I spotted these Youtube clips about defunct restaurant chains and defunct retailers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXlgDgCZ_IA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBFFpG35Vzc
Target Canada and Future Shop are two noticeable stores gone from Canada. I was going to say Zellers, but apparently there are still 2 left (though it's clearly a shadow of it's former self).
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/04/13/bring-back-zellers-target-canada_n_7056128.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/04/13/bring-back-zellers-target-canada_n_7056128.html)
QuoteZellers Outlasts Target Canada: Does It Deserve A Comeback?
Posted: 04/13/2015 2:01 pm EDT Updated: 04/14/2015 8:59 am EDT
Target's last remaining Canadian stores closed on Sunday, marked by a funeral and some premature store closures that allowed the chain to disappoint its Canadian customers one last time.
But as Canadians mull over all the retail chains that have disappeared (bye bye, Future Shop, Sony Store, Mexx and so many more) it may be more heartening to look over what has survived.
And one unexpected survivor is Zellers. Yes, the long-iconic Canadian chain – the majority of whose stores were turned into Targets – lives on even as Target leaves no trace.
Granted, the chain is a shadow of its former self, down to just two locations – one in the Ottawa suburb of Bells Corners, and one in Toronto's Kipling Queensway Mall. That's down from some 350 locations at its peak in the 1990s (nearly three times as many as Target ever had in Canada).
And the two remaining Zellers locations are essentially discount outlets for The Bay and Home Outfitters, two other brands owned by Hudson's Bay Co.
Yet the symbolism of the Canadian chain's survival has spurred some people to call on HBC to "bring back Zellers," now that Target's departure has left a hole in Canada's retail landscape.
ut despite the Twitter chatter, HBC doesn't sound enthusiastic about bringing back Zellers.
"There are no plans to open additional Zellers stores," an HBC spokesperson said in a brief email.
That's understandable. As a largely "failed" retailer, Zellers has a public image problem that would be hard to overcome among those consumers who aren't calling for its return.
In fact, when Target was setting up, internal documents show it was doing everything it could not to be associated with the "depressed" Zellers stores that preceded it. (Who would have thought they would end up tarnishing their own brand so much more?)
But with Target gone and a wave of store closures and mergers reducing retail competition in Canada, it's little wonder some consumers feel they were better off in the Zellers era. It's the Canadian consumer's ultimate case of "you don't know what you've got till it's gone."
But if the organizer of the Target funeral in Toronto this past weekend is on to anything, Zellers – like Target and Future Shop – just had too much red signage for Canadians.
A blue Zellers, anyone?
K-Mart could be joining the defunct retailers list in the near future
Quote from: ftballfan on September 21, 2016, 06:47:58 PM
K-Mart could be joining the defunct retailers list in the near future
I've heard rumors of by the end of 2017
* Venture, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_Stores) a chain similar to K-Mart. There's still a fairly intact version of one of their former stores in Fairmont City, Illinois right close to I-55/I-70: Streetview (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6592832,-90.0914785,3a,40.6y,363.1h,94.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVRsf00ZROhVdctWMsU1BBg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en)
* HQ, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Quarters_Warehouse) a hardware store chain
Howard Johnson's -drops mic-
Anyone mentioned Builders Square?
Git n Go, Bowen's Restaurants
Quote from: Revive 755 on September 25, 2016, 09:56:16 PM
* HQ, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Quarters_Warehouse) a hardware store chain
I remember them, and Hechinger. I had family members who worked at the local Hechinger, which closed when they started having financial issues in the mid 90s.
Some other defunct chains I remember from childhood:
-Ames. The only Ames I ever remember going to was the shingle-roof style, in a strip mall that still to this day has the same style of roof on it even though the Ames closed a good 25 years ago. I don't remember much about it, other than it had a bell like 7-Elevens have when you enter them.
-Phar-Mor. Don't remember much.
-Bradlees. We frequented one that had terrible roof leakage and eventually closed when they left Virginia.
-Thalheimers. A Richmond-based department store chain that was bought by Hechts, which was eventually bought by Macy's.
Quote from: Takumi on September 25, 2016, 11:25:42 PM
Quote from: Revive 755 on September 25, 2016, 09:56:16 PM
* HQ, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Quarters_Warehouse) a hardware store chain
I remember them, and Hechinger. I had family members who worked at the local Hechinger, which closed when they started having financial issues in the mid 90s.
Hechinger's was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and was the dominant hardware chain in Washington and surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia.
But they proved unable to compete with Home Depot and Lowes, even though I think Hechinger's provided better service to customers, and unlike the shoddy service at nearly every Home Depot. IMO Lowes is better than Home Depot.
It also seems that everything Home Depot sells is made in Red China.
Chase Pitkin - basically a Wegmans version of Home Depot (literally - it was owned/operated by Wegmans)
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 25, 2016, 10:56:15 PM
Howard Johnson's -drops mic-
One more left: https://goo.gl/maps/y2A2ptH5jN72
Steak and Ale and Bennigans.
Its a shame that no one tried to take them over as both used to be good. Pillsbury, the original owner did a great job with them, but the company they sold them too ran them into the ground.
Quincys Steakhouse, although still alive barely in SC, was in Florida and had a nice buffet. However there are none left here and anywhere outside of the Palmetto State.
Jack In The Box, although a big chain still existed, could be considered defunct if you live on the east coast as they closed all their stores up and down the I-95 corridor back in the mid or late 70's. In fact I though they were gone up until I visited California in 88, and was amazed that they still existed as they were gone for well over a decade in my home state of the time.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 27, 2016, 07:25:16 AM
Steak and Ale and Bennigans.
Jack In The Box, although a big chain still existed, could be considered defunct if you live on the east coast as they closed all their stores up and down the I-95 corridor back in the mid or late 70's. In fact I though they were gone up until I visited California in 88, and was amazed that they still existed as they were gone for well over a decade in my home state of the time.
1. There are a few Bennigans still around, but there were all franchised locations. It's the corporate locations that are completely gone.
2. Jack In The Box, believe it or not, still exists east of the Mississippi (but not by much). They're all over St. Louis and Metro East, and exist as far as Litchfield, IL.
I miss Caldor's. The one in my town became a Walmart.
Service Merchandise and catalog showrooms: Basically Amazon in brick and mortar form.
Mr. Steak and Beefsteak Charlie's: A couple of good regional steakhouses.
KB Toys: The mall toy store was killed by Toys R Us and Walmart.
Lum's, Sambo's, Farm Shop (absorbed by Friendly's), all the stores absorbed by Macy's (G. Fox and Filene's in my parts), King's, JJ Newberry, McCrory, WT Grant's, Sage-Allen, Kenny Rogers Roasters in the US,
Anybody else remember Olson Electronics, which was one of my favorite haunts from junior high through college. Similar to Radio Shack, except that Olson always offered other name brand parts and electronics in addition to their house brand (Radio Shack didn't start offering other name brand electronics until the early 2000s, and never sold other than house brand parts).
Beefsteak Charlies was good. I was disappointed that the man who played Beefsteak Charlie was not real. It was when I was growing up I used to see his commercials and then when the first Charlie left and the second one came in, I was shocked that the first one was an actor saying he was the actual owner.
Then I grew up, but nonetheless loved eating there and especially loved the unlimited shrimp they served.
Quote from: Brandon on September 27, 2016, 10:19:47 AM
2. Jack In The Box, believe it or not, still exists east of the Mississippi (but not by much). They're all over St. Louis and Metro East, and exist as far as Litchfield, IL.
Back in the early 00's, they expanded into Greater Nashville, Upstate SC, Greater Charlotte, and the Triad. (Maybe the Triangle also) Over the past 7-8 years they closed some of their underperforming locations (pulling completely out of the Triad in the process), but they facelifted the remaining ones with their current logo and paint scheme. Furthest east location now is either Concord or Monroe, NC.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 27, 2016, 07:25:16 AM
Jack In The Box, although a big chain still existed, could be considered defunct if you live on the east coast as they closed all their stores up and down the I-95 corridor back in the mid or late 70's. In fact I though they were gone up until I visited California in 88, and was amazed that they still existed as they were gone for well over a decade in my home state of the time.
Jack in the Box was founded–and is still headquartered–in San Diego, and the company has always been a largely West Coast-oriented operation. My dad recalled going to Jack in the Box locations in Delaware and New Jersey as a teenager in the mid '60s, and he assumed the company had gone out of business.
I read that Jack's parent, Foodmaker, Inc., had planned a major eastward expansion for the '70s, but a combination of fuel shortages and declining economic conditions caused the company to abandon those plans. Perhaps the company was trying to blanket I-95 first in an attempt to get visibility for the name, but when the larger overall expansion was cancelled, the pioneer outposts were no longer needed.
Quote from: wriddle082 on September 27, 2016, 11:44:57 AM
Quote from: Brandon on September 27, 2016, 10:19:47 AM
2. Jack In The Box, believe it or not, still exists east of the Mississippi (but not by much). They're all over St. Louis and Metro East, and exist as far as Litchfield, IL.
Back in the early 00's, they expanded into Greater Nashville, Upstate SC, Greater Charlotte, and the Triad. (Maybe the Triangle also) Over the past 7-8 years they closed some of their underperforming locations (pulling completely out of the Triad in the process), but they facelifted the remaining ones with their current logo and paint scheme. Furthest east location now is either Concord or Monroe, NC.
I was about to mention that, and you beat me to it. They've also opened locations in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. I was also going to add, though, that I think all of the stores east of metro St. Louis are in entirely new territory for Jack–i.e., not locations that were part of the company's eastward expansion in the '60s that have hung around since then.
In the early 70s as a kid, I remember there was a Jack in the Box on Route 28 in Salem NH. We only ate there once, as my parents decided the A&W just down the street was much better.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 27, 2016, 07:25:16 AM
Quincys Steakhouse, although still alive barely in SC, was in Florida and had a nice buffet. However there are none left here and anywhere outside of the Palmetto State.
In addition to the Florence SC location there is still one in Monroe NC. But that is all that's left...
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 27, 2016, 10:55:33 AMSambo's
My family ate there a few times in my youth. I can't imagine, in today's politically correct society, that Sambo's would have been allowed to survive.
Quote from: hbelkins on September 27, 2016, 03:05:38 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 27, 2016, 10:55:33 AMSambo's
My family ate there a few times in my youth. I can't imagine, in today's politically correct society, that Sambo's would have been allowed to survive.
Sambo was actually the founder's name and that alone should've been alright. However, they did have references to the racially offensive character of the same name in their restaurants...
Quote from: vdeane on September 26, 2016, 01:20:12 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 25, 2016, 10:56:15 PM
Howard Johnson's -drops mic-
One more left: https://goo.gl/maps/y2A2ptH5jN72
There are a lot of them left. Almost 400 as of last year.
Quote
Jack in the Box
These exist in 21 states.
Quote from: kphoger on September 27, 2016, 03:14:12 PM
Quote from: vdeane on September 26, 2016, 01:20:12 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 25, 2016, 10:56:15 PM
Howard Johnson's -drops mic-
One more left: https://goo.gl/maps/y2A2ptH5jN72
There are a lot of them left. Almost 400 as of last year.
I assume it was the restaurant chain that was being referenced. You could claim that there's one left, but since the ragtag company that franchised the remaining restaurants winked out a decade ago (along with the suppliers of Howard Johnson's food products), the hanger-on in Lake George is basically an independent diner that hasn't bothered to take down its sign. (An overpriced, "you can screw 'em once" tourist trap I understand at that.)
As to the hotels–yes, someone (Wyndham) owns the "Howard Johnson" trademark for lodging establishments, and for a bargain price, you, too can get a "Howard Johnson" sign to hang in front of your failed fleabag motel. But there's absolutely no consistency between the locations, it's barely connected to any remnants of the Howard Johnson company, and it's little more than a zombie brand (like Zenith).
Quote from: kphoger on September 27, 2016, 03:14:12 PM
Quote from: vdeane on September 26, 2016, 01:20:12 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 25, 2016, 10:56:15 PM
Howard Johnson's -drops mic-
One more left: https://goo.gl/maps/y2A2ptH5jN72
There are a lot of them left. Almost 400 as of last year.
What? Maybe the hotels, but there's only one restaurant left, and they were distinctly discussing the restaurants.
Ah. Forgot there used to be a restaurant chain by the same name.
I guess hotels don't really count as retailers, do they?
There's also,
Chi-Chi's
Bill Knapp's
Bresser's 33 Flavors (ice cream)
Quote from: Brandon on September 27, 2016, 03:50:07 PM
Bill Knapp's
Whoa, that freaked me out. I'd never heard of the chain before, but my wife's grandfather was named Bill Knapp. He died a few years ago.
Quote from: Brandon on September 27, 2016, 03:50:07 PM
Chi-Chi's
I have fond memories of eating at Chi-Chi's when I was a kid. And finding caterpillars outside while waiting for our table. Apparently, there are still Chi-Chi's restaurants in six countries.
2 Places I worked as a teen/young adult are consigned to the dustbin of history:
Handy Andy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handy_Andy_Home_Improvement_Center
Dominick's: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominick%27s
The Handy Andy I worked at in Hanover Park, IL was a big one, we had everything. I started out in the paint department and ended up in the hardware section before that summer was over (1985).
The Dominick's I worked at was originally a Kohl's supermarket so we had that distinctive Kohl's arched roof design. The store was at the corner of Roselle Rd and Weathersfield Way in Schaumburg, Il. It closed and was torn down not long after I left the area, the store, actually the whole strip mall it was in was sinking into the ground.
I still keep in contact with a few people that I worked with there 30 years ago.
Bloom: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom_(store) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom_(store))
They had stores in the Northeast, and I remember going to one in Maryland as part of a bit of shopping. They had mini-tablets meant to help you buy and ID things and was an early experiment at that kind of technology.
What ever happened to the original Lums Restaurant? I remember them as a kid all over Central Florida. I did hear something that they left one or two in the Boca Raton Area, but it might be a new owner or one trying to resemble the old concept.
Then we have Sambos that resembled today's Dennys. Of course typical social issues got that restaurant to close. They were all over Florida and pretty good diner style food as I remember.
Arthur Treachers. Miami Subs tried to bring them back, but folded.
Bojangles? I know they closed em all here in Orlando, but I have no idea if the overall chain is still operating stores in other markets.
Wataburger here in Orlando. I was told by a patron in the Winghouse Bar I hang out in that they only made money operating at one Orlando location so it was not even feasible to keep the only one gold mine open and closed all of this area's location. That may have merit as Wawa only starting featuring Pretzels until after a certain amount of stores opened in Orlando due to the making verses delivering costs did not warrant it for the first ten stores or so.
The Ground Round in NJ. They took over some of the former Howard Johnson Restaurants and were big in the mid 80's for a small regional chain. When I left in 1990 they had only a couple left and I think in 1993, during a visit to NJ, I saw only one then.
As of a few months ago there was a Bojangle's in the Charlottesville area. Don't know whether anything has changed since then.
There was a regional chain called Chesapeake Bay Seafood House in Northern VA and Southeast PA. Apparently in 2009 there was only one left in the Potomac Mills shopping center area, and the manager confirmed that they closed em all but kept theirs.
Of course that was 7 years ago, and a lot can happen even in a few weeks. :sombrero:
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
Arthur Treachers. Miami Subs tried to bring them back, but folded.
They exist, but just in a dozen or so locations.
Quote
Bojangles? I know they closed em all here in Orlando, but I have no idea if the overall chain is still operating stores in other markets.
Must not have been the right market for them. They have over 600 restaurants, and they are accessible from seemingly every other exit on 95 between Florida and Virginia. (Per their website, there are 4 in Florida) They also sponsor a NASCAR race in NC as well.
QuoteThe Ground Round in NJ. They took over some of the former Howard Johnson Restaurants and were big in the mid 80's for a small regional chain. When I left in 1990 they had only a couple left and I think in 1993, during a visit to NJ, I saw only one then.
Some former franchisees have brought the chain back to life. They have locations scattered about from the Northeast to the Central regions of the US. Not all of these revamped locations have been successful, as some have closed down.
The Ground Rounds I've been aware of (in Hadley, MA a long time ago and Schenectady, NY more recently), have all closed. The one in Schenectady has sat vacant with a for sale sign for years.
Gino's hamburger joints (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gino%27s_Hamburgers); although such was resurrected circa 2010 but only 2 stores in MD (Towson & Glen Burnie) remain. The King of Prussia, PA location closed on July 9, 2013.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
What ever happened to the original Lums Restaurant? I remember them as a kid all over Central Florida. I did hear something that they left one or two in the Boca Raton Area, but it might be a new owner or one trying to resemble the old concept.
Then we have Sambos that resembled today's Dennys. Of course typical social issues got that restaurant to close. They were all over Florida and pretty good diner style food as I remember.
Arthur Treachers. Miami Subs tried to bring them back, but folded.
Bojangles? I know they closed em all here in Orlando, but I have no idea if the overall chain is still operating stores in other markets.
Wataburger here in Orlando. I was told by a patron in the Winghouse Bar I hang out in that they only made money operating at one Orlando location so it was not even feasible to keep the only one gold mine open and closed all of this area's location. That may have merit as Wawa only starting featuring Pretzels until after a certain amount of stores opened in Orlando due to the making verses delivering costs did not warrant it for the first ten stores or so.
The Ground Round in NJ. They took over some of the former Howard Johnson Restaurants and were big in the mid 80's for a small regional chain. When I left in 1990 they had only a couple left and I think in 1993, during a visit to NJ, I saw only one then.
Bojangles franchisor for Orlando didn't do well from what I understand.. several Jacksonville locations remain.
Fazolis had that happen.. individual locations in Jax did well but the franchisor did not do well with other business ventures and folded
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 28, 2016, 01:20:07 PM
Gino's hamburger joints (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gino%27s_Hamburgers); although such was resurrected circa 2010 but only 2 stores in MD (Towson & Glen Burnie) remain. The King of Prussia, PA location closed on July 9, 2013.
I always remembered them and their jingle "Gino's gives you freedom of choice, Gino's gives your freedom of choice, come on everybody lets rejoice as Gino's gives you freedom of choice" plus in NJ as well as MD and PA, they were the retailers for KFC back in the 70's as we used to go to the Clark, NJ Ginos for a bucket of chicken my mom would say.
Quote from: Rothman on September 28, 2016, 01:11:32 PM
The Ground Rounds I've been aware of (in Hadley, MA a long time ago and Schenectady, NY more recently), have all closed. The one in Schenectady has sat vacant with a for sale sign for years.
