its heyday in the 1980s. It went bankrupt in 1995.[65]
  • Mervyn's – a California-based regional department store founded in 1949. Mervyn's ill-fated expansion out of West Coast markets in the months before a recession sent the company into bankruptcy in 2008.[66][67]
  • Miller's Outpost – see "Anchor Blue" above
  • Payless (footwear retailer) – Filed for bankruptcy twice and closed all stores in Canada and the US in 2019.
  • Raleigh's – also known as Raleigh Haberdasher; a men's and women's clothing store in Washington, D.C., 1911–1992
  • Robert Hall – clothing store that existed from 1938 to 1977. At its peak, the store had locations in both New York City and Los Angeles. In addition, the firm invented the big box concept where all non-clothing lines were leased by other retailers.[citation needed]
  • Rogers Peet – New York City based men's clothing retailer established in late 1874. Among the chain's innovations: Rogers Peet showed actual merchandise in their advertising, advertised fabric types on merchandise, and put price tags on merchandise. The chain went belly-up in 1981.[citation needed]
  • Roos/Atkins – a San Francisco menswear retailer formed in 1957 and expanded throughout the Bay Area in the 60s. The brand went into decline in the 1980s and ceased operations by 1995.
  • Ruehl No.925 – concept brand launched by Abercrombie & Fitch in 2004; poor sales and operating losses led to A&F ceasing operations of Ruehl in early 2010
  • The Sample – Western New York based retailer founded in Buffalo in 1928 when its founder brought a sample set of 48 dresses back from New York City. At its peak, the retailer was noted for its semi-annual clearance known as the Pup Sale. The demise of The Sample was in 1991 following the death of the chain's chairman a year earlier.[citation needed]
  • Sibley's Shoes – a show retailer founded by Harry Rosenfield in 1920; had locations in Michigan and Ohio and closed in 2003 when the company's executives decided to not save the company[citation needed]
  • Steve & Barry's – "extreme value" retail clothing chain that operated 276 stores in 39 states.
  • Sycamore Shops – an Indianapolis-based women's clothing retailer; spun off from L.S. Ayres; was later forced into bankruptcy and liquidated by early 1996[68]
  • Thom McAn – shoe retailer founded in 1922; had over 1,400 stores at its peak in the 1960s. In 1996, the parent company decided to close all remaining stores, but Thom McAn footwear is available in Kmart stores.[69]
  • Today's Man – a men's suiting store that began in the 1970s and expanded rapidly in the 1980s and 90s. Overexpansion brought the brand to bankruptcy in 1996.[70]
  • Virginia Dare Dresses, Incorporated – merged with Atlantic Thrift Centers, Inc in 1963
  • Warner Brothers Studio Store – Meant to be the WB answer to the rapidly growing Disney Store, the Warner Bros. Studio Stores sold collectibles and apparel based around WB properties including Looney Tunes and DC Comics. The Studio Stores were a victim of the AOL-Time Warner merger, and shuttered operations in 2001.[71]
  • Yellow Front Stores – Founded in the 1950s as an army surplus store, Yellow Front transitioned to become a camping gear retailer before going bankrupt in 1990.

Department and discount stores

[edit]

Drug stores

[edit]

A–M

[edit]

N–Z

[edit]

Electronics stores

[edit]

Five-and-dime; variety stores

[edit]

Furniture stores

[edit]

Grocery stores and supermarkets

[edit]

A–M

[edit]

N–Z

[edit]

Home decor and craft stores

[edit]

Home improvement

[edit]

Music, booksellers, and video stores (records, tapes, books, CDs, DVDs, etc.)

[edit]

A–M

[edit]

N–Z

[edit]

Jewelers

[edit]

Office-supply stores

[edit]

Pet stores

[edit]

