Vanished Stores Only 20th‑Century Kids Still Remember

ZMG Breaking News

The video documents how once-prominent U.S. retailers expanded and ultimately closed across the late 20th and early 21st centuries, underscoring shifts in consumer behavior and competitive pressure. It surveys defunct retail chains and retail history through cases such as Ames, Builders Square, and mall-era brands like Anchor Blue, Delia's, and Dressbarn. Notable examples include Blockbuster (final corporate-owned store closed 2014), Circuit City (2009), CompUSA (2012), Tower Records (2006), Woolworth's U.S. stores (1997), Borders (2011), and Sports Authority (2016). The narrative includes quotes from Sam Walton, Holly Habeck, and Ib Reman on customer demand, online shopping, and the pandemic’s impact, alongside additional closures from KB Toys to Pier 1 Imports.

Transcript

00:00Vanish stores only 20th century kids still remember.

00:04The 20th century saw retail stores that molded American life, anchored communities, and shaped pop culture.

00:11These vanished titans offered unique experiences that children of the era still remember today.

00:16Discount retailers like Ames and Builder's Square were lifelines for middle-income families.

00:21Ames peaked at over 700 stores but closed its last 327 stores in 2002,

00:26while Builder's Square fell to Home Depot in Lowe's by the late 1990s.

00:32As Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, stated,

00:35the small stores were just destined to disappear, at least in the numbers they once existed,

00:40because the customers drive the whole thing.

00:43The mall era featured stores like Anchor Blue, Delia's, and Dress Barn,

00:47which grew to 650 stores before closing in 2019.

00:51Holly Habeck, retail industry CEO, said,

00:55The combination of these costs, alongside the changing consumer preferences towards online shopping,

01:00has made the traditional retail model untenable.

01:04Blockbuster once had over 9,000 locations but closed its final corporate-owned store in 2014.

01:11Hollywood Video filed for bankruptcy in 2010, and Family Video lasted until 2021.

01:18Circuit City peaked at over 500 stores before closing in 2009.

01:22CompuSA closed its last stores in 2012,

01:26while Crazy Eddie collapsed due to fraud and changing consumer tastes.

01:30Tower Records closed in 2006 after a debt crisis.

01:34FYE absorbed Sam Goody, while Virgin Megastores shuttered after 2009.

01:40This trend has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic,

01:43which hastened the shift towards digital shopping experiences, said Ibrima, e-commerce executive.

01:49KB Toys, once the number two toy seller, closed all stores in 2009.

01:55Kids R Us and boutique shops like Noodle Cadoodle have disappeared due to competition.

02:01Sports Authority grew to 463 stores but closed all locations in 2016.

02:07Models, founded in 1889,

02:09and Golfsmith fell due to consolidation and the Amazon effect.

02:12Iconic stores like Hudson's, Marshall Fields, and Woolworth's offered everything under one roof.

02:18Woolworth's sold off its last U.S. stores in 1997 after 118 years.

02:24Linens and things closed in 2008.

02:27Frank's Nursery and Crafts was liquidated in 2004,

02:30while Pier 1 Imports shut doors in 2020.

02:34Regional grocery leaders like Bialo and Dominic's suffered after large grocers squeezed margins.

02:39Freedman's jewelry stores filed for bankruptcy in 2008.

02:44The Limited closed stores in 2017 after failing to keep up with faster fashion cycles.

02:50Borders closed in 2011 after Amazon's growth eroded sales.

02:55Walden Books and Crown Books were squeezed out as print book sales declined.

02:59Walden Books, Borders, and Crown Books finally bowed to e-books, Amazon, and big box competition.

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