There's a fair number of open ones, such as Grand Forks, ND.
Ground Round started as a new dining concept by Howard Johnson's, and outlived the parent company.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 01:43:13 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 28, 2016, 01:20:07 PM
Gino's hamburger joints (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gino%27s_Hamburgers); although such was resurrected circa 2010 but only 2 stores in MD (Towson & Glen Burnie) remain. The King of Prussia, PA location closed on July 9, 2013.
I always remembered them and their jingle "Gino's gives you freedom of choice, Gino's gives your freedom of choice, come on everybody lets rejoice as Gino's gives you freedom of choice" plus in NJ as well as MD and PA, they were the retailers for KFC back in the 70's as we used to go to the Clark, NJ Ginos for a bucket of chicken my mom would say.
Gino's was in eastern Massachusetts as well during the 70s. Like
Jack-in-the-Box,
Gino's disappeared from the Bay State during the mid-70s.
DEB. It was a clothing store brand that later closed just last year. I did spot some locations but never found any. They're now an online business.
Kids R Us. One location that I used to visit was the New York location in Times Square. I loved it just because it had a train set. I believe it was still open when I last visited New York, in 2015.
Circuit City. I visited the Hagerstown, Maryland location quite a bit to buy some of the electronics that I have. I think I bought two Nintendo DS' there.
CompUSA. I don't ever recall visiting this, but I believe this is where we got our second desktop in 2003, prior to me being born. I assume they had a store in Fayetteville NC, as we visited Fayetteville quite often.
Blockbuster Video. MAN THAT PLACE I LOVED. We went to our local Blockbuster, which was in Chambersburg. I bought a crap ton of games for the Nintendo DS there, while my dad bought DVDs there. It closed sometime in 2011.
Borders. My dad bought a lot of books there for his large library. I loved it because I could read books and buy food (this was the Hagerstown, MD location - they had a cafe attached to it).
Quote from: Brandon on September 28, 2016, 01:49:09 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 28, 2016, 01:11:32 PM
The Ground Rounds I've been aware of (in Hadley, MA a long time ago and Schenectady, NY more recently), have all closed. The one in Schenectady has sat vacant with a for sale sign for years.
There's a fair number of open ones, such as Grand Forks, ND.
Ground Round started as a new dining concept by Howard Johnson's, and outlived the parent company.
The ones in CT are long gone. The one in Plainville, CT was torn down and a Walgreens built on site. The one in Rocky Hill is now part of the local chain Wood n Tap. Looks like Arthur Treacher's only exists on Long Island and in northeast Ohio. About 12 years ago, it seems Quizno's were popping up all around here. Now there's 2 left in the state (Hartford and Orange). Quizno's and Krispy Kreme were failed attempts of companies from outside the region trying to infringe on the home turf of Subway and Dunkin. And all the Ponderosas, Bonanzas, and Bennigans are gone. Surprisingly, Golden Corral hasn't really hasn't made inroads to replace the steakhouse/buffet niche in these parts; their only New England location is in Springfield, MA.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 28, 2016, 04:25:28 PM
Quote from: Brandon on September 28, 2016, 01:49:09 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 28, 2016, 01:11:32 PM
The Ground Rounds I've been aware of (in Hadley, MA a long time ago and Schenectady, NY more recently), have all closed. The one in Schenectady has sat vacant with a for sale sign for years.
There's a fair number of open ones, such as Grand Forks, ND.
Ground Round started as a new dining concept by Howard Johnson's, and outlived the parent company.
The ones in CT are long gone. The one in Plainville, CT was torn down and a Walgreens built on site. The one in Rocky Hill is now part of the local chain Wood n Tap. Looks like Arthur Treacher's only exists on Long Island and in northeast Ohio. About 12 years ago, it seems Quizno's were popping up all around here. Now there's 2 left in the state (Hartford and Orange). Quizno's and Krispy Kreme were failed attempts of companies from outside the region trying to infringe on the home turf of Subway and Dunkin. And all the Ponderosas, Bonanzas, and Bennigans are gone. Surprisingly, Golden Corral hasn't really hasn't made inroads to replace the steakhouse/buffet niche in these parts; their only New England location is in Springfield, MA.
Quizno's failed down here too. The Hagerstown MD locations folded after a short six years, and Golden Corral has one location that I know of, also in Hagerstown. Went to both, both were bad. Quizno's got replaced by a mom and pop pizza shop.
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 28, 2016, 03:57:27 PM
Kids R Us. One location that I used to visit was the New York location in Times Square. I loved it just because it had a train set. I believe it was still open when I last visited New York, in 2015.
Kids R Us basically got folded back into Toys R Us and Babies R Us. Back in the early 1980s, Toys R Us used to have a clothing section for kids and infants. These were later split off into their own store, Kids R Us. The concept last quite a while, but the older kids clothing is back at TRU while the successor store for KRU is BRU, but without the older kids' stuff.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 28, 2016, 04:25:28 PM
Quote from: Brandon on September 28, 2016, 01:49:09 PM
Quote from: Rothman on September 28, 2016, 01:11:32 PM
The Ground Rounds I've been aware of (in Hadley, MA a long time ago and Schenectady, NY more recently), have all closed. The one in Schenectady has sat vacant with a for sale sign for years.
There's a fair number of open ones, such as Grand Forks, ND.
Ground Round started as a new dining concept by Howard Johnson's, and outlived the parent company.
The ones in CT are long gone. The one in Plainville, CT was torn down and a Walgreens built on site. The one in Rocky Hill is now part of the local chain Wood n Tap. Looks like Arthur Treacher's only exists on Long Island and in northeast Ohio. About 12 years ago, it seems Quizno's were popping up all around here. Now there's 2 left in the state (Hartford and Orange). Quizno's and Krispy Kreme were failed attempts of companies from outside the region trying to infringe on the home turf of Subway and Dunkin. And all the Ponderosas, Bonanzas, and Bennigans are gone. Surprisingly, Golden Corral hasn't really hasn't made inroads to replace the steakhouse/buffet niche in these parts; their only New England location is in Springfield, MA.
I honestly don't get why anyone would prefer Dunkin to Krispy Kreme. Of course, that might be because I was in elementary school in the height of the Krispy Kreme boom. I honestly don't remember Dunkin being that popular when I was growing up; nobody in their right mind would have dared brought Dunkin donuts to a kid's birthday party at school, but just about everyone brought Krispy Kreme!
Quote from: Brandon on September 28, 2016, 05:36:18 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 28, 2016, 03:57:27 PM
Kids R Us. One location that I used to visit was the New York location in Times Square. I loved it just because it had a train set. I believe it was still open when I last visited New York, in 2015.
Kids R Us basically got folded back into Toys R Us and Babies R Us. Back in the early 1980s, Toys R Us used to have a clothing section for kids and infants. These were later split off into their own store, Kids R Us. The concept last quite a while, but the older kids clothing is back at TRU while the successor store for KRU is BRU, but without the older kids' stuff.
Yes, I believe that after KRU that some former KRU's became TRU and BRU. Case in point: the Hagerstown MD location is a TRU and BRU, but was just a TRU and once a KRU for a brief time until the shift to BRU.
Pizza Hut if defunct in Houma, LA. I was there visiting a friend three times and saw the abandoned buildings (remember Pizza Hut had the same style buildings at first) at various locations througout the city. Locals there said locals were not into Pizza as much as Cajun food.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 08:00:29 PM
Pizza Hut if defunct in Houma, LA. I was there visiting a friend three times and saw the abandoned buildings (remember Pizza Hut had the same style buildings at first) at various locations througout the city. Locals there said locals were not into Pizza as much as Cajun food.
Pizza Hut is more popular in the Northeast. I have at least two in my town.
Sam's Club Canada died...
One of the last Arthur Treacher's in my area was in Lancaster OH. It was a biker bar-b-q for a while and now is being turned into Chipotle's first location of their expansion into burgers, Tasty Made.
A&N, a clothing store that was always interesting.
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 28, 2016, 04:28:39 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 28, 2016, 04:25:28 PM
bout 12 years ago, it seems Quizno's were popping up all around here. Now there's 2 left in the state (Hartford and Orange). Quizno's and Krispy Kreme were failed attempts of companies from outside the region trying to infringe on the home turf of Subway and Dunkin.
Quizno's failed down here too.
I don't think it's fair to say that Quiznos failed in any specific metro area or geographic market. Where Quiznos failed has little to do with the quality of the sandwiches or the company's inability to compete with established sandwich shops; it's more a matter of the parent company's twisted and parasitic relationship with its franchisees. Just search something like "quiznos franchisee lawsuit" to see a number of eye-opening results–including the story of Quiznos franchisee who committed suicide in a Quiznos store while it was open...because, he claimed in his suicide note, the parent company had destroyed him financially and ruined his life.
Basically, the parent company saw that it could make money from franchising successful sandwich shops... OR it could make
even more money by selling an expensive franchise agreement to a gullible franchisee, force him to buy his supplies at ridiculous markups to the point it would be impossible to make a profit. Then as soon as that sucker went bankrupt, sell a new expensive franchise agreement to the next one. And the next...
Quote from: vdeane on September 28, 2016, 05:48:30 PM
I honestly don't get why anyone would prefer Dunkin to Krispy Kreme.
Most of the Dunkin locations I've visited outside of my hometown are poorly run (stale, deflated donuts; indifferent staff), but the rare well made Dunkin Donut is perfection, as far as I'm concerned. Krispy Kreme
doughnuts have a unique and distinct flavor and texture, but I've never really liked that they're so moistly sticky you need to wipe your hands instantly after touching one and so soft they turn into doughy sugary gloop the moment you take a bite.
But beyond your preference for
doughnuts or donuts, there are a number of reasons one might prefer Dunkin. They have long claimed to have superior coffee, an assertion a number of customers seem to agree with. A non "express" Dunkin typically has many more types of donuts than Krispy Kreme, as well as eclairs, coffee rolls, muffins, bagels, breakfast sandwiches and other items.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
Arthur Treachers. Miami Subs tried to bring them back, but folded.
Not quite... Arthur Treacher's was purchased by Nathan's Famous, which also separately purchased Miami Subs and Kenny Rogers Roasters. In recent years, I've only seen Arthur Treacher's co-branded at a shared counter with Nathan's, and only in a concessionaire-type environment (like a food court or service plaza). I wonder whether any standalone locations (with the distinct lantern-shaped signs (http://media.pennlive.com/food/photo/arthur-treachers-6a289738169e7b77.jpg)) still exist anywhere.
I visited one on the NJ Turnpike a few months ago: The receipt said "Nathan's" and my food came in Nathan's cartons and bags. I got hushpuppies and generic french fries (chips) that could have come from any unbranded food court stand. I'm not sure that the Arthur Treacher's trademark means anything anymore.
The last standalone Arthur Treacher's I saw was in Fairfax, Virginia, on US-29. It closed and was demolished within the last four years or so.
Quote from: briantroutman on September 29, 2016, 03:08:27 AM
I visited one on the NJ Turnpike a few months ago: The receipt said “Nathan’s” and my food came in Nathan’s cartons and bags. I got hushpuppies and generic french fries (chips) that could have come from any unbranded food court stand. I’m not sure that the Arthur Treacher’s trademark means anything anymore.
I felt the same way about Roy Rogers when their only locations were on Turnpikes. Just about any burger patty can be slapped on any roll.
We ate at the very last Kenny Rogers Roasters in Ontario, CA before it permanently closed
https://goo.gl/photos/VFeTBh4LetSthCDK9
The last Arthur Treacher's I saw was at the Venetian food court in Vegas. It was co-branded with Nathan's, but IIRC the last time we went in 2014 it was exclusively a Nathan's location and they had dropped Arthur Treacher's.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 29, 2016, 08:40:38 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on September 29, 2016, 03:08:27 AM
I visited one on the NJ Turnpike a few months ago: The receipt said “Nathan’s” and my food came in Nathan’s cartons and bags. I got hushpuppies and generic french fries (chips) that could have come from any unbranded food court stand. I’m not sure that the Arthur Treacher’s trademark means anything anymore.
I felt the same way about Roy Rogers when their only locations were on Turnpikes. Just about any burger patty can be slapped on any roll.
Roy's never shrank far enough to be always on turnpikes.
The last Roy Rogers in New England was off of Exit 1 of I-84 in Sturbridge, MA. A Manchester, CT location near I-84 became an Indian restaurant. I believe the building is now gone. They used to have others along the northbound Berlin Turnpike (US 5/CT 15) in Newington, CT (Arby's since 2007) and on US Route 5 in North Haven, CT, off Exit 12 of I-91 (also now Arby's).
At least as far as the Pacific Northwest is concerned:
- Farrell's Ice Cream
- Rax
- T.G.I. Friday's
- Mervyn's / Mervyn's California (remember when Joe Montana did a commercial with them?)
- Meyer & Frank
- Circuit City
- Boston Market
- Quizno's
- Tony Roma's
- K-B Toys
- Haggen
- Skipper's
- Arby's seems to be vanishing more and more
Ones that
aren't defunct in the Pacific Northwest:
- Schlotzky's
- Blockbuster (http://www.bendbulletin.com/business/3095417-151/bend-blockbusters-among-last-in-country) (apparently there are 34 left in the country)
- ShopKo
I'm amazed Schlotzky's is still around.
Quote from: briantroutman on September 29, 2016, 03:08:27 AM
Most of the Dunkin locations I've visited outside of my hometown are poorly run (stale, deflated donuts; indifferent staff), but the rare well made Dunkin Donut is perfection, as far as I'm concerned. Krispy Kreme doughnuts have a unique and distinct flavor and texture, but I've never really liked that they're so moistly sticky you need to wipe your hands instantly after touching one and so soft they turn into doughy sugary gloop the moment you take a bite.
But beyond your preference for doughnuts or donuts, there are a number of reasons one might prefer Dunkin. They have long claimed to have superior coffee, an assertion a number of customers seem to agree with. A non "express" Dunkin typically has many more types of donuts than Krispy Kreme, as well as eclairs, coffee rolls, muffins, bagels, breakfast sandwiches and other items.
Guess I'm just not the type to go to somewhere like Dunkin for things like coffee (actually, I don't drink coffee anyways) or breakfast (which, on the rare occassion I have a fast food breakfast (usually while traveling), is probably Subway or McDonalds (or, in the local area, Stewarts) anyways). And I think I got used to holding Krispy Kreme (also Wegmans, incidentally; I think they borrowed the formula) donuts with a napkin.
There was a Farrell's in my nearby mall in NJ when I was growing up. I never realized there was more than 1 until I was older and they were long gone.
KB was a victim of Walmart and other bigboxes. Well, at least that was the common excuse. Having small stores in malls with crowded aisles where you could only handle one or two things at a time without a shopping cart probably didn't work in their favor either.
Circuit City...well...they ran a tutorial on how not to save money by axing your staff and replacing them with part timers that don't know or care about the products. I think they were supposed to come back as an internet-only company...never really heard much about that though.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on September 29, 2016, 02:05:31 PM
KB was a victim of Walmart and other bigboxes. Well, at least that was the common excuse. Having small stores in malls with crowded aisles where you could only handle one or two things at a time without a shopping cart probably didn't work in their favor either.
There was talk during the 2012 election that Mitt Romney and Bain Capital was responsible for K-B Toys' demise (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2012/jul/17/fact-checking-attacks-about-bain-romney/). However, like the link says, Romney wasn't a part of Bain at the time, and K-B was supposedly already in trouble. I can attest to that last one -- I never bought anything at K-B as a 90's kid unless I was on vacation and stuck at an outlet mall because it was at least $2 more expensive than even Toys 'Я' Us was, with a crappier selection. It was only good for Nickelodeon's Super Toy Run or gift certificates for winning various Nick shows like Figure It Out.
One for the New England area: Brigham's Ice Cream Restaurants, which was once a rival to Friendly's.
Huh. Makes me wonder about Carvel. I think I saw an old store of theirs recently, but I'm sure their business has shifted to just distributing cakes to supermarkets.
Arby's is still here. Roy Rogers is down in Hagerstown. TGI Friday's is still here. I'd say that I'm lucky that they haven't closed my branch of all the defunct fast food chains.
I have no idea why Blockbuster didn't decide to go for online shopping and rental. They would still be here to this day.
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 29, 2016, 03:27:48 PM
I have no idea why Blockbuster didn't decide to go for online shopping and rental. They would still be here to this day.
Netflix approached them to buy/invest in their business and were turned down. It's their own damn fault.
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 28, 2016, 08:04:32 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 08:00:29 PM
Pizza Hut if defunct in Houma, LA. I was there visiting a friend three times and saw the abandoned buildings (remember Pizza Hut had the same style buildings at first) at various locations througout the city. Locals there said locals were not into Pizza as much as Cajun food.
Pizza Hut is more popular in the Northeast. I have at least two in my town.
Pizza Hut is all over California and Arizona, too.
I don't know if somebody mentioned Sports Authority yet, but they closed down recently, as well as another sporting goods store chain called Sport Chalet. The latter was a west-coast chain. For many years, the flagship store in La Canada Flintridge, California was the only one; it was on Foothill Boulevard just east of Angeles Crest Highway for as far back as I can remember. Just a few years ago, the original store had been replaced by a new one as well as a bunch of other shops in a new mall that somehow manages to cram a hundred acres of stores, Sport Chalet offices (as opposed to the store), parking, including an ugly concrete parking structure (in La Canada Flintridge?) and restaurants into about a forty-acre lot, or something of that nature. Kind of the architectural equivalent of somehow jamming a basketball into a golf hole. :-D
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 29, 2016, 03:25:44 PM
One for the New England area: Brigham's Ice Cream Restaurants, which was once a rival to Friendly's.
Although all the restaurants have closed, you can still get Brigham's ice cream in certain supermarkets and convenience stores, at least in the Boston area. It's reportedly made by the same production plants that make the Friendly's ice cream you see in stores.
I seem to recall LUM'S in Florida that may have been elsewhere as well. I didn't know that there were more Ferrell's around either.
Quote from: roadman on September 29, 2016, 04:34:35 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 29, 2016, 03:25:44 PM
One for the New England area: Brigham's Ice Cream Restaurants, which was once a rival to Friendly's.
Although all the restaurants have closed, you can still get Brigham's ice cream in certain supermarkets and convenience stores, at least in the Boston area. It's reportedly made by the same production plants that make the Friendly's ice cream you see in stores.