Toy stores

[edit]
  • All Wound Up – acquired by Borders in 1999[171][172] and closed in 2001[173]
  • Child World (also known as Children's Palace) – liquidated in 1992[174]
  • Circus World – acquired by Melville in 1990 and converted to KB Toys[175][176]
  • Disney Store  – The Disney Store closed by the end of January 19, 2022 as the retail moves to Target stores.[177]
  • F.A.O. Schwarz – sold to Toys 'R Us after bankruptcy in 2009; all stores closed except original NYC flagship store, which closed in 2015.[178] The chain was bought out by ThreeSixty group and opened two new locations in Rockefeller Center, and LaGuardia airport, with plans to open up to 30 more in the future.
  • KB Toys – liquidated February 9, 2009, which closed all of the remaining stores;[179] sold to Toys "R" Us and then to Strategic Marks, LLC; although it planned to reopen stores in 2019, this never happened due to a lack of funding.
  • Lionel Kiddie City – founded in 1957 by Leonard Wasserman; liquidated in 1993[180][181][182][183][184][185]
  • Lionel Playworld – liquidated in 1993[182][183][185]
  • Noodle Kidoodle – acquired in 2000 by Zany Brainy and rebranded[186]
  • Toys "R" Us – liquidated most stores in 2018; still active in Canada and other countries. The company was bought and reformed by its lenders as a brand owned by TRU Kids. On November 27, 2019, Toys "R" Us re-entered the American market with a retail store at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. On December 7, 2019, a second location was opened at The Galleria in Houston, Texas. Both stores were permanently closed in early 2021. A new stand alone location was later opened in the American Dream Mall in New Jersey. On August 19, 2021, Macy's bought Toys "R" Us and announced they will be opening store-within-a-store locations in 400 Macy's locations.
  • Warner Bros. Studio Store – stores closed in 2001[71][187]
  • Zany Brainy – liquidated in 2003 after parent company filed for bankruptcy[188]

Video games and personal computing software

[edit]

