Defunct restaurant chains and retailers

[Big John]

Bump for Big Lots going out of business: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-lots-announces-going-business-195049226.html

[thenetwork]

Bump for Big Lots going out of business: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-lots-announces-going-business-195049226.html

Saw that coming miles away!

At least they know how to do it compared to others COUGHCOUGHSEARSCOUGHKMARTCOUGHCOUGH.

[Ted$8roadFan]

For Massachusetts residents of a certain age, thr Ground Round may be coming back from the the dead:

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/meet-the-mass-couple-bringing-the-ground-round-back-to-their-hometown/3555212/

[Rothman]

For Massachusetts residents of a certain age, thr Ground Round may be coming back from the the dead:

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/meet-the-mass-couple-bringing-the-ground-round-back-to-their-hometown/3555212/

Wonder what their business relationship is with the remaining locations, though.

Seems like a foolhardy idea.

[ZLoth]

Boston Market is now down to just 16 locations. The chain still had around 300 locations at the end of 2022, but 95% of those have now shut down, largely due to unpaid rent or utility bills.

[Big John]

The party's over. Party City going out of business.

[SectorZ]

Man what a rough week for retail. Party City and Big Lots, who at least filled a purpose, each bowing out within a day of each other.

[Henry]

I never shopped Big Lots at all, but at least their ads were truly memorable, especially the holiday ones.

[TheCatalyst31]

For Massachusetts residents of a certain age, thr Ground Round may be coming back from the the dead:

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/meet-the-mass-couple-bringing-the-ground-round-back-to-their-hometown/3555212/

Wonder what their business relationship is with the remaining locations, though.

Seems like a foolhardy idea.

Before all the Ground Rounds in Wisconsin closed, I visited the one in Brookfield. It reminded me of going out to eat 20+ years ago, but not in a nostalgic way so much as an "I'm glad American culinary tastes have evolved since then" way. (And this is coming from someone who often likes dying restaurant chains.) Nostalgia won't get you very far if the food is mediocre.

[GCrites]

The closest Ground Round to me is a doctor's office now. We ate there a few times when I was little and there was this peanut wedged into one of the knotholes in the wallboard. I tried and tried to get that little bastard out of there but I never could. They probably did it on purpose.

[SEWIGuy]

For Massachusetts residents of a certain age, thr Ground Round may be coming back from the the dead:

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/meet-the-mass-couple-bringing-the-ground-round-back-to-their-hometown/3555212/

Wonder what their business relationship is with the remaining locations, though.

Seems like a foolhardy idea.

Before all the Ground Rounds in Wisconsin closed, I visited the one in Brookfield. It reminded me of going out to eat 20+ years ago, but not in a nostalgic way so much as an "I'm glad American culinary tastes have evolved since then" way. (And this is coming from someone who often likes dying restaurant chains.) Nostalgia won't get you very far if the food is mediocre.

When we first met in the late 80s, my wife worked at the Tri City National Bank on Highway 100 and Bluemound. She also worked a couple nights a week at the Ground Round across the street.

About 20 years later we stopped in for a bite there, and it hadn't changed a bit. Except the food seemed markedly worse.

[LM117]

Bump for Big Lots going out of business: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-lots-announces-going-business-195049226.html

Looks like Big Lots survives to close another day.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/28/business/big-lots-new-deal/index.html

[Scott5114]

The closest Ground Round to me is a doctor's office now. We ate there a few times when I was little and there was this peanut wedged into one of the knotholes in the wallboard. I tried and tried to get that little bastard out of there but I never could. They probably did it on purpose.

I wonder if the doctor was able to get it out. Maybe he could use a scalpel and/or one of those little hammers they hit you on the knee with.

[SectorZ]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/23/investing/container-store-bankruptcy/index.html

Missed this from last week but Container Store is going Chapter 11 so it's probably on its way to defunct status soon enough.