I believe that Brigham's Ice Cream is now owned by Hood but still sold & marketed as a separate brand. Friendly's Ice Cream is now owned by Dean Foods.
Wiki Link (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigham%27s_Ice_Cream)
Quote from: WikiHood, identified as BIC Acquisitions, LLC, continues to market Brigham's ice cream in stores and owns the trademarks and official website.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on September 29, 2016, 04:39:13 PM
I seem to recall LUM'S in Florida that may have been elsewhere as well. I didn't know that there were more Ferrell's around either.
Lums existed in eastern Massachusetts as well. The
Uno's Chicago Grille along Endicott St. in Danvers, MA was originally a
Lums back in the mid-70s.
Its funny that they were the one's that put Hermans out of business and now they crashed. I guess Academy and the overpriced Dicks gave them way too much competition.
Pizza Hut killed themselves with their own delivery only stores and the fact you can get one at home instead of dining out. In Orlando they scaled back as in the 90's they were opening up sit down stores like wildflowers, yet toward the end of the century and into the 2000's they closed many stores with most of the remaining ones to be the carry out locations.
New Jersey did not get em until the mid 1980's (well in north central Jersey anyway) and toward a later date (either in the late 80's or early 90's) some closed like the Iselin store on Oaktree Road that became an Indian Restaurant. I even think the Cranford Store (not far from Clark where I grew up) was later closed. If not that one it was one near Clark that did not survive anyway.
I understand that Pathmark and A & P closed for good as both were even struggling 30 years ago. When Rickel closed (that was also a sister store of Pathmark) I only knew that they would be closing eventually. However I must admit that Pathmark did hold on as long as they did as they closed many stores and the ones that remained were the Super Centers called Super Pathmarks.
While on the subject of Rickel also Channel Lumber closed after dominating New Jersey for several years.
Then in Electronics you had the Wiz, Crazy Eddie, and Trader Horn in the Northeast around NYC that all are a distant memory. I am relieved that PC Richard is still in the game, most likely cause they did not try to reach every US market like Circuit City did. Their website says they have 67 locations mostly in NJ with some in Southeast PA and NYC, but non outside the NJ market too far.
Edit: Tops Appliance City who started out in Edison on NJ 27 was very good. My uncle worked for them and my dad got very good deals on refrigerators and his first VCR and a TV as well. He even opened a second store in Brooklyn near Coney Island off the Belt Parkway as his Edison Store did very well. I believe he opened a third and maybe a fourth store as well, but when my uncle lost his job it was because they went belly up as the company took a bad turn. However, the owners were the fitst to break through the censorship barrier by calling out their competitors as "Dirtbags" that was an unheard word on radio in the 80's.
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 29, 2016, 04:48:10 PM
Lums existed in eastern Massachusetts as well. The Uno's Chicago Grille along Endicott St. in Danvers, MA was originally a Lums back in the mid-70s.
Used to eat there regularly when accompanying my mother on shopping trips to the Liberty Tree Mall, which brings up two more defunct regional retailers -
Ann and Hope. and
Lechmere Sales, which were the mall's original anchor stores when it opened in 1968.
IIRC,
Lums' big marketing ploy was that they steamed their hot dogs in beer. When the one on Endicott Street first opened, I remember that they gave away plastic Snoopy look-alike toys (with the purchase of a meal) as a promotion.
Pizza Hut killed themselves? Then who showed up on my doorstep with a pizza last week? Creepy times, man...
Quote from: hm insulators on September 29, 2016, 04:18:26 PM
I don't know if somebody mentioned Sports Authority yet, but they closed down recently, as well as another sporting goods store chain called Sport Chalet. The latter was a west-coast chain. For many years, the flagship store in La Canada Flintridge, California was the only one; it was on Foothill Boulevard just east of Angeles Crest Highway for as far back as I can remember. Just a few years ago, the original store had been replaced by a new one as well as a bunch of other shops in a new mall that somehow manages to cram a hundred acres of stores, Sport Chalet offices (as opposed to the store), parking, including an ugly concrete parking structure (in La Canada Flintridge?) and restaurants into about a forty-acre lot, or something of that nature. Kind of the architectural equivalent of somehow jamming a basketball into a golf hole. :-D
You just reminded me of another PNW store, GI Joe's, that got taken over by Dick's Sporting Goods a decade or so ago.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on September 29, 2016, 04:39:13 PM
I seem to recall LUM'S in Florida that may have been elsewhere as well. I didn't know that there were more Ferrell's around either.
There were several Lum's in the Detroit area, along with at least one Farrell's.
Quote from: catch22 on September 29, 2016, 05:57:14 PM
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on September 29, 2016, 04:39:13 PM
I seem to recall LUM'S in Florida that may have been elsewhere as well. I didn't know that there were more Ferrell's around either.
There were several Lum's in the Detroit area, along with at least one Farrell's.
Now I remember, when we came back from Bar Harbor we got off I-95 in Portsmouth, NH we ate at one that was on BYPASS US 1 north of the Portsmouth Circle. So yes, we did encounter them elsewhere besides Florida.
Farrells, if you are referring to the Ice Cream place, there was one in East Brunswick, NJ on NJ 18 inside the Brunswick Square Mall. This was years ago probably before most of you were born, but it was the only one I knew of at the time.
Quote from: catch22 on September 29, 2016, 05:57:14 PMThere were several Lum's in the Detroit area, along with at least one Farrell's.
I recall there being at least one Lum's in Toledo, but there may have been more.
There was a Farrell's in one of the malls.
Anyone remember Uncle Bob's Fried Chicken?
In New Jersey does anyone remember Jr's?
How about Wesson?
Burger Chef?
Carols?
Quote from: roadman65 on September 30, 2016, 12:09:52 AM
Burger Chef?
I've read that CKE (the Carl's Jr. company), which owns Burger Chef's various trademarks through Hardee's, occasionally sells limited time burgers under the Big Shef and Super Shef names just to fulfill the "use in commerce" requirement to keep the trademarks active. Has anyone noticed whether this is still happening regularly?
I remember Burger Chef, Lum's, and Farrell's all having multiple locations in Northern Virginia, though I don't remember ever going to any of them. I know some kids talked about Farrell's as a place for birthday parties, but we never went there.
Quote from: roadman on September 29, 2016, 05:09:23 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 29, 2016, 04:48:10 PM
Lums existed in eastern Massachusetts as well. The Uno's Chicago Grille along Endicott St. in Danvers, MA was originally a Lums back in the mid-70s.
Used to eat there regularly when accompanying my mother on shopping trips to the Liberty Tree Mall, which brings up two more defunct regional retailers - Ann and Hope. and Lechmere Sales, which were the mall's original anchor stores when it opened in 1968.
Speaking of the Endicott St. corridor; here's two other defunct businesses that were situated across the street from the mall:
York Steak House (later called
York's when they expanded their menu beyond steaks), which was located next to the
Burger King (the building was torn down and a smaller
McDonalds is now there), and
Child World (the building now houses a
Bed, Bath and Beyond).
That particular
Child World building was built circa 1979-1980; I remember seeing the building being under construction after having dinner (w/family) at York's back then. Needless to say all
Child Worlds fell prey to the onslaught of
Toys-R-Us' that started springing up during the 80s.
York Steak House was unique (to me at the time) was because one would line up for their order(s) and move along and pick up their side items, drinks & desserts (the latter was the first thing one encountered after ordering their main course which probably ticked off just about every parent; I loved their parfaits), and then they would pick up their main entrée. After paying at the register, one would take their tray and select a table. Throughout the dining area; there were several
NO TIPPING signs posted.
While this serving style is common for a fast food joint located in a turnpike service plaza; this was the first time I saw such done for a more traditional restaurant-fare.
Quote from: roadman on September 29, 2016, 05:09:23 PMIIRC, Lums' big marketing ploy was that they steamed their hot dogs in beer. When the one on Endicott Street first opened, I remember that they gave away plastic Snoopy look-alike toys (with the purchase of a meal) as a promotion.
I remember when
Lums used to give a pack of various stickers to kids. One of the stickers was shaped like a pencil that read
SCHOOL IS YECCCHHH! and another was capsule shaped that read
LUMS IS FUN with a smiley face at each end. IIRC, one old night stand I have still has one or two of those stickers on them.
Are there any Dillons stores left in Kansas?
Gibson's (later known as Howards)
Consumer's Grocery
Lums (also known in some areas as Abners)
Woolworth/Woolco
Hasings is on their way out
Quote from: Takumi on September 28, 2016, 11:45:29 PM
A&N, a clothing store that was always interesting.
I have fond memories of that place. I was able to find shoes there in my size long before being able to just order them from internet stores.
Quote from: US71 on September 29, 2016, 08:27:12 PM
Anyone remember Uncle Bob's Fried Chicken?
I remember hearing commercials for them; don't know if I ever saw one, though.
Quote from: Rothman on September 30, 2016, 10:34:02 AM
Quote from: US71 on September 29, 2016, 08:27:12 PM
Anyone remember Uncle Bob's Fried Chicken?
I remember hearing commercials for them; don't know if I ever saw one, though.
I saw one, but never ate there. It was more a carry-out place, I think.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 30, 2016, 12:09:52 AMBurger Chef?
The last
Burger Chef I saw was in Salem, MA near Route 114 (where
HMA Car Care Systems is today) during the early-to-mid 70s.
Sport Mart died out in 2013 according to their website http://www.sportmart.ca (http://www.sportmart.ca)
I used to buy ski equipment there every year, and they had a cool program where kids could trade in their old ski boots (when they no longer fit) and buy new ski boots half off. The Sport Mart in Kitchener at Sportsworld is still empty, and it still has that characteristic yellow pole archway near the entrance. It was sad to see it go.
Speaking of Hardees, I remember that NJ had only one and that closed in the mid or late 70's. It was in Union in the center island of US 22. That place rocked when Hardees had their jingle "Hurry on down to Hardees where the burgers are Charcoal Broiled" and it closed and the only place I saw them was in the south.
I also remembered that there were three Hardees that were along I-95 in the late 70's and early 80's that were called Hardee World that was a joint venture with Exxon. It was a truck stop along with a complete travel center for tourists where it had a store with groceries, sundries, and auto stuff. It had its food by Hardees and gas from Exxon, of course, so it was a one stop gas, food, and shopping place. It later became Travel World, and one was located in Hardeeville, SC at where US 278 is now aligned (it was a numbered county road before as US 278 used another alignment and had no overlap with US 17), and its second location was in Dunn (I am not sure it it was on Pope Road or US 421) and somewhere in the Roanoke Rapids area.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 30, 2016, 10:08:57 PM
Speaking of Hardees, I remember that NJ had only one and that closed in the mid or late 70's. It was in Union in the center island of US 22. That place rocked when Hardees had their jingle "Hurry on down to Hardees where the burgers are Charcoal Broiled" and it closed and the only place I saw them was in the south.
I also remembered that there were three Hardees that were along I-95 in the late 70's and early 80's that were called Hardee World that was a joint venture with Exxon. It was a truck stop along with a complete travel center for tourists where it had a store with groceries, sundries, and auto stuff. It had its food by Hardees and gas from Exxon, of course, so it was a one stop gas, food, and shopping place. It later became Travel World, and one was located in Hardeeville, SC at where US 278 is now aligned (it was a numbered county road before as US 278 used another alignment and had no overlap with US 17), and its second location was in Dunn (I am not sure it it was on Pope Road or US 421) and somewhere in the Roanoke Rapids area.
The other two were at Exit 71 Long Branch Rd in Dunn and at the NC 903 exit near Halifax.
We religiously stopped at the Dunn one traveling from SC to my grandmother's house in NC in the 1970s-80s. There is still a Hardees at this exit but it is actually across the street from where the Hardees World was...
Quote from: US71 on September 30, 2016, 09:56:47 AMWoolworth/Woolco
Wow ... Woolco. I remember those.
I also remember Hills, Arlans, Topps, Tempo, Buckeye, Rink's Bargain City, Ontario, LaSalle's, Lamson's and the Lion Store.
All these have been gone for a very long time.
Any Osco's still around?
Hancock Fabrics
Hasting's is going out of business now. Not sure when they're gonna close, but right now they're clearing out their stores and everything is 60-80% off. Found a lot of good deals in the meantime, though. Sad, because that was the last proper movie rental store around here (besides one local store I know about called Video Memories, but that's a bit of a drive from my house compared to Hastings). And they had movies, games, music, comic books, books, lots of merch like T-shirts and stuff. A lot of the stuff you could find at Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, or Hot Topic, but having all that cool stuff in one store was really enjoyable to go to. Plus again, the movie rentals.
Paramount Parks. This isn't a retailer per se, but every park that Paramount owned became Cedar Fair's responsibility. Most rides or theming or sections of parks were renamed because Cedar Fair did not own licensing to such themes (for example, Top Gun at Canada's Wonderland became Flight Deck after the liquidation). It lasted a short 15 years, from 1991 to 2006.
I'd say it was an improvement, as Dick Kinzel (and subsequently Matt Ouimet) improved the parks (Canada's Wonderland got Leviathan six years later, Kings Dominion Intimidator 305 three years later, etc).
Quote from: US71 on October 03, 2016, 03:27:11 PM
Any Osco's still around?
Quite a few, actually. The ones I know of are all part of a Jewel-Osco.
Quote from: doorknob60 on October 03, 2016, 04:40:59 PM
Hasting's is going out of business now. Not sure when they're gonna close, but right now they're clearing out their stores and everything is 60-80% off.
Last I heard was the end of October,
Quote from: roadman65 on September 29, 2016, 07:32:47 PM
Farrells, if you are referring to the Ice Cream place, there was one in East Brunswick, NJ on NJ 18 inside the Brunswick Square Mall. This was years ago probably before most of you were born, but it was the only one I knew of at the time.
There was one in Wheaton Plaza (now Westfield Wheaton) in Montgomery County, Maryland not so far from where I grew up. Not all that spectacular.
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on September 29, 2016, 04:39:13 PM
I seem to recall LUM'S in Florida that may have been elsewhere as well. I didn't know that there were more Ferrell's around either.
There uased to be Lum's all over the Chciago area. I know of two defunct locations, buildings still standing, in the South / SW Chicago area. One on Rt. 30 in Crest HIll (Near JOliet) and one on RT 45 / 52 in the Meadowview shopping center, Kankakee, IL. Joliet is now a Title Max, and last I heard, Kankakee is America's Bistro.
Now, who remembers Burger Chef and the Burger Chef birdhouses you used to see everywhere?
I know of one former location on the bad side of Joliet, IL that is now a beauty salon (you can see it from the I-80 Des Plaines river bridge through town.)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjsfburgerchef.homestead.com%2FBC_birdhouse.JPG&hash=ea8559ace645d1bf7dfaeb81b33db2a2f0c8c9bf)
Quote from: Avalanchez71 on September 29, 2016, 04:39:13 PM
I seem to recall LUM'S in Florida that may have been elsewhere as well. I didn't know that there were more Ferrell's around either.
We had it in Bridgeport, along with York Steakhouse at the mall in Trumbull. Even though it was a chain and much cheaper than a "real" steakhouse, I absolutely loved York because it was like a treat getting brought there.
I used to get a chef salad, but I know I used to annoy the crap out of the workers because there was something that I didn't want on my salad (might have been olives), and I would become a total brat if they didn't honor my request. I looked at it the same way as Van Halen with the M+M's, that if they couldn't follow simple instructions, what else might they be screwing up? In a way, I was also guaranteeing that they made it fresh, and not just giving me one they made 3 hours ago.
I also remember that at York there was always a sign that said "don't tip the table", and at that age I couldn't figure out what that meant. Of course, my father would never let me in on the answer, and I was forced to continue guessing. I mean I understood that we shouldn't tip over the tables, but that seemed pretty obvious even to children.
Quote from: BamaZeus on October 04, 2016, 02:25:27 PM
I looked at it the same way as Van Halen with the M+M's, that if they couldn't follow simple instructions, what else might they be screwing up?
Suit yourself if you want to be lumped in with Van Halen on that one. That contract demand (if true) generally led most people to think that they were...jerks...to put it mildly. It had little to do with staff following instructions and more to do with them relishing in their own power over others.
Never come across someone who sided with Van Halen on that one before. We're definitely a bowl of nuts.
There's also an old adage that you can tell a lot about someone by the way they treat waitstaff.
Valles Steakhouse was a chain in two markets. I was in CT and MA as well as Richmond/ Northern VA.
York was a spread out with sparse locations as I remember. NJ had one in East Brunswick and on I Drive in Orlando was two of them.
Then in both Lake George, NY and Orlando, FL had the Red Coach Grill had only two stores. The one in NY was on US 9 near the current Six Flags park, and the other is now the TGI Fridays across from Universal on Kirkman Road.
China Coast was a failed attempt by Darden that tried to be a chain Chinese restaurant outlet, but failed within two years of conception. Its first store was on I Drive in Orlando as was the first Olive Garden that now moved up the street.
Olive Garden Breakfast's are defunct as Darden tried it out in four FL Stores and pulled the plug on them before expanding to all locations.
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 29, 2016, 07:52:32 AM
I felt the same way about Roy Rogers when their only locations were on Turnpikes. Just about any burger patty can be slapped on any roll.
There were always some non-turnpike Roy Rogers in Maryland and Virginia, even after most had been sold to McDonald's and converted to same.
Quote from: renegade on September 29, 2016, 08:26:16 PM
Quote from: catch22 on September 29, 2016, 05:57:14 PMThere were several Lum's in the Detroit area, along with at least one Farrell's.
I recall there being at least one Lum's in Toledo, but there may have been more.
There was a Farrell's in one of the malls.
The Farrell's in Detroit I'm familiar with was the one on Telegraph Road at Schoolcraft Road (Before I-96 was completed). And it was right in the shadows of the 'futuristic-looking" Topps Department Store with the giant arch over it's entrance.
In the Toy Sore Department: Children's Palace & Lionel Kiddie City.
In Restaurants: The Red Barn. Many of the old Red Barn restaurants which were made to look like a big, red barn are still standing in NE Ohio, converted into other restaurants -- Chinese, Rib Shacks, etc -- and 2 around Akron were converted into drive-thru car washes!!!
Quote from: US71 on October 03, 2016, 08:08:02 PM
Quote from: doorknob60 on October 03, 2016, 04:40:59 PM
Hasting's is going out of business now. Not sure when they're gonna close, but right now they're clearing out their stores and everything is 60-80% off.
Last I heard was the end of October,
The one in my area closed yesterday.