Warehouse clubs and membership department stores

[edit]
  • E.J. Korvette – gradually liquidated by 1981 after declaring bankruptcy[189]
  • Fedco
  • GEM – initially called Government Employees Mutual Stores, and later Government Employees Mart before settling on G. E. M. Membership Department Stores, a profit-making company that was aimed at the governmental employees market; first store was opened in Denver in 1956;[190] after several expansions, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1974[191]
  • Gemco – acquired by Lucky Stores in 1961;[192] closed in 1986 and the vacant buildings sold to Target;[193] known as Memco in the Chicago and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas
  • Pace Membership Warehouse – founded in Denver in 1983 and quickly expanded to the East Coast;[194][195] acquired by Kmart in 1989;[196][197] later sold to Sam's Club in 1993 and rebranded[198][199]
  • Price Club – merged with Costco in 1993 and rebranded[200][201]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Abe "Al" Wexler (Obituary)". The Herald (Everett). May 19–21, 2012.
  2. ^ Dart, Leland (May 19, 2012). "Abe "Al" Wexler, Founder of Everett's Al's Auto Supply Chain Passes". MyEverettNews.com.
  3. ^ "PACCAR – Pursuit of Quality". Paccar.
  4. ^ "CSK Auto To Buy Paccar's Parts Subsidiary". The New York Times. August 24, 1999.
  5. ^ "CSK Auto Corporation to Acquire Grand Auto Supply and Al's Auto Supply". The Auto Channel. August 23, 1999.
  6. ^ Lane, Polly (August 23, 1999). "Eastside Business -- Paccar To Sell Auto-Parts Unit, Focus On Trucks". The Seattle Times.
  7. ^ "AutoZone acquires 112-store Auto Palace chain". Memphis Business Journal. February 18, 1998.
  8. ^ "AutoZone To Acquire Auto Palace" (Press release). AutoZone. PRNewswire. January 14, 1998 – via The Free Library.
  9. ^ "AutoZone continues growth with Auto Palace purchase". The Auto Channel. February 1998.
  10. ^ "Perry Drug Stores to Buy Auto Parts Stores". Los Angeles Times. August 9, 1983. p. E14. ProQuest 153540734.
  11. ^ Byrne, John A. (January 30, 1984). "Mufflers and Mascara". Forbes. ProQuest 194947617.
  12. ^ "Rite Aid Accelerating Into Auto Parts Retailing With Acquisition Of ADAP". Elsevier Business Intelligence. March 26, 1984.
  13. ^ "Hahn Automotive Warehouse Inc.: Auto Works to Be Acquired From Northern Retail Corp". The Wall Street Journal. November 1, 1993. ProQuest 395224619.
  14. ^ "Michigan Auto Works stores started sales last Saturday". Argus-Press. August 26, 1997. p. 6 – via Google News.
  15. ^ O'Dell, John (May 12, 1998). "AutoZone to Acquire Car Parts Rival Chief". Los Angeles Times.
  16. ^ O'Dell, John (July 1, 1998). "AutoZone Purchase of Chief Auto Is Complete". Los Angeles Times.
  17. ^ Fineman, Josh (April 1, 2008). "O'Reilly Automotive to Buy CSK Auto for $528 Million". Bloomberg.
  18. ^ Bond, Andrew (April 29, 2011). "Can O'Reilly Keep Its Growth Up?". The Motley Fool.
  19. ^ "CSK Auto and Advance Auto Parts Partner With Sequoia Capital to Launch PartsAmerica.com, Largest Auto Parts Site With National Distribution" (Press release). Business Wire. January 10, 2000 – via The Free Library.
  20. ^ Vomhof, John Jr. (October 13, 2009). "Advance Auto revs up online sales". Business Journal.
  21. ^ Battle, John D. (September 1997). "Western Auto accelerates its conversion to parts-only format: By year's end, the company will convert all its company stores to 'Parts America". The Auto Channel.
  22. ^ "PartsAmerica.com Give Consumers A Bricks & Mortar Alternative". Autoparts Report. February 23, 2001. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014.
  23. ^ "PartsAmerica.com – Auto Parts Superstore". partsamerica.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  24. ^ Maxwell, Jim (February 9, 2010). "A Look Back at the Super Shops". Performance & Hotrod Business. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  25. ^ O'Dell, John (October 15, 1997). "Boyds Wheels' Client Leaves $464,700 Debt: Stanton firm's chief financial officer also resigns. Stock price falls in heavy trading". Los Angeles Times.
  26. ^ "Takeover of ailing Trak Auto shops OK'd". The Washington Times. July 25, 2002.
  27. ^ Clabaugh, Jeff (July 23, 2002). "Advance Auto picks up Trak Auto locations". Washington Business Journal.
  28. ^ Zonana, Victor F. (March 17, 1988). "Sears Agrees to Buy Western Auto". Los Angeles Times.
  29. ^ Key, Janet (March 17, 1988). "Sears Buying Western Auto Supply". Chicago Tribune.
  30. ^ "Sears Is Selling Its Western Auto Supply Unit". Los Angeles Times. August 18, 1998.
  31. ^ Gunset, George (August 18, 1998). "Advance Buys Sears' Western Auto". Chicago Tribune.