Stock has gone from nearly $400/share to delisted and $0.20/share in 3 years ahead of the filing.

[roadman65]

Someone mentioned Ground Round. I was reading they still exist in North Dakota and one location in Ohio.

Wonder if they still have the popcorn?

[WillWeaverRVA]

The party's over. Party City going out of business.

A few Party City stores are remaining open as independent locations unaffiliated with the Party City chain.

https://www.12onyourside.com/2024/12/20/2-richmond-area-party-city-stores-remain-open/

[LM117]

Joann Fabric & Crafts just bit the dust.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/joann-shutter-800-fabric-stores-find-buyer-locations-rcna193536

[KeithE4Phx]

Lou Malnatti's, a Chicago-based pizza chain, is closing all stores in Indianapolis as well as a couple in Phoenix. 

At least in Arizona, they made serious location mistakes, notably the first one in North Central Phoenix.  It's one of the two that's closing, the other being on the border of Mesa and Gilbert.  Neither location has much of an ex-Chicagoan population, and that's what killed them.

https://www.abc15.com/entertainment/events/lou-malnatis-pizzeria-closes-two-location-in-the-valley-but-plans-to-find-more-fantastic-locations

https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/lou-malnatis-closing-central-indiana-locations-chicago-style-pizza-avon-greenwood-broad-ripple-indianapolis/531-e0efaa07-ceaf-4e69-8934-2aacd6289b66

[kphoger]

Lou Malnatti's, a Chicago-based pizza chain, is closing all stores in Indianapolis as well as a couple in Phoenix. 

At least in Arizona, they made serious location mistakes, notably the first one in North Central Phoenix.  It's one of the two that's closing, the other being on the border of Mesa and Gilbert.  Neither location has much of an ex-Chicagoan population, and that's what killed them.

I had no idea Illuminati's Lou Malnatti's had any locations outside of Chicagoland to begin with.  :shrug:

[WillWeaverRVA]

Bump for Big Lots going out of business: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-lots-announces-going-business-195049226.html

Looks like Big Lots survives to close another day.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/28/business/big-lots-new-deal/index.html

Two months later, Big Lots' website still says all stores are closing, even though the new owner put out a list of stores that are being sold (and will close) and not all stores are on it.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/14/big-lots-stores-closing-bankruptcy/78546370007/

The nearest store to me is still well into its liquidation sale despite not being on that list.

[SectorZ]

Bump for Big Lots going out of business: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-lots-announces-going-business-195049226.html

Looks like Big Lots survives to close another day.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/28/business/big-lots-new-deal/index.html

Two months later, Big Lots' website still says all stores are closing, even though the new owner put out a list of stores that are being sold (and will close) and not all stores are on it.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/02/14/big-lots-stores-closing-bankruptcy/78546370007/

The nearest store to me is still well into its liquidation sale despite not being on that list.

Per their website they will still sign you up for their rewards, which sounds perfectly normal for a company also saying they are fully closing down.

[Bobby5280]

The Big Lots store in Lawton's Cache Road Square is shutting down for good this week. They've been liquidating inventory and even store fixtures for at least the last several weeks.

[dvferyance]

Lou Malnatti's, a Chicago-based pizza chain, is closing all stores in Indianapolis as well as a couple in Phoenix. 

At least in Arizona, they made serious location mistakes, notably the first one in North Central Phoenix.  It's one of the two that's closing, the other being on the border of Mesa and Gilbert.  Neither location has much of an ex-Chicagoan population, and that's what killed them.

I had no idea Illuminati's Lou Malnatti's had any locations outside of Chicagoland to begin with.  :shrug:

Yep they have one in Brookfield WI. Which fortunately is staying open.

[Road Hog]

There is a Big Lots DC across the river in Durant that is closing. Fortunately workers can commute 25 miles to Sherman, where the jobs are.

[hbelkins]

Does anyone remember a chain called Lott's Roast Beef from the 1970s?