Quote from: roadman65 on October 06, 2016, 08:42:46 AM
Valles Steakhouse was a chain in two markets. I was in CT and MA as well as Richmond/ Northern VA.
Then in both Lake George, NY and Orlando, FL had the Red Coach Grill had only two stores. The one in NY was on US 9 near the current Six Flags park, and the other is now the TGI Fridays across from Universal on Kirkman Road.
I remember the Valles in Hartford, CT. It is now part of a local chain called the USS Chowder Pot
I also seem to recall eating at a Red Coach Grill in Wethersfield, CT when I was young. It became the location for another Boston area chain that has since become defunct: Piccadilly Pub.
Another one that is all but defunct now is Bickford's. They took over a few HoJo's in my area, then all but disappeared when they moved away from a Denny's/IHOP type concept to a grill restaurant (looks like there's 4 left in the Boston suburbs).
Quote from: cpzilliacus on October 19, 2016, 12:03:07 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 29, 2016, 07:52:32 AM
I felt the same way about Roy Rogers when their only locations were on Turnpikes. Just about any burger patty can be slapped on any roll.
There were always some non-turnpike Roy Rogers in Maryland and Virginia, even after most had been sold to McDonald's and converted to same.
I believe you've misattributed the quotes, as I would never have made the comment about turnpikes (seeing as how one of the Roy's locations is just over a mile from my house).
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 19, 2016, 07:26:17 AM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on October 19, 2016, 12:03:07 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 29, 2016, 07:52:32 AM
I felt the same way about Roy Rogers when their only locations were on Turnpikes. Just about any burger patty can be slapped on any roll.
There were always some non-turnpike Roy Rogers in Maryland and Virginia, even after most had been sold to McDonald's and converted to same.
I believe you've misattributed the quotes, as I would never have made the comment about turnpikes (seeing as how one of the Roy's locations is just over a mile from my house).
Yep - I'm the one that made that comment originally.
Stuckeys... may not be totally defunct but not as widespread as they used to be. On a trip to / from California, they were a dime a dozen all along I-40 beginning in Oklahoma heading west. I went west to Cali along I-40 / US 66 and didn't remember seeing one.
Bob's Big Boy
TG&Y
Gemco
Alco
May Company (I remembered the department store in Buena Park Mall back in the day (1980 ))
Fed-Mart (Food / variety store popular on the west coast, extending into the high plains)
Andy's restaurant (not to be confused with Andy's Frozen Custard)... used to see these quite often now they are few and far between. Several in Arkansas are still in operation.
Minute man
Quote from: roadman65 on October 06, 2016, 08:42:46 AM
Valles Steakhouse was a chain in two markets. I was in CT and MA as well as Richmond/ Northern VA.
York was a spread out with sparse locations as I remember. NJ had one in East Brunswick and on I Drive in Orlando was two of them.
There's a restaurant at the I-93/River Road interchange in Andover (MA) that's been there since the mid-1960s. At one point, it was a Valles, at another point it was a York Steak House (my parents and I used to eat there often on trips back from Manchester when it was both). After several years as a comedy club, it is now
an independent restaurant part of a local chain called the Chateau.
Quote from: roadman on October 19, 2016, 11:19:03 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on October 06, 2016, 08:42:46 AM
Valles Steakhouse was a chain in two markets. I was in CT and MA as well as Richmond/ Northern VA.
York was a spread out with sparse locations as I remember. NJ had one in East Brunswick and on I Drive in Orlando was two of them.
There's a restaurant at the I-93/River Road interchange in Andover (MA) that's been there since the mid-1960s. At one point, it was a Valles, at another point it was a York Steak House (my parents and I used to eat there often on trips back from Manchester when it was both). After several years as a comedy club, it is now an independent restaurant called the Chateau.
The Chateau is a local chain.
Quote from: roadman65 on October 06, 2016, 08:42:46 AM
Valles Steakhouse was a chain in two markets. I was in CT and MA as well as Richmond/ Northern VA.
There was also a Valles along I-270 in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Quote from: capt.ron on October 19, 2016, 11:08:03 AM
Stuckeys... may not be totally defunct but not as widespread as they used to be. On a trip to / from California, they were a dime a dozen all along I-40 beginning in Oklahoma heading west.
When I was a kid (late 1970s, early 1980s), it seemed like there was one at every interstate exit in the South. My grandmother loved their pecan rolls and had us stop at them frequently. It was sad to see them close, almost
en masse. I believe their last ditch effort to stay alive was to co-locate with Dairy Queens.
There was one that was part of a gas station in Breezewood. Got my parents a pecan roll once on the way through. They picked at it for a while for the memory and then threw the disgusting thing away. :D
Quote from: Rothman on October 20, 2016, 12:56:43 PM
Quote from: capt.ron on October 19, 2016, 11:08:03 AM
Stuckeys... may not be totally defunct but not as widespread as they used to be. On a trip to / from California, they were a dime a dozen all along I-40 beginning in Oklahoma heading west.
When I was a kid (late 1970s, early 1980s), it seemed like there was one at every interstate exit in the South. My grandmother loved their pecan rolls and had us stop at them frequently. It was sad to see them close, almost en masse. I believe their last ditch effort to stay alive was to co-locate with Dairy Queens.
There was one that was part of a gas station in Breezewood. Got my parents a pecan roll once on the way through. They picked at it for a while for the memory and then threw the disgusting thing away. :D
Reminds me of the one and only time (1971) my parents stopped at a Stuckey's in Virginia. They needed gas, and were enticed by both the per-gallon price and the "Free Box of Pecan Rolls with 10 Gallon Purchase" signs. I still remember my parents commenting how the pecan rolls were truly awful. I also remember how the car's performance suffered until the Stuckey's gas was eventually flushed out of the system by subsequent fill-ups with good gasoline.
TG&Y: kinda like a mini Wal-Mart.
Murphy's: mini Wal-Mart with a cafe' inside.
OTASCO (Oklahoma Tire & Service Co.)
K&B Drugs: ours became Rite-Aid
A & P Grocery Stores: at least here in the South
Western Auto: at least 1 store in downtown Minden, LA still has the iconic sign and is open.
Alright...
- Carvel (mentioned by a few) still exists, mainly in the NYC metro area
- I remember when the Red Coach in Queensbury (NOT Lake George, thank you very much) closed. Bought by Six Flags and turned into a Johnny Rockets.
- Ground Round still exists, mainly in smaller New England-area cities. Binghamton, Plattsburgh and Bangor have locations, among several others.
- Howard Johnson's, as of last month, has only the Lake George location. Bangor closed around Labor Day.
- Hardee's pulled out of the NE a decade or two ago, but they're making a comeback. One semi-recently opened in Kingston, NY.
- Ames. Anyone else remember Ames? Discount store similar to Kmart in the northeast.
- Grand Union Supermarkets. These were ubiquitous in small towns of eastern Upstate and Vermont. Most became Tops locations, larger ones in more-developed areas often became Hannafords.
- Super Kmart. Queensbury had one of the last ones. It was like the Walmart Supercenters.
- Big Boy still exists, at least out west and in parts of the Midwest. The PA franchise became Eat N Park and the SE franchise became Shoney's.
- Big Bear supermarkets. They closed shortly after I moved to Columbus for a couple of years.
- Caldor - discount department store in the Northeast.
- Filene's - department store
- Lauriat's - regional bookstore chain based in Boston. My father was a regional manager when it went under in the late 90s.
Quote from: US71 on October 03, 2016, 08:08:02 PM
Quote from: doorknob60 on October 03, 2016, 04:40:59 PM
Hasting's is going out of business now. Not sure when they're gonna close, but right now they're clearing out their stores and everything is 60-80% off.
Last I heard was the end of October,
My local store closed yesterday.
Happy Chef (family dining chain in MN and IA). There was one location left on the north side of Mankato, MN, but that one's future was uncertain as its owners were trying to sell ahead of a lengthy total shutdown of US 169 for reconstruction.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 27, 2016, 07:25:16 AM
Steak and Ale and Bennigans.
Its a shame that no one tried to take them over as both used to be good. Pillsbury, the original owner did a great job with them, but the company they sold them too ran them into the ground.
The S&A location near me sat empty for some years, then someone bought it, partially revamped the outdoor sign that had been left, and reopened it as Steak & Tavern. My wife and I ate there a couple times. The food was good but they never seemed to have their act together operationally. One visit they couldn't figure out how to make us side salads so they told us to go help ourselves to the salad bar,
gratis. Another time I stopped in to buy gift cards and it took three of the staff 20 minutes to figure out how to handle that transaction. Not surprisingly, they didn't last more than a couple years and the building again has been sitting empty for years.
For where I am, I can think of 4:
Bennigan's (as mentioned above)
Loew's Theaters anyone? (got bought out by AMC, converted to AMC sometime in 2006/7/8)
A & P Supermarket (closest one to me closed 4+ years ago)
Texaco (the one in my town was closed and turned into a Shell ~10 years ago)
Speaking of theaters, is Cineplex Odeon still around? We had one when Southpark Mall first opened, but it became a Regal by the mid 90s.
Quote from: Takumi on October 30, 2016, 07:40:48 PM
Speaking of theaters, is Cineplex Odeon still around? We had one when Southpark Mall first opened, but it became a Regal by the mid 90s.
I am definitely too young to remember that one. My parents at times though mention taking me to a place called Chi Chi's. (I am unsure that is spelled right.)
Cineplex Odeon facilities are now branded as AMC, at least in the USA.
Regarding Steak and Ale, we had a couple of those around here. Once upon a time they were called the Jolly Ox due to a Virginia law prohibiting using the name of an alcoholic beverage in the business's name. Supposedly the location on Maple Avenue in Vienna was the place where a then-unknown Bruce Hornsby was playing when Huey Lewis came in for dinner, enjoyed the music, and put him in touch with an agent.
Quote from: 74/171FAN on October 30, 2016, 07:57:47 PM
Quote from: Takumi on October 30, 2016, 07:40:48 PM
Speaking of theaters, is Cineplex Odeon still around? We had one when Southpark Mall first opened, but it became a Regal by the mid 90s.
I am definitely too young to remember that one. My parents at times though mention taking me to a place called Chi Chi's. (I am unsure that is spelled right.)
It is. It was where the now-shuttered Lone Star is on Temple.
As far as retail goes, I'm surprised no one mentioned Montgomery Ward's, Woolworth's and Woolco. Other defunct retailers I recall:
Service Merchandise
Gateway Country
HQ
B. Dalton (bought out by Barnes & Noble)
Zayre's (jewelry store, not to be confused with Zales)
Chess King
Sam Goody/Musicland
Discovery Zone
Gayfer's
D.H. Holmes
McRae's (bought by Belk)
Restaurants:
Shoney's (maybe not completely dead)
Morrison's Cafeteria (also may not be completely dead)
That's all I can think of about restaurants.
Is Delchamp's still around? It was primarily a Gulf Coast regional supermarket.
Zayre's was also a department store chain in Massachusetts.
OK, here's a more comprehensive list of defunct chains I know.
-Paramount Parks. Half of the Cedar Fair chain in the US were once owned by Paramount Parks. It went defunct in 2006 because it was an oddity with the rest of the company that did film. The closest location was Kings Dominion.
-Blockbuster. My location closed in 2010. It fell because of them refusing to buy Netflix ten years earlier. I liked this chain because I could pick up movies, video game guides, and video games all in one place.
-Circuit City. Closest location was Hagerstown, Maryland. Fell simply because of budget cuts and cutting parts off of their stores. I think it closed sometime in 2015.
-Sports Authority. Closest location was in Lancaster. I think the Chapter 11 bankruptcy did them in. It closed in 2015 or early 2016.
-Kids R Us. Closest location was in New York City. It merged with Toys R Us. I went to the NYC location just because of a train set that us kids could play with, and the indoor Ferris wheel.
-Borders. Closest location was in Hagerstown. It was bankruptcy, and what replaced it was a Barnes and Noble and then this bookstore called "2nd and Charles".
Farrell's is making a comeback in the L. A. area, and was recently featured on an episode of The Profit
The Montgomery Ward name is now owned by The Swiss Colony catalog chese company out of Monroe WI.
A company that still has a handful of locations that I'm surprised is hanging on is Rax Roast Beef. There's one in Joliet, IL that is in horrible shape, but people keep patronizing the place.
Both Schlotzky's and Quaker Steak & Lube are alive and well in Newport News.
Quote from: Takumi on November 03, 2016, 06:36:28 PM
Both Schlotzky's and Quaker Steak & Lube are alive and well in Newport News.
I think Quaker Steak was just bought up by T/A, so that chain ain't going anywhere for a while.
Quote from: roadman on November 01, 2016, 09:38:13 AM
Zayre's was also a department store chain in Massachusetts.
[/quote They were based out of Boston but they had stores throughout the whole country or at least the eastern US.
Quote from: dvferyance on November 09, 2016, 02:14:20 PM
Quote from: roadman on November 01, 2016, 09:38:13 AM
Zayre's was also a department store chain in Massachusetts.
[/quote They were based out of Boston but they had stores throughout the whole country or at least the eastern US.
Most of them were snatched up by Ames, who then snatched up Hills, then outgrew their britches and went under about 15 years ago.
Kids R Us
Circuit City
Roadhouse Grill
Media Play
Kaufmann's
KB Toys
The Great Train Store
STRUCTURE
Edit: didn't know noel wrote 2 of these...but he must have been an infant when he went to Kids R Us
Quote from: Buffaboy on November 10, 2016, 01:56:49 AM
Kids R Us
Circuit City
Roadhouse Grill
Media Play
Kaufmann's
KB Toys
The Great Train Store
STRUCTURE
Edit: didn't know noel wrote 2 of these...but he must have been an infant when he went to Kids R Us
My parents (and I, because back then I was also a tech freak) actually went to Circuit City in 2009/2010 to buy a computer. My most recent visit to Kids R Us was in 2013 (the Times Square location).
Quote from: Buffaboy on November 10, 2016, 01:56:49 AMKB Toys
Oh man, I loved going to KB Toys as a kid! I used to go to the one that used to be in the Wilson Mall (which has been closed since 2013 and better known among locals by it's former name Parkwood Mall) in Wilson, NC all the time. I got a lot of stuff from there over the years. Good times! :coffee:
A few record store chains that popped into my mind: The Wherehouse and Music+ in southern California and Tower Records nationwide.
Quote from: LM117 on November 10, 2016, 02:49:40 PM
Quote from: Buffaboy on November 10, 2016, 01:56:49 AMKB Toys
Oh man, I loved going to KB Toys as a kid! I used to go to the one that used to be in the Wilson Mall (which has been closed since 2013 and better known among locals by it's former name Parkwood Mall) in Wilson, NC all the time. I got a lot of stuff from there over the years. Good times! :coffee:
My store actually used to be a KB. The original RED! carpet was still lurking underneath the shelving before the mall replaced the carpet just prior to us setting up the store.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 29, 2016, 04:48:47 PM
I am relieved that PC Richard is still in the game, most likely cause they did not try to reach every US market like Circuit City did. Their website says they have 67 locations mostly in NJ with some in Southeast PA and NYC, but non outside the NJ market too far.
My mother used to work for their Customer Service department from the 1970's into the 1990's, but they were primarily a Long Island-based company.
Anyone remember Bick's? In the early-1970's they had a restaurant or two in the New York Tri-State area, one franchise I know for a fact was in Coram. Later on in life I heard they were mainly a California-based chain that expanded beyond the west coast and went under shortly afterwards. The building on NY 25 was torn down and replaced with the three-story Union Savings Bank building, which went through one buyout after another before eventually being swallowed up by Capital One, who closed that bank down in the summer of 2016.
Just remembered Nobody Beats The Wiz! I think what they spent in advertising might have sank them, what with every top NY sports celebrity doing spots for them. They used to be just in metro NY, but expanded into CT, Philly, and even toward Boston before they folded up. Many locations became Circuit City, which of course became its own debacle.
And PC Richard has stores in CT. You even hear the familiar whistle before the tipoff of UConn basketball games.
Quote from: cl94 on October 21, 2016, 09:15:08 PM
- Grand Union Supermarkets. These were ubiquitous in small towns of eastern Upstate and Vermont. Most became Tops locations, larger ones in more-developed areas often became Hannafords.
Grand Unions could also be found in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas (though I never recall one in D.C. itself). Went away sometime in the 1980's. Before they did, they opened a gorgeous supermarket about 1980 along the Rockville Pike (MD-355) in Rockville, Maryland. Did not save the chain from closing its stores in this market.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on November 12, 2016, 02:04:41 PM
Just remembered Nobody Beats The Wiz! I think what they spent in advertising might have sank them, what with every top NY sports celebrity doing spots for them. They used to be just in metro NY, but expanded into CT, Philly, and even toward Boston before they folded up. Many locations became Circuit City, which of course became its own debacle.
I remember them. They had a very short-lived store in Albany.
Quote from: LM117 on November 10, 2016, 02:49:40 PM
Quote from: Buffaboy on November 10, 2016, 01:56:49 AMKB Toys
Oh man, I loved going to KB Toys as a kid! I used to go to the one that used to be in the Wilson Mall (which has been closed since 2013 and better known among locals by it's former name Parkwood Mall) in Wilson, NC all the time. I got a lot of stuff from there over the years. Good times! :coffee:
In my early scale model railroading days (early 1970s), before I discovered 'real' HO items like Athearn locomotives/cars and Atlas track (neither of which any of the chain toy stores sold), I got a lot of my stuff at KB (KB sold AHM and Bachmann trains, and Toys R Us sold Tyco). What I also remember was that nearly every item I saw at KB - even the non model railroad stuff, had a normal price tag with a different price marked over it in red sharpie.
Quote from: cl94 on November 12, 2016, 07:18:35 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on November 12, 2016, 02:04:41 PM
Just remembered Nobody Beats The Wiz! I think what they spent in advertising might have sank them, what with every top NY sports celebrity doing spots for them. They used to be just in metro NY, but expanded into CT, Philly, and even toward Boston before they folded up. Many locations became Circuit City, which of course became its own debacle.
I remember them. They had a very short-lived store in Albany.
I don't think they lasted very long in the Philly area either.
Does anyone remember Topps, T-Way, Shoppers Fair, or Grants?