  32. ^ "Dick's Sporting Goods to buy Galyan's for $305 million". Deseret News. June 22, 2004.
  33. ^ "Catalog-showroom chain closes last stores". Associated Press. February 10, 1997.
  34. ^ Von Bergen, Jane M. (October 8, 1996). "Best Products To Shut 81 Stores, Lay Off 4,500 The Outlets In Cherry Hill And Delco Will Be Closed. The Bankrupt Chain Will Keep 88 Stores Open". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  35. ^ "On The Record: Bankrupt Best Products closes last of its stores". Orlando Sentinel. February 11, 1997.
  36. ^ Hancock, Jay (May 4, 1997). "LBO funds might be poised for a comeback Assets large again, with new players joining usual sources". Baltimore Sun.
  37. ^ "Brendle's Seeks Bankruptcy Court Protection". The New York Times. April 17, 1996.
  38. ^ "Brendle's to liquidate". Charlotte Business Journal. December 5, 1996.
  39. ^ a b "Service Merchandise acquired two retail chains". Los Angeles Times. April 10, 1985.
  40. ^ a b Cuff, Daniel F. (September 20, 1988). "Service Merchandise Head May Take Company Private". The New York Times.
  41. ^ Jolley, Harmon (July 26, 2011). "Remembering Service Merchandise". Chattanoogan.
  42. ^ Forester, Brian (January 13, 2002). "What killed Service Merchandise?". Nashville Business Journal.
  43. ^ "Witmark hones specialty format". Home Furnishing Network. January 27, 1997 – via The Free Library.
  44. ^ "Mergers & acquisitions dominate, liquidations follow close behind". Discount Store News. Vol. 36, no. 13. July 7, 1997. pp. 66–68. ProQuest 228399546. Witmark, a cataloger out of Grand Rapids, Mich., closed its last 10 showrooms.
  45. ^ Saranow, Jennifer; Smith, Ray A. (July 24, 2008). "Abby Z. Expands Plus-Size Shops". The Wall Street Journal.
  46. ^ "Shopping: Abby Z." New York Magazine.
  47. ^ Morris, Keiko (March 13, 2009). "Lost in bankruptcy: They didn't get paid". Newsday. Melville, NY. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  48. ^ Chang, Andrea (January 14, 2011). "Anchor Blue files for bankruptcy; will shut all stores, sell off inventory: The clothing chain originally called Miller's Outpost cites 'strong headwinds' from product promotions and discounts offered by larger retailers". Los Angeles Times.
  49. ^ a b Welker, Grant (July 17, 2008). "Anderson-Little is back in fashion". Herald News. Fall River, Massachusetts. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  50. ^ "Woolworth's to shut Anderson Little chain. (F.W. Woolworth Co. closes Anderson Little-Richman Brothers)". Daily News Record. April 6, 1992. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  51. ^ "Gentlemen's Wear-House chain using Anderson-Little Logo". Daily News Record. September 24, 1993. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  52. ^ "Bell tolls for Anderson-Little. (Men's clothing retailer to close in New England in early 1997)". Daily News Record. September 16, 1996. Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  53. ^ Rising, David (November 18, 1996). "Cliftex closing stores: 10 Anderson-Little stores will remain". South Coast Today. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  54. ^ Welker, Grant (July 16, 2008). "Anderson-Little is back in fashion – Fall River, Massachusetts". The Herald News. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  55. ^ "County Seat Files Chapter 11". Orlando Sentinel. January 23, 1999.
  56. ^ Pearson, Sophia & Tan, Andrea (December 8, 2014). "Teen Clothing Retailer Delia's Files for Bankruptcy". Bloomberg News.
  57. ^ Scribner, Herb (August 25, 2021). "Why Disney is closing so many Disney Stores right now". Deseret News. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  58. ^ "Gantos to go: Mall Store Fals Victim To Chain's Chapter 11 Filing". Daily Press. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  59. ^ Andy Rent (July 31, 2017). "Do You Remember Gantos?". 100.5 The River. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  60. ^ Perez, Amanda (January 15, 2009). "Gottschalks Filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy". KFSN-TV.
  61. ^ Mize, Richard (November 8, 2008). "Harold's Stores files bankruptcy in Oklahoma". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  62. ^ "Woolworth Unit Gets Third Chief in a Year". The New York Times. August 5, 1983. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  63. ^ Barmash, Isadore (August 8, 1985). "Troubled 'Off Price' Chains". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  64. ^ Nogaki, Sylvia Wieland (September 25, 1992). "Six Klopfensteins Stores To Be Liquidated, Closed". The Seattle Times.
  65. ^ Steinhauer, Jennifer (February 3, 1996). "Bankrupt Merry-Go-Round Decides to Go Out of Business". The New York Times.
  66. ^ Rosenbloom, Stephanie (October 17, 2008). "Struggling Mervyns to Close Its Doors". The New York Times.
  67. ^ Earnest, Leslie (July 30, 2008). "Mervyns' bankruptcy another ominous sign". Los Angeles Times.
  68. ^ Bohman, Jim (December 12, 1995). "Sycamore Closing All 126 Stores – 9 Area Workers to Lose Jobs". Dayton Daily News. p. 7B. Sycamore Stores Inc., an Indianapolis-based retail chain, will close its 126 stores in the next few weeks, including two in the Dayton area. The chain of women's apparel stores filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on Friday as a prelude to liquidation. The company will lay off nearly 650 employees within 10 weeks. About 50 of the shops are in Indiana. Other stores are in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.
  69. ^ Golden, Ed (July 10, 1996). "Thom McAn Shoes To Fade From Mall Scene". Associated Press.
  70. ^ Clabaugh, Jeff (April 25, 2003). "Today's Man to close 6 area stores". Baltimore Business Journal.
  71. ^ a b "Warner Bros. Studio Stores to Close: Owner AOL Time Warner fails to find a buyer for the ailing chain". Los Angeles Times. July 7, 2001.
  72. ^ "Perry Drug Stores Proposes To Acquire 12 A.L. Price Stores" (Press release). PR Newswire. April 23, 1993 – via The Free Library.
  73. ^ Steinhauer, Jennifer (February 10, 1998). "CVS to Acquire Arbor Drugs For $1.48 Billion in Stock". The New York Times.
  74. ^ "Drug Store Chain Big B Accepts New Revco Offer For Merger". Associated Press. October 28, 1996.
  75. ^ "Kroger Head is Named to Board". Beaver County Times. November 29, 1975 – via Google News.
  76. ^ "Kroger Considering SupeRx/Hook Leveraged Buyout". Elsevier Business Intelligence. October 6, 1986.
  77. ^ "Tandy Corp. Acquires Allied Radio, Chicago, From LTV Subsidiary: LTV Ling Altec Sells Business And Certain of Unit's Assets; Purchase Valued at $30 Million". The Wall Street Journal. April 15, 1970. p. 9. ProQuest 133529692.
  78. ^ "Tandy Corp. Buys Allied Radio Assets: Companies Take Merger Actions". The New York Times. April 15, 1970. p. 77. ProQuest 119038640.
  79. ^ "Tandy Will Sell 36 Retail Stores: Outlets Acquired In 1970 In Allied Radio Deal". The New York Times. December 29, 1971. p. 45. ProQuest 119125067.
  80. ^ "Tandy Corp. Must Shed Allied Radio Corp. Units Under Consent Proposal". The Wall Street Journal. December 29, 1971. p. 9. ProQuest 133561649.
  81. ^ "Tandy Agrees to Sell 27 Allied Radio Stores To Schaak Electronics". The Wall Street Journal. December 4, 1973. p. 3. ProQuest 133790767.
  82. ^ Lazarus, George (February 19, 1974). "Schaak hopes to turn up Allied volume". Chicago Tribune. p. C8. ProQuest 170976360.
  83. ^ "Circuit City Files for Bankruptcy". The New York Times. November 10, 2008.
  84. ^ "Circuit City to Liquidate After Sale Efforts Fail". The New York Times. January 16, 2009.
  85. ^ Rosenbloom, Stephanie (January 16, 2009). "Circuit City to Shut Down". The New York Times.
  86. ^ "Compuadd Computer Files For Chapter 11". The New York Times. June 23, 1993.
  87. ^ "Computer City-CompUSA merger prompts local confusion". The Augusta Chronicle. June 23, 1998.
  88. ^ "New Owner Closes Computer City Store". Hartford Courant. September 4, 1998.
  89. ^ "Crazy Eddie to Liquidate, Ending Move to Reorganize". The New York Times. October 4, 1989.
  90. ^ "Crazy Eddie In Chapter 11". The New York Times. June 21, 1989.
  91. ^ Barmash, Isadore (June 25, 1991). "Highland Superstores To Cut Management". The New York Times.
  92. ^ "Highland Superstores To Liquidate Assets". The New York Times. March 17, 1993.
  93. ^ "Highland closing: Highland Superstores Inc., which has..." Chicago Tribune. March 16, 1993.
  94. ^ Harrison, David (October 7, 1996). "Luskin starts new chain". Baltimore Business Journal.
  95. ^ Kelley, Lane (April 15, 1987). "Luskins Asks Protection From Creditors". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  96. ^ "Olson's Electronics Stocks Hi-Fi's, CB Radios, Stereos". Los Angeles Times. September 21, 1978. p. J6. ProQuest 158646655.
  97. ^ "Sidney Olson, 85". TWICE. November 6, 2000.
  98. ^ Kreutz, Doug (September 5, 2009). "Photog has experience – 86 years' worth". Arizona Daily Star.
  99. ^ Cardwell, Jewell (October 23, 2011). "Ruth Bogen Olson: arts supporter, philanthropist". Akron Beacon Journal.
  100. ^ "Willis Richard Wolf, Obituary". Akron Beacon Journal. July 8, 2011.
  101. ^ "Olson Electronics seeks bankruptcy". Cleveland Plain Dealer. December 3, 1985. p. E5.
  102. ^ Gardner, Greg (January 26, 1986). "Once-Thriving Olson Battles For Survival". Akron Beacon Journal. p. C6. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  103. ^ Gardner, Greg (November 30, 1985). "Olson's Seeks Chapter 11 Protection". Akron Beacon Journal. p. C2. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  104. ^ Gardner, Greg (December 19, 1985). "Olson Files List Of Debts Electronics Firm Owes $5 Million". Akron Beacon Journal. p. G1. Alternate Link via NewsBank.