Lafayette/W.Lafayette, Indiana, had each of these stores. I don't know anything about Topps stores, such as how widespread they were, but I'm fairly certain Topps was a chain. It was located on the east side of US 52 just south of the combination KMart-A&P store, and just north of where the Tippecanoe Mall was constructed. I remember it there around 1970 to 1972, maybe 1973. When it closed I think it was replaced by a T-Way store for a short time. The T-Way, I believe, was closed by the time the Tippecanoe Mall opened, which must have been around 1974. A Service Merchandise store occupied that spot (or one very close to it) for many years after that. I remember shopping there in the late 1990s.
In the early 1970s West Lafayette had a Grants department store located on US 52 Bypass near Soldiers Home Road. It was replaced by a KMart around 1975 or 1976. There was also a Shoppers Fair department store located on Brown Street down in the levee area of West Lafayette. I distinctly remember that upon entering Shoppers Fair, how one was always greeted by the aroma of freshly popped popcorn. I think it went out of business about the time the Brown Street Bridge (Wabash River) was closed to traffic, which was in the early 1970s. Its demise was probably a result of reduced traffic count on Brown Street following the bridge closure (or in anticipation of it) and the relocation of commerce to the outskirts of the city.
(I'm desperately trying to remember the name of the restaurant inside Grants. I think it was Bradford House or something like that. Can anyone help with this question?)
Quote from: cpzilliacus on November 12, 2016, 07:08:45 PM
Grand Unions could also be found in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas (though I never recall one in D.C. itself). Went away sometime in the 1980's. Before they did, they opened a gorgeous supermarket about 1980 along the Rockville Pike (MD-355) in Rockville, Maryland. Did not save the chain from closing its stores in this market.
They even had them in Miami. Take a look at this pic from the 1968 movie "Lady in Cement."
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle.php?id=255365
I seem to remember my Grandmother shopping at a Grand Union grocery store in Fort Smith, Arkansas in the late 1950s. May have been down on Garrison Avenue somewhere.
Quote from: Rushmeister on November 14, 2016, 12:52:09 PM
Does anyone remember Topps, T-Way, Shoppers Fair, or Grants?
Lafayette/W.Lafayette, Indiana, had each of these stores. I don't know anything about Topps stores, such as how widespread they were, but I'm fairly certain Topps was a chain. It was located on the east side of US 52 just south of the combination KMart-A&P store, and just north of where the Tippecanoe Mall was constructed. I remember it there around 1970 to 1972, maybe 1973. When it closed I think it was replaced by a T-Way store for a short time. The T-Way, I believe, was closed by the time the Tippecanoe Mall opened, which must have been around 1974. A Service Merchandise store occupied that spot (or one very close to it) for many years after that. I remember shopping there in the late 1990s.
In the early 1970s West Lafayette had a Grants department store located on US 52 Bypass near Soldiers Home Road. It was replaced by a KMart around 1975 or 1976. There was also a Shoppers Fair department store located on Brown Street down in the levee area of West Lafayette. I distinctly remember that upon entering Shoppers Fair, how one was always greeted by the aroma of freshly popped popcorn. I think it went out of business about the time the Brown Street Bridge (Wabash River) was closed to traffic, which was in the early 1970s. Its demise was probably a result of reduced traffic count on Brown Street following the bridge closure (or in anticipation of it) and the relocation of commerce to the outskirts of the city.
(I'm desperately trying to remember the name of the restaurant inside Grants. I think it was Bradford House or something like that. Can anyone help with this question?)
Here in metro Detroit we had Topps, Shoppers Fair and a few Grants. The Shoppers Fair nearest our house when I was growing up had a decent toy department and I would always browse there when my mother was shopping in the boring departments.
Bradford House is correct. They had great hot dogs, in unique C-shaped buns.
Not sure when everything closed, but I do remember furnishing my first apartment in 1975 when the Grants store in Ypsilanti had their going out of business sale. I got dishes, flatware, pots and pans, glasses, and towels all for around $100. I still have the flatware!
Find your favorites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_retailers_of_the_United_States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_retailers_of_the_United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_fast-food_restaurant_chains (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_fast-food_restaurant_chains)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_restaurants_of_the_United_States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_restaurants_of_the_United_States)
Yes, there's a Wikipedia page for everything.
Ames. -drops mic-
A huge chain went down the drain.
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on November 17, 2016, 10:05:55 PM
Find your favorites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_retailers_of_the_United_States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_retailers_of_the_United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_fast-food_restaurant_chains (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_fast-food_restaurant_chains)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_restaurants_of_the_United_States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_restaurants_of_the_United_States)
Yes, there's a Wikipedia page for everything.
not for me
Quote from: US71 on December 09, 2016, 09:20:55 AM
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on November 17, 2016, 10:05:55 PM
Find your favorites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_retailers_of_the_United_States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_retailers_of_the_United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_fast-food_restaurant_chains (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_fast-food_restaurant_chains)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_restaurants_of_the_United_States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_restaurants_of_the_United_States)
Yes, there's a Wikipedia page for everything.
not for me
Sure there is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_71 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_71)
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on December 12, 2016, 11:09:05 PM
Quote from: US71 on December 09, 2016, 09:20:55 AM
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on November 17, 2016, 10:05:55 PM
Find your favorites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_retailers_of_the_United_States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_retailers_of_the_United_States)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_fast-food_restaurant_chains (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_fast-food_restaurant_chains)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_restaurants_of_the_United_States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_restaurants_of_the_United_States)
Yes, there's a Wikipedia page for everything.
not for me
Sure there is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_71 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_71)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftrollcats.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F06%2Finternetwin.jpg&hash=a805b3cfe58b1dfcb6c3dc5782e129e0039f0ff9)
Robinsons and Emporium they used to be big name department stores in California. However Robinsons may have disappeared from Los Angeles but somehow its name exist in the Philippines as a mall in the Manila area.
Quote from: bing101 on December 13, 2016, 06:52:30 PM
Robinsons and Emporium they used to be big name department stores in California. However Robinsons may have disappeared from Los Angeles but somehow its name exist in the Philippines as a mall in the Manila area.
Bizarrely, both are now eMacy-ated.
Quote from: Brandon on December 13, 2016, 08:47:24 PM
Quote from: bing101 on December 13, 2016, 06:52:30 PM
Robinsons and Emporium they used to be big name department stores in California. However Robinsons may have disappeared from Los Angeles but somehow its name exist in the Philippines as a mall in the Manila area.
Bizarrely, both are now eMacy-ated.
http://www.robinsonsdepartmentstore.com.ph/
Here's the Philippines edition of Robinsons.
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on November 17, 2016, 10:05:55 PM
Yes, there's a Wikipedia page for everything.
Unless some bureaucratic administrator thinks it's not notable.
And FYI, I certainly remember Grants, when they came out to Coram Plaza, then went out of business only for that store to be replaced by Two Guys.
http://www.shakeys.com/our-story/ (http://www.shakeys.com/our-story/)
https://www.shakeyspizza.ph/index.asp (https://www.shakeyspizza.ph/index.asp)
Shakeys Pizza was born near the Sacramento State University Campus on J street at 57th in East Sacramento.
But the Sacramento area outlets no longer exist but its Philippine outlets are still in business.
http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/123440/robinsons-galleria-cebu-new-hangout (http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/123440/robinsons-galleria-cebu-new-hangout)
http://www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org/2010/05/jw-robinson-co-los-angeles.html (http://www.thedepartmentstoremuseum.org/2010/05/jw-robinson-co-los-angeles.html)
https://dornsife.usc.edu/la-walking-tour/robinsons-department-store/ (https://dornsife.usc.edu/la-walking-tour/robinsons-department-store/)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4045665-robinsons-retail-leading-player-penetrated-philippines-retail-industry
Robinsons Los Angeles no longer exists but its Philippine stores somehow are expanding.
^ Give these other countries 40-50 years and they will tire of some of these restaurant chains and retailers also.
This is exactly what happened to Kenny Rogers Roasters: gone from the US but all over Southeast Asia
http://www.kennyrogersroasters.com/branch.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Records
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Palette_Records
Tower Records a company that was also born in Sacramento, CA no longer exists in the USA but currently holds recording contracts to Japanese Pop Stars.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Retail/2017/04/04/Apocalypse-for-retail-3-500-stores-closing-in-17.html
Wow this headline says it. 2017 is the apocalypse of the retail store with Sears, Kmart, Payless, JC Penney and others mentioned in the article.
Quote from: bing101 on April 05, 2017, 10:07:08 PM
http://www.toledoblade.com/Retail/2017/04/04/Apocalypse-for-retail-3-500-stores-closing-in-17.html
Wow this headline says it. 2017 is the apocalypse of the retail store with Sears, Kmart, Payless, JC Penney and others mentioned in the article.
Some of it has to do with over-saturation of a market. Payless Shoes announced yesterday that it was closing 400-500 stores PDQ, but when you look at their spreadsheet of closures, and the "next nearest store" to the one being closed, many are within 10-15 minutes driving.
And with Family Dollar announcing today that they will be closing over 100 stores, a lot of that is due to oversaturation as well of Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and Dollar General. Collectively, some of these stores merged together, some Family Dollars became Dollar Generals, and then you have them on nearly every block like Starbucks.
And, at least in my area, when Albertsons and Safeway merged together, you all of a sudden had 3 Safeways in a 5-mile radius. In a town my size, that was overkill for a single supermarket chain.
Belk, originally Belk Lindsay or Belk Hudson, had stores in the southeast. The one in Florida Mall in Orlando closed many years ago, then another store resurfaced years later in The Loop in Kissimmee, FL. They did not last long as now they are something else.
I believe the one that lasted in Waycross, GA sometime in the past decade closed as well.
I remember Belk originally as Belk Simpson.
I remember Belk as Leggett here in Virginia.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 06, 2017, 03:06:03 AM
Belk, originally Belk Lindsay or Belk Hudson, had stores in the southeast.
They're still very much a southeastern chain–if you were insinuating that they had retreated from the region. They still have locations in Florida, too.
The company's tagline is
MODERN. SOUTHERN. STYLE.(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.mapmuse.com%2Fimages%2Fmaps%2Fmap-of-belk-locations.png&hash=2d846658fcb20d267ae7f8798eef22c88127180e)
There was a discount department store called Ames in some parts of the US. There was one near where I live that's now a furniture store. Ames went under in 2002.
Quote from: epzik8 on April 07, 2017, 09:44:17 PM
There was a discount department store called Ames in some parts of the US. There was one near where I live that's now a furniture store. Ames went under in 2002.
Ames came here twice. Once when they bought Zayre. Then again, about 2000, on their own. The first one became a Best Buy (now Marshalls) & an OfficeMax. The second was a Goldblatt's, a Venture, then Ames. Then another Goldblatt's, followed by a Food4Less, which it has been for the last 13 years.
I barely remember Ames. The one closest to me closed in the early 90s, when they went through their post-Zayre issues. All I remember is the trademark thatched roof that the entire strip mall it was in had (and still does to this day), and that the entrance/exit chime was the same as you hear at 7-Eleven.
Know both Zayre and Ames. Used to be a Zayre in Hadley, MA.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-07/stores-are-closing-at-a-record-pace-as-amazon-chews-up-retailers
The blame amazon effect is at play here.
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/hhgregg-to-shut-down-after-failing-to-obtain-a-buyer
This store chain closures affect Indiana.
Just confirmed with a friend that there was a small chain in MA called Almy's. Had stores in Hadley and Salem. Sort of like JC Penney.
Oh...and just thought of Steiger's (clothing). I believe their Springfield, MA store hung on for a while, but I believe it had gone the way of the dodo.
Don't remember Almy's, and I barely remember Steiger's. Believe it or not, though, this place still exists in name only, and in one location as a furniture and mattress store:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHUyxqyhIFU
Huh. I remember Railroad Salvage, but I don't remember where it was in Hadley. I remember the Connecticut location in Windsor, though.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AYzA2uyd9_s&feature=em-uploademail
Ted Talks does a segment on dead malls.
Belk: Belk is very much still alive, and is a major TV sponsor of the SEC and its little brother the ACC, as well as Charlotte's bowl game. It has never ventured out of the southeast.
As to the hyphenated names, the story is complex. Esentually, until the early 90s, stores were 100% owned by Belk and called that. And then there were stores that were joint ventures with a local and were * - Belk or Belk - *. Some locations in Virginia and West Virginia were Leggett's, also a partnership. In the 90s Belk bought out all its partners and everything became just Belk.
Quote from: SP Cook on April 10, 2017, 03:21:02 PM
Belk: Belk is very much still alive, and is a major TV sponsor of the SEC and its little brother the ACC, as well as Charlotte's bowl game. It has never ventured out of the southeast.
The northernmost Belk's I have seen is Winchester, Virginia (apparently there's also one in Morgantown, W.Va. which is probably a little bit more northerly).
Anyone remember the 800-pound gorilla of retail audio in the '70's and early '80's -- Pacific Stereo? Put many a mom-&-pop hi-fi retailer out of business with hyper-aggressive sales techniques (underpinned by major manufacturers' "spiffs"[incentives] that included trips to Maui, mfr's reps' parties at local "gentlemen's clubs", and the always reliable cash under the table). With some regret mixed with nostalgia, I was one of those manufacturers' representatives (for a now-defunct Southern California manufacturer of amplifiers & assorted other goodies) in the early/mid '70's, and saw the rise & fall of a number of West Coast audio chains (University Stereo and Henry Radio in greater L.A., Cal Hi-Fi and the "other white meat" SF-based chain, Cal Stereo (everyone got the two confused, as they tended to address the same market base). The one or two-outlet stores outlasted almost everyone else, as Pacific pulled back to a few of their larger outlets by '82-'83 and was gone within four years. Right now, what's left of the audio market is polarized into two segments: the home-theater purveyors, who include the "big box" stores, including Costco and Best Buy, along with somewhat higher-end independents who make their living doing custom home installations; the second segment is what's known as "high-end" or "specialty" audio (still mostly 2-channel), who cater to more audiophile tastes (and budgets). Here, analog & digital exist side by side, particularly for those who can afford the requisite equipment. My home base of San Jose (and environs) has several of each; most audio sales occur in the larger metro regions (like all successful specialty businesses, they site themselves where the most likely buyers are!).
But the audio industry heydays of the '70's and '80's are unlikely to be repeated; the market presently is too diffused (and, sadly, largely disinterested). A 2M+ area like the South Bay can support maybe a half-dozen independent retailers and a few chain outlets, but nothing more than that. With its overhead and overbearing sales force, Pacific would be out of business within a couple of years in today's marketplace.
https://patch.com/connecticut/ridgefield/rue21-announces-several-store-closings-connecticut
Update Rue 21 to close stores in Connecticut.
http://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/Retail-Stores-Taking-Hits-Hundreds-of-Locations-Close-419089074.html
Update on stores closing in the Washington D.C. area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnLwsVrgrP4&app=desktop
Jamesway was a name I have not heard in a long time. They used to have their distribution center in Cranbury, NJ overlooking the NJ Turnpike somewhere between Exit 8 and 8A.
Zayres is another I have not heard of in decades as well. Cannot remember if they were here in FL or in NJ when I lived there several years ago.
Walbaums grocery store in NYC area, I believe consolidated before I left NJ in 90.
Adios A & P and Pathmark, of course. Also Grand Union is history. Those were the biggies in NJ along with ShopRite who is still holding on and has a distribution center on approach to EWR runways 4L & 4R in Elizabeth, NJ.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 19, 2017, 11:50:51 AM
Zayres is another I have not heard of in decades as well. Cannot remember if they were here in FL or in NJ when I lived there several years ago.
Zayre is still technically around. The company, if I'm remembering the chain of events correctly, still owns Marshall's and TJ Maxx, even though Zayre itself is long gone.
I could be wrong on this, but its time to clock out for lunch.
Quote from: sparker on April 12, 2017, 04:28:06 AM
Anyone remember the 800-pound gorilla of retail audio in the '70's and early '80's -- Pacific Stereo?
Yes, I bought my first set of speakers from them around 1980. Big 3-ways, performed well and survived many moves, finally got rid of them in 2015. From Pacific Stereo you could get a good deal, but you had to do the research yourself; all you'd find out from the salespeople is which models had the best incentives this month.
Quote from: inkyatari on April 20, 2017, 12:52:19 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 19, 2017, 11:50:51 AM
Zayres is another I have not heard of in decades as well. Cannot remember if they were here in FL or in NJ when I lived there several years ago.
Zayre is still technically around. The company, if I'm remembering the chain of events correctly, still owns Marshall's and TJ Maxx, even though Zayre itself is long gone.
I could be wrong on this, but its time to clock out for lunch.
Correct. The company sold the Zayre chain to Ames, and restructured itself as TJX, parent company to TJ Maxx. They later added HomeGoods stores and bought the Marshalls chain. They also started BJs Wholesale Clubs, but sold that chain around the same time they offloaded Zayres.
Quote from: spooky on April 21, 2017, 07:42:06 AM
Quote from: inkyatari on April 20, 2017, 12:52:19 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 19, 2017, 11:50:51 AM
Zayres is another I have not heard of in decades as well. Cannot remember if they were here in FL or in NJ when I lived there several years ago.
Zayre is still technically around. The company, if I'm remembering the chain of events correctly, still owns Marshall's and TJ Maxx, even though Zayre itself is long gone.
I could be wrong on this, but its time to clock out for lunch.
Correct. The company sold the Zayre chain to Ames, and restructured itself as TJX, parent company to TJ Maxx. They later added HomeGoods stores and bought the Marshalls chain. They also started BJs Wholesale Clubs, but sold that chain around the same time they offloaded Zayres.
It's a shame, as I have fond memories of Zayre as a kid.
Is NJ's Stop and Shop now the same company that operated in the 70s? If I remember correctly they used to be own by the owner of Bradlees, who went under in 1993 about the time Caldor went out. My uncle said the Target and Walmart expansion into NJ and NY killed them both.
Anyway, last time there in 12, I saw some Stop and Shops along Route 36 in Monmouth County, so I am wondering if they came back as another company or still the same company but survived somehow.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 21, 2017, 10:03:22 PM
Is NJ's Stop and Shop now the same company that operated in the 70s? If I remember correctly they used to be own by the owner of Bradlees, who went under in 1993 about the time Caldor went out. My uncle said the Target and Walmart expansion into NJ and NY killed them both.
Anyway, last time there in 12, I saw some Stop and Shops along Route 36 in Monmouth County, so I am wondering if they came back as another company or still the same company but survived somehow.
I think stop and shop expanded into NJ in the 1970s but pulled back to New England... And then took over Grand union stores in the 1990s
LGMS428
Quote from: roadman65 on April 21, 2017, 10:03:22 PM
Is NJ's Stop and Shop now the same company that operated in the 70s?