  105. ^ "Schaak Files Chap. 11 Action". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 7, 1975. p. 18 – via Google News.
  106. ^ "Schaak Electronics Files for Chapter 11 After Banks Seize Cash". The Wall Street Journal. April 7, 1975. p. 3. ProQuest 134015384.
  107. ^ "Schaak Electronics Files for Protection Under Chapter 11". The Wall Street Journal. July 15, 1985. p. 1. ProQuest 397921067.
  108. ^ "Schaak Electronics Closes 21 Stores, Plans To Liquidate Assets". The Wall Street Journal. February 20, 1986. p. 1. ProQuest 398058186.
  109. ^ "Kuhn's Big K Stores Plans Wal-Mart Tie". The New York Times. June 23, 1981.
  110. ^ Gymburch, Dave. "Sale of Harden Furniture property continues to move forward". Rome Daily Sentinel. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  111. ^ Fickenscher, Lisa (November 3, 2015). "Bankrupt A&P unable to get buyers for 1/3 of stores". new York Post.
  112. ^ a b Roane, Kit R. (September 15, 1994). "Grocery Deal: Yucaipa to Buy Ralphs". New York Times.
  113. ^ Rantala, Jason (March 31, 2015). "Last Dahl's stores becoming Price Chopper, Cash Saver". KCCI.
  114. ^ Torres, Vicki (November 21, 1996). "Hughes Markets to Be Sold". Los Angeles Times.
  115. ^ White, George (November 7, 1997). "Ralphs, Hughes Market Chains Plan Merger". Los Angeles Times.
  116. ^ Duke, Clint (March 14, 1979). "'Jewel T' Plans No Frill Discount Grocery in Edgewood". Lakeland Ledger. p. 6D – via Google News.
  117. ^ Levin, Doron (April 6, 1979). "President of Jewel T credits feminism, but prefers to talk shop". St. Petersburg Times. p. 8C – via Google News.
  118. ^ Schneider, Martin (April 29, 2002). "SuperValu's Crown Jewel". Supermarket News.
  119. ^ Shope, Dan (May 30, 2001). "Lanecos, Foodlanes to close: 1,440 workers at 14 area stores face layoffs. Supervalu to sell markets". The Morning Call.
  120. ^ Weinsier, Jeff (September 18, 2019). "Hundreds flock to Penn Dutch in Margate for going-out-of-business sale". local10.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  121. ^ "Purity Supreme name about to disappear from the scene". The Boston Globe. July 19, 1997. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  122. ^ "Stop and Shop To Buy Purity Supreme Chain". The New York Times. April 25, 1995. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  123. ^ White, George (February 4, 1997). "HomeBase, Builders Square May Combine". Los Angeles Times.
  124. ^ Crosby, Jackie (January 5, 2010). "Closing the book on B. Dalton". Minneapolis Star Tribune.
  125. ^ White, George (August 12, 1998). "Wherehouse to Buy Blockbuster Music: The $115-million cash deal would make Wherehouse the nation's No. 2 music chain". Los Angeles Times.
  126. ^ "Dish Network Acquires Blockbuster For $228 Million In Cash". The Huffington Post. April 4, 2011.
  127. ^ Lewis, Al (November 10, 2013). "Not All Blockbuster Stores Are Closing: Al Lewis Says the Chain Didn't Reinvent Itself and Neglected Its Stores". The Wall Street Journal.
  128. ^ Spector, Mike & Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (July 19, 2011). "Borders Forced to Liquidate, Close All Stores". The Wall Street Journal.
  129. ^ Moore, Deborah (November 2, 1998). "Trans World finds Camelot in purchase of competitor". The Business Review.
  130. ^ "Retailing". Los Angeles Times. February 13, 2001.
  131. ^ Madigan, Sean (March 13, 2001). "Hilco to oversee Crown liquidation". Washington Business Journal.
  132. ^ "Hastings Entertainment to close, will liquidate all stores". July 22, 2016.
  133. ^ Felberbaum, Michael (May 10, 2010). "No. 2 rental chain Hollywood Video to close: Parent Movie Gallery Inc. had filed for bankruptcy in February of this year". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013.
  134. ^ Buck, Genevieve (June 17, 1995). "Kroch's Files For Bankruptcy". Chicago Tribune.
  135. ^ Nichols, Chris (September 15, 2021). "A Look Back at Licorice Pizza, the SoCal Record Store P.T. Anderson's New Movie Is Named After". Los Angeles Magazine. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021.
  136. ^ Gellene, Denise (April 23, 1986). "Licorice Pizza Chain Will Be Sold to American Can Unit". Los Angeles Times.
  137. ^ Goldstein, Patrick (March 29, 1987). "Pop Eye". Los Angeles Times. And a fond farewell to Licorice Pizza, the popular Southland music and video stores which will undergo a name change at the end of the month as part of a corporate consolidation by new parent company, Musicland Group, Minneapolis. The chain has renamed its 35 area Licorice Pizza stores, which will now be called Sam Goody Music & Video.
  138. ^ "Musicland Stores Corporation 1992 earnings up 205 percent". PR Newswire (Press release). January 19, 1993. ProQuest 450085860.
  139. ^ Christman, Ed (December 28, 2002). "Tower Records' Struggle Reflected Industry's Turmoil". Billboard. Vol. 114, no. 52. p. 45. ProQuest 227148754.
  140. ^ Halkias, Maria (May 3, 2010). "Movie Gallery closing stores, which is bittersweet news for Blockbuster". Dallas Morning News.
  141. ^ Barmash, Isadore (June 13, 1988). "At 85, Sam Goody Longs For a New Business". The New York Times. p. D2. ProQuest 110550230.
  142. ^ "Musicland stores being renamed Sam Goody as part of turnaround". The Augusta Chronicle. August 1, 1997.
  143. ^ "Musicland to rename stores". Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal. August 1, 1997.
  144. ^ Arnold, Thomas K. & Prange, Stephanie (December 8, 2000). "Best Buy Agrees to Buy Musicland Stores". Los Angeles Times.
  145. ^ Lindeman, Teresa F. (January 25, 2002). "The day the music dies: NRM workers bemoan loss of a company they loved and couldn't leave". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  146. ^ "National Record Mart Inc". The Wall Street Journal. November 16, 1993. p. B4. ProQuest 398386431.
  147. ^ "National Record Mart Begins Going Out of Business Sales On November 23 At 113 Stores". Business Wire (Press release). November 21, 2001. p. 1. ProQuest 445609416.
  148. ^ Heller, Janet (May 1999). "Spinning a tale of success; The Nation's First Music Store Chain Hits New Targets; National Record Mart". Entertainment Specialty Projects. Archived from the original on January 10, 2012.
  149. ^ "SEC 10-K for March 1999". Securities and Exchange Commission. March 27, 1999.
  150. ^ a b Altaner, David (October 7, 1993). "Blockbuster To Buy 430-store Music, Video Retailer". Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015.
  151. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (October 18, 1986). "Retailing: Upbeat Mood At Record World Meet". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 42. pp. 55, 57. ProQuest 1438655720.
  152. ^ Mayfield, Geoff (October 18, 1986). "Retailing: Personal Touch Pays For Elroy's Imber". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 42. pp. 55, 57. ProQuest 1438655705.
  153. ^ "After Testing, TSS Retail Web Ups Tape Prices". Billboard. Vol. 92, no. 27. July 5, 1980. p. 8. ProQuest 1286251630.
  154. ^ Alvarez, Lizette (January 11, 2013). "Florida Record Store Goes the Way of the 8-Track". The New York Times.
  155. ^ Fitzpatrick, Eileen (July 5, 1997). "Trans World at 25". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 27. pp. 68, 70, and 74–76. ProQuest 227090586.
  156. ^ Semuels, Alana (October 7, 2006). "Tower Records to Sell Off Inventory: Liquidation specialist Great American Group, which bought the bankrupt music retailer for $134.3million, plans to close all 89 stores". Los Angeles Times.
  157. ^ "All Virgin Megastores in U.S. to close". The Hollywood Reporter. March 3, 2009.
  158. ^ Schorpp, Doug (July 18, 2011). "All Waldenbooks, Borders stores closing". Quad-City Times.
  159. ^ Zollo, Paul (2011). "Wallich's Music City and Capitol Records". Hollywood Remembered: An Oral History of Its Golden Age. Taylor Trade Publications. pp. 44–45. ISBN 9781589796034.
  160. ^ Wallichs, Glenn E. (August 2, 1952). "Looking Backwards Means Little; Next Ten Years Offer Challenges". Billboard. Vol. 64, no. 31. p. 52.
  161. ^ Sippel, Johnny (August 2, 1952). "New Pay-Off Trend Is Toward Self-Service". Billboard. Vol. 64, no. 31. pp. 48, 111.
  162. ^ "Wallichs Maps Plans to Expand Disk Outlets". Billboard. Vol. 68, no. 48. December 1, 1956. p. 15.
  163. ^ "Wallichs Will Open 7th Outlet--Eyes Move Into Southeast". Billboard. Vol. 81, no. 16. April 19, 1969. p. 6. ProQuest 1286291559.
  164. ^ Sippel, John (March 19, 1977). "Wallichs Stores File Bankruptcy: Surprise Move Follow Pioneer Chain's Reorganization". Billboard. Vol. 89, no. 11. p. 10. ProQuest 1286330119.
  165. ^ Leeds, Jeff (January 22, 2003). "Wherehouse Files for Chapter 11". Los Angeles Times.
  166. ^ "Wherehouse Music stores' parent files for bankruptcy". St. Louis Business Journal. January 21, 2003.
  167. ^ "Court OKs Purchase of Wherehouse Stores". Los Angeles Times. October 1, 2003.
  168. ^ Christman, Ed (October 11, 2003). "TransWorld Trumps Sun Capital In Its Bid For Wherehouse". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 41. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510.
  169. ^ Hill, Jim (December 25, 1998). "J.K. Gill will end operation". Oregonian. p. D1.
  170. ^ "Office Max Deal". The New York Times. March 26, 1992.