It's a successor to the same company, but it's my understanding that Stop & Shop completely pulled out of New Jersey under its original ownership, so any stores in the Garden State today were opened as part of a re-entry effort by subsequent owners.
Stop & Shop changed hands a few times before ending up with its present owner, Ahold, the Dutch company that also owns Giant (Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover)–and this common ownership is why they share the multicolored "fruit wedge" logo.
Quote from: briantroutman on April 22, 2017, 01:23:08 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 21, 2017, 10:03:22 PM
Is NJ's Stop and Shop now the same company that operated in the 70s?
It's a successor to the same company, but it's my understanding that Stop & Shop completely pulled out of New Jersey under its original ownership, so any stores in the Garden State today were opened as part of a re-entry effort by subsequent owners.
Stop & Shop changed hands a few times before ending up with its present owner, Ahold, the Dutch company that also owns Giant (Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover)–and this common ownership is why they share the multicolored "fruit wedge" logo.
Recently, Ahold and Delhaize (parent of Food Lion) merged, with lots of store sales/closures in areas where both have lots of stores. In Richmond, all the Martin's (Giant, forgot which one) are closing or have closed, with about half of them eventually being converted to Publix.
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2017, 11:55:37 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on April 22, 2017, 01:23:08 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 21, 2017, 10:03:22 PM
Is NJ's Stop and Shop now the same company that operated in the 70s?
It's a successor to the same company, but it's my understanding that Stop & Shop completely pulled out of New Jersey under its original ownership, so any stores in the Garden State today were opened as part of a re-entry effort by subsequent owners.
Stop & Shop changed hands a few times before ending up with its present owner, Ahold, the Dutch company that also owns Giant (Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover)–and this common ownership is why they share the multicolored "fruit wedge" logo.
Recently, Ahold and Delhaize (parent of Food Lion) merged, with lots of store sales/closures in areas where both have lots of stores. In Richmond, all the Martin's (Giant, forgot which one) are closing or have closed, with about half of them eventually being converted to Publix.
And this should merger should become interesting in parts of MA and NY state, where there is an overlap of Ahold owned Stop & Shop and Delhaize owned Hannaford locations, some even in the same town. Stop & Shop seems to dominate most of Southern New England and Metro New York, while Hannaford is more of an upstate NY/northern New England store. Will both names still exist or will one overtake the other? In the case of duplicates, might Shop Rite consider expanding into the Capital District and MA, Price Chopper expanding farther east in MA, or Albertsons or Big Y into the Capital District as Acme or Shaws?
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 22, 2017, 07:22:21 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2017, 11:55:37 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on April 22, 2017, 01:23:08 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 21, 2017, 10:03:22 PM
Is NJ's Stop and Shop now the same company that operated in the 70s?
It's a successor to the same company, but it's my understanding that Stop & Shop completely pulled out of New Jersey under its original ownership, so any stores in the Garden State today were opened as part of a re-entry effort by subsequent owners.
Stop & Shop changed hands a few times before ending up with its present owner, Ahold, the Dutch company that also owns Giant (Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover)–and this common ownership is why they share the multicolored "fruit wedge" logo.
Recently, Ahold and Delhaize (parent of Food Lion) merged, with lots of store sales/closures in areas where both have lots of stores. In Richmond, all the Martin's (Giant, forgot which one) are closing or have closed, with about half of them eventually being converted to Publix.
And this should merger should become interesting in parts of MA and NY state, where there is an overlap of Ahold owned Stop & Shop and Delhaize owned Hannaford locations, some even in the same town. Stop & Shop seems to dominate most of Southern New England and Metro New York, while Hannaford is more of an upstate NY/northern New England store. Will both names still exist or will one overtake the other? In the case of duplicates, might Shop Rite consider expanding into the Capital District and MA, Price Chopper expanding farther east in MA, or Albertsons or Big Y into the Capital District as Acme or Shaws?
ShopRite already has a Capital District presence. They returned to the area almost 10 years ago and have four current locations in the immediate Albany area plus one under construction and another planned, in addition to a store in Hudson.
That being said, Ahold Delhaize has already sold off the overlapping stores in the Hudson Valley to Acme and Tops. Tops is using this to expand southeast, while Acme has used these purchases, along with the purchase of old Pathmark/A&P locations, to expand north. At this point, the dividing line in NY is roughly I-84, with Stop and Shop territory jutting up to Poughkeepsie east of the Hudson. Two Hannafords remain in Stop and Shop territory (New Windsor and Wappingers Falls), while the Rhinebeck Stop and Shop was sold to Tops. The few Hannafords in Stop and Shop's Massachusetts territory have closed. As of now, the Ahold and Delhaize brands are still operating separately with no immediate plans to combine one or the other. Fierce brand loyalty will probably keep it that way.
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2017, 11:55:37 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on April 22, 2017, 01:23:08 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 21, 2017, 10:03:22 PM
Is NJ's Stop and Shop now the same company that operated in the 70s?
It's a successor to the same company, but it's my understanding that Stop & Shop completely pulled out of New Jersey under its original ownership, so any stores in the Garden State today were opened as part of a re-entry effort by subsequent owners.
Stop & Shop changed hands a few times before ending up with its present owner, Ahold, the Dutch company that also owns Giant (Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover)–and this common ownership is why they share the multicolored "fruit wedge" logo.
Recently, Ahold and Delhaize (parent of Food Lion) merged, with lots of store sales/closures in areas where both have lots of stores. In Richmond, all the Martin's (Giant, forgot which one) are closing or have closed, with about half of them eventually being converted to Publix.
A couple years ago, I heard that Food Lion wasn't doing so well. Is that still the case, or are they doing better now? :hmm:
Great Eastern was a retail store in Northern New Jersey. When they closed, Valley Fair in Irvington on Chancellor Avenue at I-78 decided to expand and take over a few of the closed stores of Great Eastern. However, it did not make out and all but their original store closed.
Hills Supermarket, a precursor to Sams and Costco, sold wholesale food items in bulk quantity were in the NYC area.
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on April 22, 2017, 07:59:13 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2017, 11:55:37 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on April 22, 2017, 01:23:08 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 21, 2017, 10:03:22 PM
Is NJ's Stop and Shop now the same company that operated in the 70s?
It’s a successor to the same company, but it’s my understanding that Stop & Shop completely pulled out of New Jersey under its original ownership, so any stores in the Garden State today were opened as part of a re-entry effort by subsequent owners.
Stop & Shop changed hands a few times before ending up with its present owner, Ahold, the Dutch company that also owns Giant (Giant Carlisle and Giant Landover)—and this common ownership is why they share the multicolored “fruit wedge” logo.
Recently, Ahold and Delhaize (parent of Food Lion) merged, with lots of store sales/closures in areas where both have lots of stores. In Richmond, all the Martin's (Giant, forgot which one) are closing or have closed, with about half of them eventually being converted to Publix.
A couple years ago, I heard that Food Lion wasn't doing so well. Is that still the case, or are they doing better now? :hmm:
I'm not really sure. With the Ahold Delhaize merger, a lot of the stores that were sold off to other companies were Food Lions instead of Giant/Martin's. None of the Richmond stores have closed in recent years (to my knowledge), but with the entry of Aldi and Wegmans, and the upcoming entries of Lidl and Publix, to the market, it's going to be very crowded. Even more so if the other Martin's stores find buyers.
Anyone remember Albertsons? Rooms to go? and birdines. (macys) :hmmm:
Albertson's the grocery store chain that's now part of Safeway, at least in ownership? That was recent, like within the last couple of years.
Quote from: kkt on April 23, 2017, 01:35:18 PM
Albertson's the grocery store chain that's now part of Safeway, at least in ownership? That was recent, like within the last couple of years.
I thought it was Albertson's who bought out Safeway. In my neck of the woods, We had City Market (Kroger), Safeway and Albertson's. Post-merger, the Albertson's were either converted to Safeways or closed (due to being close to another Safeway). Then they did a full remodel of the Safeway stores (the original Safeways in my area remodeled only a couple of years ago but they did it again).
My only gripe with the "new" Safeways is that now, for the 2ND TIME, they took out the self-serve checkouts. Problem is, when it's real slow, they only have 2-3 checkouts open, and you're lucky if one of them is an express lane!
Albertson's bought out Safeway 3 years ago.
Quote from: thenetwork on April 23, 2017, 05:00:11 PM
My only gripe with the "new" Safeways is that now, for the 2ND TIME, they took out the self-serve checkouts. Problem is, when it's real slow, they only have 2-3 checkouts open, and you're lucky if one of them is an express lane!
My biggest problem with self checkouts is the people who don't know how to scan things that insist on using them. There are times I have scanned 15 items and paid in less time than it took somebody else to buy 3 items. That being said, I started shopping at Target a lot more once they put in self checkouts as the ones in these parts have slow cashiers. I can scan faster than a lot of cashiers, but Target seems to hire people that prefer to socialize instead of scanning.
None of the open ShopRites near me have self checkouts, but they do have a setup that allows the customer to bag. Really speeds things up if someone isn't too lazy to bag a few things.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/04/21/list-of-bebe-stores--closing/100737254/
Update Bebe stores to close soon
Quote from: cl94 on April 23, 2017, 05:09:06 PM
Albertson's bought out Safeway 3 years ago.
Quote from: thenetwork on April 23, 2017, 05:00:11 PM
My only gripe with the "new" Safeways is that now, for the 2ND TIME, they took out the self-serve checkouts. Problem is, when it's real slow, they only have 2-3 checkouts open, and you're lucky if one of them is an express lane!
My biggest problem with self checkouts is the people who don't know how to scan things that insist on using them. There are times I have scanned 15 items and paid in less time than it took somebody else to buy 3 items. That being said, I started shopping at Target a lot more once they put in self checkouts as the ones in these parts have slow cashiers. I can scan faster than a lot of cashiers, but Target seems to hire people that prefer to socialize instead of scanning.
^This^ I was a cashier in a grocery store some 30 years ago as a teen, and I can STILL scan items faster at the self checkout faster than most current cashiers can today.
Piggly Wiggly? I know they have been gone in Central Florida since George HW. Bush was president. How about elsewhere whey they marketed their food markets?
Quote from: Tonytone on April 23, 2017, 01:12:01 PM
Anyone remember Albertsons?
Ha, they're far from defunct. As mentioned, they recently bought out Safeway, another very large chain. According to Wikipedia, they (as in, all of Albertsons' labels) are the second largest supermarket chain in North America after Kroger. I don't think they're going anywhere :P Last time I tried to count, there were 13 in Boise (wouldn't surprise me if I missed some). Of course, they were founded here haha.
I just read this morning that Albertsons may purchase Whole Foods.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 25, 2017, 06:09:42 PM
Piggly Wiggly? I know they have been gone in Central Florida since George HW. Bush was president. How about elsewhere whey they marketed their food markets?
Still around in the Carolinas.
Quote from: RoadWarrior56 on April 25, 2017, 06:16:33 PM
I just read this morning that Albertsons may purchase Whole Foods.
Maybe they will lower their prices if they do. Whole Foods around here is known as "Whole Paycheck" because the organic food market has a high demand for natural food thanks to our obsession with junk food. :bigass:
Quote from: Takumi on April 25, 2017, 06:29:08 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 25, 2017, 06:09:42 PM
Piggly Wiggly? I know they have been gone in Central Florida since George HW. Bush was president. How about elsewhere whey they marketed their food markets?
Still around in the Carolinas.
There is the old Piggly Wiggly Building across the street from Coors Field in Denver, but the actual markets have been long gone from Colorado for decades.
Quote from: Takumi on April 25, 2017, 06:29:08 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 25, 2017, 06:09:42 PM
Piggly Wiggly? I know they have been gone in Central Florida since George HW. Bush was president. How about elsewhere whey they marketed their food markets?
Still around in the Carolinas.
There's a Piggly Wiggly here in Danville on US-58 just east of US-29. There used to be another one here as well at the corner of Piney Forest Road (US-29 Business) and Nor-Dan Drive. That one closed in 2013 and was torn down in 2015. A Walmart Neighborhood Market was built in it's place and opened last August.
BTW, the current existing Piggly Wiggly on US-58 is one of the nastiest and worst smelling grocery stores I've ever set foot in. The inside reeked of a cat litterbox that hasn't ever been changed. X-( The store manager being a total bitch was just the tip of the iceberg. I haven't been to that Piggly Wiggly since 2015 and I don't miss it a damn bit.
I don't know of any other Piggly Wiggly stores in Virginia.
Quote from: Takumi on April 25, 2017, 06:29:08 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 25, 2017, 06:09:42 PM
Piggly Wiggly? I know they have been gone in Central Florida since George HW. Bush was president. How about elsewhere whey they marketed their food markets?
Still around in the Carolinas.
Still in Wisconsin.
Quote from: LM117 on April 25, 2017, 06:55:26 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 25, 2017, 06:29:08 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 25, 2017, 06:09:42 PM
Piggly Wiggly? I know they have been gone in Central Florida since George HW. Bush was president. How about elsewhere whey they marketed their food markets?
Still around in the Carolinas.
There's a Piggly Wiggly here in Danville on US-58 just east of US-29. There used to be another one here as well at the corner of Piney Forest Road (US-29 Business) and Nor-Dan Drive. That one closed in 2013 and was torn down in 2015. A Walmart Neighborhood Market was built in it's place and opened last August.
BTW, the current existing Piggly Wiggly on US-58 is one of the nastiest and worst smelling grocery stores I've ever set foot in. The inside reeked of a cat litterbox that hasn't ever been changed. X-( The store manager being a total bitch was just the tip of the iceberg. I haven't been to that Piggly Wiggly since 2015 and I don't miss it a damn bit.
I don't know of any other Piggly Wiggly stores in Virginia.
Don't hold back say what you mean. :)
Alright next in line...... BLOCK BUSTER. :-o
Piggly Wiggly is hardly defunct. Always see them on my trips through the South.
Quote from: Rothman on April 26, 2017, 08:27:13 AM
Piggly Wiggly is hardly defunct. Always see them on my trips through the South.
I agree...I saw a bunch in southern Tennessee when I went through about a year and a half ago. How much I see 'em down there almost reminds me of Dollar General. :cool:
Quote from: Big John on April 25, 2017, 07:02:00 PM
Quote from: Takumi on April 25, 2017, 06:29:08 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on April 25, 2017, 06:09:42 PM
Piggly Wiggly? I know they have been gone in Central Florida since George HW. Bush was president. How about elsewhere whey they marketed their food markets?
Still around in the Carolinas.
Still in Wisconsin.
Plenty in Louisiana as well.
Foodtown in NJ.
http://www.9news.com/mb/money/business/gander-mountain-liquidating-all-stores-closing-some/437618461
Update new chain being liquidated.
Quote from: bing101 on May 08, 2017, 08:08:01 PM
http://www.9news.com/mb/money/business/gander-mountain-liquidating-all-stores-closing-some/437618461
Update new chain being liquidated.
I guess it's hard to compete when your rivals (Bass Pro, Cabela's) make the mythic "welfare queen" look like a rank amateur (http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2012/08/why-have-so-many-cities-and-towns-given-away-so-much-money-bass-pro-shops-and-cabelas/2906/).
Quote from: briantroutman on May 08, 2017, 08:33:27 PM
Quote from: bing101 on May 08, 2017, 08:08:01 PM
http://www.9news.com/mb/money/business/gander-mountain-liquidating-all-stores-closing-some/437618461
Update new chain being liquidated.
I guess it's hard to compete when your rivals (Bass Pro, Cabela's) make the mythic "welfare queen" look like a rank amateur (http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2012/08/why-have-so-many-cities-and-towns-given-away-so-much-money-bass-pro-shops-and-cabelas/2906/).
It's also a strange case where one entity bought the chain and intends to maintain about 70 stores, and another bought the merchandise to liquidate PDQ.
- WV certainly fell hard for the "Cabella's is economic development" scam. Two huge subsidized stores. The amount of sporting goods sold is the same. Especially weird is they built a store in Wheeling just a mile from Pennsylvania. The Keystone State does not tax clothes, while WV is soon to be a whopping 8%. Total failure.
- Piggly Wiggly recently returned to my area. It is not really much of a "chain". It is just a brand name you can pay to put on an independent store and little else, so every store is different. The guy that owned the local Foodlands (same kind of deal) had a falling out with them and changed the name.
Quote from: SP Cook on May 09, 2017, 10:21:26 AM
- WV certainly fell hard for the "Cabella's is economic development" scam. Two huge subsidized stores. The amount of sporting goods sold is the same. Especially weird is they built a store in Wheeling just a mile from Pennsylvania. The Keystone State does not tax clothes, while WV is soon to be a whopping 8%. Total failure.
Not so much a failure as one might think. Wheeling is the center of population there, and the store is in a larger development (with JCPenney and Target) that basically appears to have killed the further out Ohio Valley Mall. There are still stores in Ohio, and other states, in spite of Pennsylvania's lack of a clothing sales tax.
Quote from: Brandon on May 09, 2017, 11:22:02 AM
Quote from: SP Cook on May 09, 2017, 10:21:26 AM
- WV certainly fell hard for the "Cabella's is economic development" scam. Two huge subsidized stores. The amount of sporting goods sold is the same. Especially weird is they built a store in Wheeling just a mile from Pennsylvania. The Keystone State does not tax clothes, while WV is soon to be a whopping 8%. Total failure.
Not so much a failure as one might think. Wheeling is the center of population there, and the store is in a larger development (with JCPenney and Target) that basically appears to have killed the further out Ohio Valley Mall. There are still stores in Ohio, and other states, in spite of Pennsylvania's lack of a clothing sales tax.
That and, with PA's rapidly rising gas tax, people from PA will use Cabela's as an excuse to get cheap gas,
especially with the vehicles driven by the stereotypical Cabela's shopper. Saving 30 cents/gallon (using current GasBuddy prices) will more than offset sales tax.
Quote from: Brandon on May 09, 2017, 10:04:18 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on May 08, 2017, 08:33:27 PM
Quote from: bing101 on May 08, 2017, 08:08:01 PM
http://www.9news.com/mb/money/business/gander-mountain-liquidating-all-stores-closing-some/437618461
Update new chain being liquidated.
I guess it’s hard to compete when your rivals (Bass Pro, Cabela’s) make the mythic “welfare queen” look like a rank amateur (http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2012/08/why-have-so-many-cities-and-towns-given-away-so-much-money-bass-pro-shops-and-cabelas/2906/).