  171. ^ Jarvik, Elaine (December 9, 1999). "At All Wound Up toy store, customers play, then pay". Deseret News.
  172. ^ Goldman, Abigail (April 8, 1999). "Borders to Acquire Kiosk Operator All Wound Up". Los Angeles Times.
  173. ^ Moore, Rex (January 5, 2001). "Borders Warns, Cuts Loose Toy Division: Borders says its fourth-quarter earnings will fall about 10% below expectations, blaming soft holiday sales and lower margins caused by higher promotional spending. The company has also decided to get rid of its All Wound Up toy stores". The Motley Fool.
  174. ^ Bryant, Adam (May 8, 1992). "Child World Files for Bankruptcy". The New York Times.
  175. ^ "Melville Agrees to Buy Chain of Toy Stores". Los Angeles Times. July 5, 1990.
  176. ^ "Melville Acquires Toy Store Chain". The New York Times. July 4, 1990.
  177. ^ "Saying Goodbye to The Disney Store". August 23, 2021.
  178. ^ Bagli, Charles V. (May 15, 2015). "F. A. O. Schwarz to Close Its Doors on Fifth Avenue". The New York Times.
  179. ^ Chase, Randall (December 18, 2008). "KB Toys gets approval for store liquidations". The Washington Post.
  180. ^ "Lionel Will Liquidate, Closing Kiddie City Toy Chain". The New York Times. June 3, 1993.
  181. ^ Warner, Susan (June 2, 1993). "Lionel Going Out Of Business The Parent Of Kiddie City Stores Had Been In Bankruptcy Two Years. It Faced Tough Competition". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.
  182. ^ a b Ramirez, Anthony (June 15, 1991). "Lionel Seeks Chapter 11 Protection". The New York Times.
  183. ^ a b "Lionel's chugs toward Chapter 11 bankruptcy was no fun". Miami News. February 25, 1982. p. 11A – via Google News.[dead link]
  184. ^ Demick, Barbara (June 15, 1991). "The Parent Of Kiddie City Files Chapter 11 Petition". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.
  185. ^ a b Wood, Robert E. (November 19, 1969). "Lionel Switches From Trains to Retail Stores". Los Angeles Times. p. B18. ProQuest 156291651.
  186. ^ "Chasing Dreams And Nightmares; Zany Brainy Buying Noodle Kidoodle, Rival Toy Chain". The New York Times. April 25, 2000.
  187. ^ Pack, Todd (February 3, 2001). "Warner Signs Off On Studio Stores". Orlando Sentinel.
  188. ^ "FAO Schwarz owner to again enter Chapter 11". Chicago Tribune. December 3, 2003.
  189. ^ Sloane, Leonard (September 10, 1981). "Accountant Named To Head Korvettes". The New York Times. The last of the money-losing Korvettes discount stores was closed Dec. 24, 1980.
  190. ^ "New Discount Setup For Government Help Is Opened in Denver". Women's Wear Daily. Vol. 92, no. 114. June 12, 1956. p. 16. ProQuest 1565279631. G.E.M., Government Employees Mutual, Denver's first large discount house, carrying both hard and soft lines opened here at 5200 Smith Road. Shopping at the new firm will be restricted to city, county, State and Federal employees and military personnel.
  191. ^ Levy, Claudia (January 15, 1974). "7 Stores Of G.E.M. To Close: 1 in Richmond Also Included In Decision". The Washington Post. p. D7. ProQuest 146251088. The parent Parkview-Gem, Inc., of Kansas City, Mo., is being reorganized under a section of the Bankruptcy Act. The nationwide discount chain has incurred loses for several years, and has closed 35 stores during the past year.
  192. ^ "Supermarket, Department Store to 'Wed'". Los Angeles Times. December 29, 1960. p. B10. ProQuest 167806820.
  193. ^ Gellene, Denise (October 10, 1986). "Lucky to Close Gemco, Sell Most Stores to Dayton Hudson". Los Angeles Times.
  194. ^ Uzelac, Ellen (February 1, 1985). "Warehouse chain to open 8 PACE outlets in region". Baltimore Sun. p. 9B. ProQuest 533457248. PACE opened its first warehouse in Denver in 1983 and added five others in Atlanta, Denver, Charlotte, N.C., and Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla., last fall.
  195. ^ "PACE's Growth Strategies". Discount Merchandiser. Vol. 25, no. 1. January 1985. p. 72. ProQuest 212703217. PACE Membership Warehouse (Denver, Colorado) opened its first warehouse club in the summer of 1983, and by the end of last year, 6 PACE units had opened.
  196. ^ "K mart to Pay $322 Million for Pace Warehouse Inc". Los Angeles Times. October 17, 1989.
  197. ^ Barmash, Isadore (October 17, 1989). "K Mart to Purchase Pace Warehouse Clubs". The New York Times.
  198. ^ "Wal-mart Stores Unit to Buy 91 Pace Warehouse Locations". Deseret News. November 3, 1993.
  199. ^ Strom, Stephanie (November 3, 1993). "Wal-Mart Stores to Buy PACE Warehouse Clubs". The New York Times.
  200. ^ White, George & Kraul, Chris (June 17, 1993). "Price Co., Costco Warehouse Stores to Merge". Los Angeles Times.
  201. ^ Bryant, Adam (June 17, 1993). "Costco Set To Merge With Price". The New York Times.