It's also a strange case where one entity bought the chain and intends to maintain about 70 stores, and another bought the merchandise to liquidate PDQ.
Gander Mountain's web store pissed me off when I bought an inflatable pool float from them. I got it as a Christmas present, but had no reason to open it until pool season. The float had 4 separate air compartments; 2 of them leaked. Since I was beyond their 30 day return police (but within the 1 year warranty), I had to pay to return it. I got another one. By the time I finally got it and tried it, same thing - it wouldn't stay inflated. Again, 30 day return period expired. By then, I was paying more for the shipping than it cost just for the product itself. I ate the loss.
I saw they were opening a lot more b&m stores throughout the country, but clearly they expended too fast without the benefit of a name people wanted to travel to. Not terribly surprised they're shutting down.
Quote from: Brandon on May 09, 2017, 11:22:02 AM
Not so much a failure as one might think. Wheeling is the center of population there, and the store is in a larger development (with JCPenney and Target) that basically appears to have killed the further out Ohio Valley Mall.
But that isn't what it was sold as. It was sold as this "tourist attraction". It is a store. People that shop there are from there. The shoppers are mostly people for whom that place is the closest such store, plus the occasional passer through off the interstate. Which is what stores are. They are stores. Not tourist attractions.
The state spent $60M for the so-called "TIF" to build the place, $35M of that directly to Cabela's, plus highway money to build an exit.
Now is it a "successful local store" ? Yeah. If I could get the government to tax you to build me a brick-and-mortar store, probably I could muddle along as well. But that is not the point. The idea that people are visiting garden spots of the world like Wheeling or Charleston, WV to buy sporting goods just never happened. That is what Cabela's is selling to governments all over the country. The fill up the press with these fact free fluff pieces about some mope from Lower Dumptruck, Arkansas driving 5 hours to spend 3 days and several thousand bucks at sporting goods store. It is just not real.
It is not Disney World, or Casears Palace. It is a store.
With the closure of Gander Mountain, the news just keeps getting worse for my hometown's mall (Lycoming). Though not inside the mall, a Gander Mountain store occupies a prominent outparcel. Next door looms a huge empty showroom that a woodworking tool company (Grizzly) vacated in 2015.
Since 2015, the mall has lost or will lose Macy's, JCPenney, Gap, Aéropostale, PacSun, Christopher & Banks, Radio Shack, and probably a half dozen other stores I'm not remembering offhand. I've also heard–but can't confirm–that Lycoming's Sears store is slated for closure. (Regardless, Sears surely isn't long for this world.) By the end of this year, the percentage of vacant square footage will surely be in excess of 50%.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 25, 2017, 06:09:42 PM
Piggly Wiggly? I know they have been gone in Central Florida since George HW. Bush was president. How about elsewhere whey they marketed their food markets?
You know you're in redneck country when you see a Piggly Wiggly in town, that and a single entrance Walmart.
My brother had a meeting in Pittsburgh a few years ago. Since he lives smack dab in the middle of the "Golden Triangle," he has his choice of routes. I think he went up 64-79, but came back 70-71 just to stop at Cabela's on the way home.
Me, I've never been to that Cabela's, but I think I have stopped at the Sheetz they built in that area.
I remember someone I knew used to refer to Sheetz at Shitz. I remember seeing them in Altoona, PA so I assume they were in the western PA market until I heard a girl originally from Winchester, VA say that she had them there. So I guess it is an Appalachian thing or was.
^ Sheetz is alive and well with over 500 locations and is #55 on Forbes' America's Largest Private Companies (https://www.forbes.com/companies/sheetz/) list.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 09, 2017, 03:35:41 PM
So I guess it is an Appalachian thing or was.
Not quite. Chain covers NE Ohio, most all of PA except the eastern edge, MD avoiding the Baltimore to Washington corridor, WV, VA avoiding the Tidewater, and the northern part of NC staying out of the mountains and the shore (furtherst west is Hickory, furthest east is Greenville, furtherst south is Statesville). Chain is continuing to grow, now that they have moved into OH, I expect they will move into SE OH. Probably go further south in NC as well. Don't know if they want to go much west or south of that. They seem to avoid being right in big cities.
Quote from: briantroutman on May 09, 2017, 03:49:20 PM
^ Sheetz is alive and well with over 500 locations and is #55 on Forbes' America's Largest Private Companies (https://www.forbes.com/companies/sheetz/) list.
I thought someone said they were around as it came up in a thread about Wawa as a few says they blow away Wawa which is mainly NJ, DE, MD, Northern VA, SE PA, and now Central Florida, Tampa Bay, and SW FL in the Sunshine State.
I think it would require a great deal of blind allegiance for anyone to claim that the made-to-order food operation at either Sheetz or Wawa "blows away" the other. In my opinion, they both make sometimes mediocre, sometimes decent food...depending on the store and who's working behind the counter when you walk in. Perhaps the only broad conclusion I draw is that Sheetz's ingredient option list is slightly larger and available fairly reliably, whereas Wawa's ingredients are perhaps a bit fresher and of slightly higher quality, though locations tend to run out of them.
At least in terms of these chains' home state of Pennsylvania, I think there's a great deal of irrelevant ancillary imagery that's associated when someone self identifies with either chain. Declaring a love for Wawa over Sheetz is more a matter of Iggles vs. Stillers, blue state vs. Trumpland, riding SEPTA vs. rolling coal, etc.
Quote from: SP Cook on May 09, 2017, 04:02:21 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 09, 2017, 03:35:41 PM
So I guess it is an Appalachian thing or was.
Not quite.
Correct, Sheetz isn't quite an Appalachian thing, but as a quick and dirty way to contrast its footprint with Wawa's, it's not terribly incorrect. Similarly, there a bit of a correlation (though admittedly far from 100%) between Sheetz vs. Wawa locations and red vs. blue voting areas, respectively (coincident with the colors used on the map below).
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7b/75/ca/7b75ca1af1e837d4a834f61e83ecaa70.jpg)
Quote from: SP Cook on May 09, 2017, 04:02:21 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 09, 2017, 03:35:41 PM
So I guess it is an Appalachian thing or was.
Not quite. Chain covers NE Ohio, most all of PA except the eastern edge, MD avoiding the Baltimore to Washington corridor, WV, VA avoiding the Tidewater, and the northern part of NC staying out of the mountains and the shore (furtherst west is Hickory, furthest east is Greenville, furtherst south is Statesville). Chain is continuing to grow, now that they have moved into OH, I expect they will move into SE OH. Probably go further south in NC as well. Don't know if they want to go much west or south of that. They seem to avoid being right in big cities.
My introduction to Sheetz came on Christmas Day 1990. My dad, brother and I were traveling from Atlantic City to DC, and could not find anything open to get lunch. We stumbled upon a Sheetz near either Catonsville or Caton Avenue (I'm not sure which) just off I-95 south of Baltimore, and we were able to eat. Their MTO options were much more limited back then. I ended up eating a meatball sub.
At a stop at the Milton Sheetz a couple of years ago, one of the employees told me they were looking into expanding into Kentucky. Since they're already within five miles of the state line (West Huntington) it shouldn't be too much of a problem to expand west on I-64 and also along US 23. There's been a Sheetz at Cambridge, Ohio, for years. With them looking to put several locations in Parkersburg, I can foresee them also putting in one in Marietta.
Quote from: briantroutman on May 09, 2017, 05:44:30 PM
I think it would require a great deal of blind allegiance for anyone to claim that the made-to-order food operation at either Sheetz or Wawa "blows away" the other. In my opinion, they both make sometimes mediocre, sometimes decent food...depending on the store and who's working behind the counter when you walk in. Perhaps the only broad conclusion I draw is that Sheetz's ingredient option list is slightly larger and available fairly reliably, whereas Wawa's ingredients are perhaps a bit fresher and of slightly higher quality, though locations tend to run out of them.
For me, it's the menu variety that tips the scale in Sheetz' favor. (Plus the fact that they're much closer to me than any Wawa.) Both have subs (so does Subway but I rarely eat there) and both have hot dogs. When I went to the last Hampton Roads meet a few years ago, my motel was just around the corner from a Wawa. I went over there to get something to eat and felt unfulfilled because they don't have Sheetz' menu variety.
I see that Sheetz, via their webpage, changed their look from the 1980's. I also see that they are headquartered in Altoona, where I saw their stores, and is named after its founder Bob Sheetz and run by his kin to this day.
Also read on wikipedia that they name their items with a Sh ending in z so a muffin is Shmuffinz to be original.
Have to try them next time I am in their markets. I do not know who said that bad name of theirs, it could have been someone here or someone else but their website indicates they are as good as Wawa, Quick Trip, and most likely better than Casey's Country Store in the Midwest.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 10, 2017, 12:19:20 PM
Both have subs (so does Subway but I rarely eat there) and both have hot dogs. When I went to the last Hampton Roads meet a few years ago, my motel was just around the corner from a Wawa. I went over there to get something to eat and felt unfulfilled because they don't have Sheetz' menu variety.
Let's make one thing absolutely clear: Wawa has hoagies. Not subs! (And for many in the Philly area where there's a hoagie shop on every corner, many would never consider Wawa's hoagies to be any good either)
Wawa does have less variety than Sheetz, and honestly, I'm thankful for that. From my experiences, it takes more time to order at Sheetz and to have the food prepared. Most items at Wawa are ready just after you pay, unless the store is crowded. I couldn't see Wawa offering items like burgers or something; they would simply not go over well in many of their markets. Wawa has attempted pizzas which were underwhelming at best. They maintain cheesesteaks on their menu as well, although, again, not good. Their hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, hot entrée bowls, etc, are pretty good though and make up a large portion of their deli sales.
The customer aspect at Wawa seems to have greatly gone downhill. If you're a regular, they get to know you. But if you're not, some of their employees are a bit on the surly side. And they have gotten away from freshly sliced meats and cheeses and deli salads, and now have everything pre-sliced prior to arriving at the store. They have a large variety of Wawa branded drinks, with people swearing by their Iced Teas.
As you can see on that map Brian posted, there is a very fine line where Wawa ends and Sheetz begins. As you go further south, they mix together a bit more, with the Richmond area the only real area they strongly compete against each other.
Quote from: briantroutman on May 09, 2017, 05:44:30 PM
Correct, Sheetz isn't quite an Appalachian thing, but as a quick and dirty way to contrast its footprint with Wawa's, it's not terribly incorrect.
Also, for some of us that are older, it's easier to think that, since the non Appalachian Sheetz's are somewhat newer (relative to the companies history).
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 10, 2017, 01:34:30 PM
Let's make one thing absolutely clear: Wawa has hoagies. Not subs!
I've had the same sandwich from both Sheetz and Wawa, and cannot tell much difference between Sheetz' subs and Wawa's subs/hoagies. It's all just a matter of semantics. :bigass:
Quote from: roadman65 on May 10, 2017, 12:57:39 PM
I see that Sheetz, via their webpage, changed their look from the 1980's. I also see that they are headquartered in Altoona, where I saw their stores, and is named after its founder Bob Sheetz and run by his kin to this day.
A couple of years ago, I was in my hometown's Sheetz and noticed a case stocked with several copies of a thin, almost pamphlet-like book (https://www.amazon.com/Made-Order-Sheetz-Kenneth-Womack/dp/1467120626) on Sheetz's history. I started thumbing through the pages and was interested in buying a copy, and then I noticed the selling price was something like $25–a little steep, I thought, for a lightweight puff piece. I passed.
But one thing I recall is that the Z was an affectation. The family name is really Sheets, and Bob Sheetz's father, Jerry Sheets, thought that the Z would be his ticket to the big time:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4166/33769099793_b9ea2077a3_z.jpg)
Anyone remember Ames? I was in kindergarten/1st grade when in started to fall in the pit of dead retailers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkWvNs0sPLA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkWvNs0sPLA)
And Blockbuster. Oh the fond memories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Jc3_rnLYI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Jc3_rnLYI)
Quote from: briantroutman on May 09, 2017, 05:44:30 PM
I think it would require a great deal of blind allegiance for anyone to claim that the made-to-order food operation at either Sheetz or Wawa "blows away" the other. In my opinion, they both make sometimes mediocre, sometimes decent food...depending on the store and who's working behind the counter when you walk in. Perhaps the only broad conclusion I draw is that Sheetz's ingredient option list is slightly larger and available fairly reliably, whereas Wawa's ingredients are perhaps a bit fresher and of slightly higher quality, though locations tend to run out of them.
At least in terms of these chains' home state of Pennsylvania, I think there's a great deal of irrelevant ancillary imagery that's associated when someone self identifies with either chain. Declaring a love for Wawa over Sheetz is more a matter of Iggles vs. Stillers, blue state vs. Trumpland, riding SEPTA vs. rolling coal, etc.
Quote from: SP Cook on May 09, 2017, 04:02:21 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 09, 2017, 03:35:41 PM
So I guess it is an Appalachian thing or was.
Not quite.
Correct, Sheetz isn't quite an Appalachian thing, but as a quick and dirty way to contrast its footprint with Wawa's, it's not terribly incorrect. Similarly, there a bit of a correlation (though admittedly far from 100%) between Sheetz vs. Wawa locations and red vs. blue voting areas, respectively (coincident with the colors used on the map below).
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7b/75/ca/7b75ca1af1e837d4a834f61e83ecaa70.jpg)
This graphical really puts it into perspective, Its amazing to see Wawa's every half a mile. Just like how Walmart started in the beginning now they are working to beat amazon in shipping.(It's not always about size it about how long you can last. :bigass: .)
Sheetz is spread about more sporadically and I wonder why they don't have any in the Delaware, Philly area. Maybe Royal farms is the reason but then again over here Wawa is treated like a god.
Quote from: briantroutman on May 09, 2017, 05:44:30 PM
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7b/75/ca/7b75ca1af1e837d4a834f61e83ecaa70.jpg)
Is there a reason Sheetz seems to be avoiding Upstate NY, especially the Southern Tier? It's a lot closer to Altoona than NC or KY.
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on May 10, 2017, 05:40:06 PM
Anyone remember Ames? I was in kindergarten/1st grade when in started to fall in the pit of dead retailers.
I remember they had badly outdated checkouts that did not use UPC barcodes. Instead, they used old-timey price stickers, the kind that had Ames's own internal accounting numbers printed at top and bottom, that had to be keyed in by hand.
Dansville, NY store, sometime in the mid-1990s. There was just one checkout going, and I was in a growing line for 5 or 10 minutes because the Ames price sticker had fallen off of some lady's plastic flowers, and someone had to run and find out those codes, although the UPC (put on by the manufacturer) was still there. All I could think was how,
in that day and age, a store that size could come to a complete halt because the store's sticker was missing from an item
that still had its UPC.
Quote from: GenExpwy on May 11, 2017, 04:43:37 AM
Quote from: briantroutman on May 09, 2017, 05:44:30 PM
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/7b/75/ca/7b75ca1af1e837d4a834f61e83ecaa70.jpg)
Is there a reason Sheetz seems to be avoiding Upstate NY, especially the Southern Tier? It’s a lot closer to Altoona than NC or KY.
It appears Sheetz is avoiding NY all together.
Probably simply because it's a state it has decided to avoid...at least for now. Like Wawa, Sheetz probably decided to expand towards the south, rather than the north.
Never knew the "Z" story. I went to college with a guy whose last name was Sheets. He had a reputation for being a player, and his hobby was trolling for freshmen girls every fall semester.
I would expect Sheetz is avoiding New York because of the regulatory and taxation nightmare that state is.
I remember Ames but don't recall ever visiting one.
Regardless of the specificities of New York's particular regulatory environment, I think it's safe to say that the price of entry going into a new state is high enough that a company either needs to go "all in" or not at all. And a business like Sheetz faces a complex web of different agencies that tax or regulate various aspects of its business: motor vehicle fuels, fuel pump certification, tobacco sales, alcohol sales (in some areas), foodservice safety inspections, wages and unemployment compensation, etc.
Also–is there a dominant "super convenience store" chain in western New York? There's a cluster of Dandy Mini Markets centered roughly on Elmira, but I don't recall seeing them further west, and I don't believe any of them looked that "super" .
A defunct convenience store chain (for all intents in purposes) in the heart of Sheetz country is Uni-Mart. Based in State College, it was once the dominant convenience store in many central PA towns. Most of the locations were small neighborhood markets, and like 7-Eleven, many lacked fuel pumps. By the late '90s, many of the locations were a decade or two old and easily outclassed by the large new Sheetz stores infiltrating Uni-Mart's territory.
Uni-Mart rolled out a new logo around this time and even launched at least one very Sheetz-like new prototype location in Lewisburg, but it was too little too late. Most locations were still cramped, tired relics of the '70s and '80s–most still carrying the old logo.
I read that the company was taken private in 2004 and liquidated following a bankruptcy in 2008. Apparently the trademark is in new hands now, and I've noticed it popping up at dumpy old gas stations whose convenience stores might otherwise be unbranded.
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on May 10, 2017, 05:40:06 PM
Anyone remember Ames?
My only experience with Ames came from the company's purchase of Hills discount stores.
In my early childhood, my hometown had four discount stores: Kmart, two Nichols stores, and Hills. I don't recall much about Nichols as we rarely went there and both locations were shuttered by the early '90s.
But I definitely remember Hills. Even as child with low expectations, I recall thinking that our Hills store was something of a dive and dump. The store was given a modest renovation in the mid '90s, but Hills was merged into Ames soon after.
Ames didn't seem to invest much in the property; they just slapped their sign in place of Hills'. The clientele was decidedly elderly (as I recall, they even had a senior discount day), and the store had the kind of "smell of death" that Kmart does today. The word spread quickly in my hometown: Ames wasn't worth shopping. The store's parking lot always seemed conspicuously empty along busy US 15, and the entire company went out of business soon after.
Quote from: briantroutman on May 11, 2017, 03:02:25 PM
I think it's safe to say that the price of entry going into a new state is high enough that a company either needs to go "all in" or not at all. And a business like Sheetz faces a complex web of different agencies that tax or regulate various aspects of its business: motor vehicle fuels, fuel pump certification, tobacco sales, alcohol sales (in some areas), foodservice safety inspections, wages and unemployment compensation, etc.
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on May 10, 2017, 05:40:06 PM
Anyone remember Ames?
My only experience with Ames came from the company's purchase of Hills discount stores.
But I definitely remember Hills. Even as child with low expectations...
States: Yes. Going into a new state is a complex web of laws. This is why I was surprised that Sheetz had moved into Ohio. I suspect Sheetz will move into SE Ohio, I don't know if they want to move further west as it is a whole different set of competitors; and I suspect it will fill in the rest of the NC map, before going anywhere else. Kentucky is probably the next up.
Ames: Remember. Crap store. Came into my area via old Hills and Murphy Mart stores.
Hills. Remember. Crap store. Their gimmick was "we don't take credit cards". OK, fair enough. What they did do was take checks and make the poor MW cashier copy (by hand) your DL number and your SS number (people were not nuttso about SSNs back then) and then go to this giant file of people that had passed bad checks, pull the card immediatly before and after where the name should have been, then initial the check, and then take their work, to a "manager" (who was often not right there to do the work) who then initialed it. Then she had to put the cards back and then go back to her station and close out the ticket. It was worth it to shop elsewhere. Took forever to check out. And, because they also took in a lot of cash for the same reason, the clerks were always shutting down to make cash drops and they kept the drawers so thin that "manager" had to go to a safe to give more than $15 change.
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on May 10, 2017, 05:40:06 PM
Anyone remember Ames? I was in kindergarten/1st grade when in started to fall in the pit of dead retailers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkWvNs0sPLA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkWvNs0sPLA)
And Blockbuster. Oh the fond memories.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Jc3_rnLYI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Jc3_rnLYI)
Never heard of Ames. I guess it was an East Coast store?
I don't remember that about Hills and credit cards (because my family didn't use credit cards back then, we paid cash) but there were two in Lexington that were pretty nice stores. We shopped there often.
Also CSC (Consolidated Sales Co.), which anchored the old Lexington Mall on Richmond Road at the corner of New Circle, and also had some locations in other areas. I think I remember them being in Louisville and metro Cincinnati.
Quote from: hm insulators on May 11, 2017, 04:14:05 PM
Never heard of Ames. I guess it was an East Coast store?
The company was based in Connecticut and, largely through acquisitions, covered from New England westward as far as Illinois and southward to Tennessee and North Carolina at its peak (plus a few stores in Florida).
Another defunct retailer that just came to mind is Moore's Lumber and Building Supplies. It was a chain of home stores probably most similar to 84 Lumber–certainly much smaller and more "nuts and bolts" than Lowe's or Home Depot.
Our hometown store was in a floodplain that got deluged in 1996. It closed after the flood and never reopened. From what little I can find elsewhere, other Pennsylvania stores closed a few years later, and the company, which was based in Roanoke, exited the retail business altogether and was sold by 2004.
Moore's fox M logo is one of those indelible images from my childhood:
(https://colt76foutz.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/moores.jpg?w=690)
Great Eastern and Valley Fair in NJ back when Two Guys was in the Mid Atlantic States.
How about Phar More and Drug Emporium. Drug Emporium used to sell quarter Coke and Pepsi Products out their Vending Machines in the late 80s as thank you for shopping with them.
Quote from: briantroutman on May 11, 2017, 06:02:30 PM
Another defunct retailer that just came to mind is Moore's Lumber and Building Supplies. It was a chain of home stores probably most similar to 84 Lumber–certainly much smaller and more "nuts and bolts" than Lowe's or Home Depot.
Our hometown store was in a floodplain that got deluged in 1996. It closed after the flood and never reopened. From what little I can find elsewhere, other Pennsylvania stores closed a few years later, and the company, which was based in Roanoke, exited the retail business altogether and was sold by 2004.
Moore's fox M logo is one of those indelible images from my childhood:
(https://colt76foutz.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/moores.jpg?w=690)
There was one in Petersburg. I remember the logo from my childhood but forgot about it until just now. To my knowledge, the Petersburg location was a victim of the city's 1990s retail collapse.
Quote from: SP Cook on May 11, 2017, 03:32:49 PM
Quote from: briantroutman on May 11, 2017, 03:02:25 PM
I think it's safe to say that the price of entry going into a new state is high enough that a company either needs to go "all in" or not at all. And a business like Sheetz faces a complex web of different agencies that tax or regulate various aspects of its business: motor vehicle fuels, fuel pump certification, tobacco sales, alcohol sales (in some areas), foodservice safety inspections, wages and unemployment compensation, etc.
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on May 10, 2017, 05:40:06 PM
Anyone remember Ames?
My only experience with Ames came from the company's purchase of Hills discount stores.
But I definitely remember Hills. Even as child with low expectations...
States: Yes. Going into a new state is a complex web of laws. This is why I was surprised that Sheetz had moved into Ohio. I suspect Sheetz will move into SE Ohio, I don't know if they want to move further west as it is a whole different set of competitors; and I suspect it will fill in the rest of the NC map, before going anywhere else. Kentucky is probably the next up.
IIRC, The only real regional C-Store chain I recall seeing in western ohio was Speedway. Sheetz could do well, at least in NW Ohio.
Quote from: thenetwork on May 11, 2017, 09:08:57 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on May 11, 2017, 03:32:49 PM
Quote from: briantroutman on May 11, 2017, 03:02:25 PM
I think it's safe to say that the price of entry going into a new state is high enough that a company either needs to go "all in" or not at all. And a business like Sheetz faces a complex web of different agencies that tax or regulate various aspects of its business: motor vehicle fuels, fuel pump certification, tobacco sales, alcohol sales (in some areas), foodservice safety inspections, wages and unemployment compensation, etc.
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on May 10, 2017, 05:40:06 PM
Anyone remember Ames?
My only experience with Ames came from the company's purchase of Hills discount stores.
But I definitely remember Hills. Even as child with low expectations...
States: Yes. Going into a new state is a complex web of laws. This is why I was surprised that Sheetz had moved into Ohio. I suspect Sheetz will move into SE Ohio, I don't know if they want to move further west as it is a whole different set of competitors; and I suspect it will fill in the rest of the NC map, before going anywhere else. Kentucky is probably the next up.
IIRC, The only real regional C-Store chain I recall seeing in western ohio was Speedway. Sheetz could do well, at least in NW Ohio.
They also don't want to be too far from one of their distribution centers. Bakery products are delivered daily. Go too far west and they'd have to build new facilities.
Ames World Headquarters still sits empty. Here's a 2007 shot of it:
https://goo.gl/maps/6Rx1YHrHyfL2
And more recently:
https://goo.gl/maps/wfa32YMBNv72
There used to be a place called Ruby Tuesday's around my area that I liked to go to, no idea if it is still around.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 11, 2017, 10:52:14 PM
There used to be a place called Ruby Tuesday's around my area that I liked to go to, no idea if it is still around.
Its still around. My local mall still has one (which I never go to because the Red Robin in the mall get my business way too much).
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 11, 2017, 11:01:30 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 11, 2017, 10:52:14 PM
There used to be a place called Ruby Tuesday's around my area that I liked to go to, no idea if it is still around.
Its still around. My local mall still has one (which I never go to because the Red Robin in the mall get my business way too much).
These restaurants used to be good back in the day, now all the food is crap.
I went to T.G.I Fridays not to long ago, and got food poisoning. I vouched
never to eat at Casual Fast food again.
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18593.0
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on May 12, 2017, 05:45:48 AM
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18593.0
They closed the location near Framingham that I used to go to long ago, before 2016.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 11, 2017, 11:01:30 PM
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on May 11, 2017, 10:52:14 PM
There used to be a place called Ruby Tuesday's around my area that I liked to go to, no idea if it is still around.
Its still around. My local mall still has one (which I never go to because the Red Robin in the mall get my business way too much).
They need to lower their prices as the one by my house is just too damned expensive! Even TGI Friday's has gotten way too high. If I go to Friday's it was to order the half price Happy Hour appetizers.
Ruby Tuesday has become RubyT in Orlando dropping the Tuesday and initiating a big whit T in its place.
Quote from: cl94 on May 11, 2017, 09:47:10 PM
They also don't want to be too far from one of their distribution centers. Bakery products are delivered daily. Go too far west and they'd have to build new facilities.
Oddly, Sheetz, at least in my area, sells Galliker's dairy products. That is a Johnstown, PA/Cumberland, MD based company and I have never seen it at retail very distant from its home region anywhere else. It is delivered by Galliker's trucks. That does not seem very efficient.
It goes to like why Braum's Dairy in Tutle, OK won't open stores more than 300 miles from its facility. They clamie that that far away will compromise the freshness of their products.
Quote from: SP Cook on May 12, 2017, 10:31:33 AM
Quote from: cl94 on May 11, 2017, 09:47:10 PM
They also don't want to be too far from one of their distribution centers. Bakery products are delivered daily. Go too far west and they'd have to build new facilities.
Oddly, Sheetz, at least in my area, sells Galliker's dairy products. That is a Johnstown, PA/Cumberland, MD based company and I have never seen it at retail very distant from its home region anywhere else. It is delivered by Galliker's trucks. That does not seem very efficient.
This goes to why Braum's Dairy in Tutle, OK won't open stores more than 300 miles from their main facility. They claim any further will compromise freshness of the milk, ice cream, etc.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 12, 2017, 10:43:15 AM
It goes to like why Braum's Dairy in Tutle, OK won't open stores more than 300 miles from its facility. They clamie that that far away will compromise the freshness of their products.Quote from: SP Cook on May 12, 2017, 10:31:33 AM
Quote from: cl94 on May 11, 2017, 09:47:10 PM
They also don't want to be too far from one of their distribution centers. Bakery products are delivered daily. Go too far west and they'd have to build new facilities.
Oddly, Sheetz, at least in my area, sells Galliker's dairy products. That is a Johnstown, PA/Cumberland, MD based company and I have never seen it at retail very distant from its home region anywhere else. It is delivered by Galliker's trucks. That does not seem very efficient.
This goes to why Braum's Dairy in Tutle, OK won't open stores more than 300 miles from their main facility. They claim any further will compromise freshness of the milk, ice cream, etc.
That was what Wawa said. They had expended into Connecticut at one point I believe, but the NYC traffic didn't work well with their delivery system.
I'm not sure how they decided on Florida though...if they have a second distribution warehouse down there, or where they get their milk from (people are amazingly picky about their milk. Me, I couldn't tell you where it came from!)
The Wawas in CT were nothing like the Wawas in the Mid-Atlantic. None of them had gas stations attached to them, and weren't really the state of the art, well kept Wawa's I've visited down there. There was one on the campus of the University I attended, and it was your average Quickie Mart kind of place; coffee in a pot, no iced coffee, and just a couple of coolers for soda; not even a soda fountain. Most of them became Krauszer's, which is a step below 7-11. Other than a few upgraded Cumby's, there aren't many good 24 hour convenience store/gas chains off of I-95 or CT 15 other than a couple of truck stops, and most supermarkets that were once 24 hours now close at 10 or midnight. We need a store like Wawa or Sheetz up here.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on May 12, 2017, 12:11:25 PM
The Wawas in CT were nothing like the Wawas in the Mid-Atlantic. None of them had gas stations attached to them, and weren't really the state of the art, well kept Wawa's I've visited down there. There was one on the campus of the University I attended, and it was your average Quickie Mart kind of place; coffee in a pot, no iced coffee, and just a couple of coolers for soda; not even a soda fountain. Most of them became Krauszer's, which is a step below 7-11. Other than a few upgraded Cumby's, there aren't many good 24 hour convenience store/gas chains off of I-95 or CT 15 other than a couple of truck stops, and most supermarkets that were once 24 hours now close at 10 or midnight. We need a store like Wawa or Sheetz up here.
At the time, Wawa was still in the convenience store only business. They only had 1 store with gas pumps - it was in PA, didn't have an overhead canopy, and was basically a store Wawa converted from something else and left the gas pumps in place.
Eventually they started experimenting with gas pumps. Then they started adding diesel to their fuel products. Now, other than in downtown cities, all their new stores have fuel, and the majority have both gas and diesel. As they build their new stores, they usually shut down older, nearby stores. They'll add fuel sales to some stores where they can.
One store, off Exit 18 of I-295 in NJ, has Natural Gas pumps.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 09, 2017, 04:10:28 PM
[Wawa which is mainly NJ, DE, MD, Northern VA, SE PA, and now Central Florida, Tampa Bay, and SW FL in the Sunshine State.
And now also Palm Beach, with Broward County locations (Davie, Ft Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach) coming this Summer and Fall.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 12, 2017, 11:17:37 AM(people are amazingly picky about their milk. Me, I couldn't tell you where it came from!)
Cows. It typically comes from cows. :-D :-D
I will tell you something about Wawa, they opened up their first four Florida locations in Summer of 12 and almost five years later they are all over the place. Now in Palm Beach County and spreading to Broward it won't be long they are in Miami-Dade and eventually along the US 27 corridor in small places like South Bay, Clewiston, Moore Haven, Lake Placid, and even the Avon Park/ Sebring area. At this rate by 2020 they should have them in various points along the southern half of the Florida Peninsula.
Is Quick Chek still in NJ? I know they started out small like Circle K, but when I came back to NJ for visits in the 90's they expanded not only locations but the size of the stores themselves and if memory serves me correct they had gas pumps as part of their new look.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 16, 2017, 09:11:29 PM
Is Quick Chek still in NJ? I know they started out small like Circle K, but when I came back to NJ for visits in the 90's they expanded not only locations but the size of the stores themselves and if memory serves me correct they had gas pumps as part of their new look.
Yes - they're expanding rapidly down in the Ocean County area, gas pumps and all. Similar to, but not as good as Wawa. Lakewood and Beachwood just got upgrades to new larger locations nearby with pumps, and one is under construction in the middle of Brick right now.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 16, 2017, 09:11:29 PM
Is Quick Chek still in NJ? I know they started out small like Circle K, but when I came back to NJ for visits in the 90's they expanded not only locations but the size of the stores themselves and if memory serves me correct they had gas pumps as part of their new look.
Definitely. They've basically become a copy of Wawa that expanded up into the Hudson Valley.
We had a small one in Clark, and even sold Taco Bell tacos when I visited my hometown in the mid 90's. It was great to see them expand to larger stores to compete with the other guys. I am happy to hear they are expanding northward and up the Hudson Valley as well as Ocean County, NJ.
Trying something else Wawa and Sheetz have not yet.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 13, 2017, 03:01:37 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 12, 2017, 11:17:37 AM(people are amazingly picky about their milk. Me, I couldn't tell you where it came from!)
Cows. It typically comes from cows. :-D :-D
HB, you haven't been out to CA in some time! If milk can be obtained from any mammal, some market in the state (more often than not Whole Foods -- aka "Whole Paycheck") will have it in their chilled case. We even get milk from almonds, coconuts (duh!), and various varieties of beans (Trader Joe's is notorious for the latter). Diversity's not just for people anymore -- now it's spread to comestible white (or off-white) opaque fluids! :sombrero:
Quote from: sparker on May 18, 2017, 02:46:39 AM
We even get milk from almonds, coconuts (duh!), and various varieties of beans (Trader Joe's is notorious for the latter). Diversity's not just for people anymore -- now it's spread to comestible white (or off-white) opaque fluids! :sombrero:
Almond milk is surprisingly pretty good.
Quote from: sparker on May 18, 2017, 02:46:39 AM
HB, you haven't been out to CA in some time!
Actually, I've never been to California, but I was just cracking wise. I know a few folks who love goat's milk.
Quote from: LM117 on April 25, 2017, 06:55:26 PM
There's a Piggly Wiggly here in Danville on US-58 just east of US-29. There used to be another one here as well at the corner of Piney Forest Road (US-29 Business) and Nor-Dan Drive. That one closed in 2013 and was torn down in 2015. A Walmart Neighborhood Market was built in it's place and opened last August.
BTW, the current existing Piggly Wiggly on US-58 is one of the nastiest and worst smelling grocery stores I've ever set foot in. The inside reeked of a cat litterbox that hasn't ever been changed. X-( The store manager being a total bitch was just the tip of the iceberg. I haven't been to that Piggly Wiggly since 2015 and I don't miss it a damn bit.
I don't know of any other Piggly Wiggly stores in Virginia.
Since we're here talking about defunct retailers and all, I used to run the shoe department at Value City in Danville in the late '90s (and Indy, and Lynchburg, and Atlanta, etc.)
Ginos. They sold their stores to Marriot and then there were all changed to Roy Rogers, unless a Roy Rogers was nearby then they closed them. Roy Rogers was already a Marriot brand and did not want to operate two hamburger joints so made them all Roy Rogers.
They were only in DE, MD, PA, and NJ but was the retailer for KFC. Until they closed, I did not know KFC had their own outlets.
I think now Roy Rogers is defunct as Marriot unloaded them when I worked for them in the late 80s. They only kept the toll road stores, but I think they're gone too.
^^ There are still a few RR restaurants still open: http://www.royrogersrestaurants.com/store_locator
Sandy's (bought out by Hardees)
Quote from: Big John on June 10, 2017, 10:56:46 PM
^^ There are still a few RR restaurants still open: http://www.royrogersrestaurants.com/store_locator
I live near what for years was one of the only non-rest area Roy Rogers in the northeast in Pine Beach, NJ. I used to stop by every once in awhile for a bit of nostalgia. It's pretty popular, even if it is a bit more expensive for what you get (no doubt for years due to the limited supply chain and its relative distance from the corporate hub and other locations). More recently, the franchise owner has opened up another restaurant not too far away in Brick, and I've seen another pop up in Northern NJ on US 1. I think the Brick location might actually hurt Pine Beach and the franchise in general since I believe it draws from a larger radius and relies somewhat on nostalgia and 'something different'. For now, I will continue to enjoy Double R Bar Burgers, roast beef and their chicken - especially since Arby's came and left our area, taking its roast beef with it.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on May 11, 2017, 09:48:31 PM
Ames World Headquarters still sits empty. Here's a 2007 shot of it:
https://goo.gl/maps/6Rx1YHrHyfL2
And more recently:
https://goo.gl/maps/wfa32YMBNv72
I've been there once actually
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on June 11, 2017, 11:26:07 AM
Quote from: Big John on June 10, 2017, 10:56:46 PM
^^ There are still a few RR restaurants still open: http://www.royrogersrestaurants.com/store_locator
I live near what for years was one of the only non-rest area Roy Rogers in the northeast in Pine Beach, NJ. I used to stop by every once in awhile for a bit of nostalgia. It's pretty popular, even if it is a bit more expensive for what you get (no doubt for years due to the limited supply chain and its relative distance from the corporate hub and other locations). More recently, the franchise owner has opened up another restaurant not too far away in Brick, and I've seen another pop up in Northern NJ on US 1. I think the Brick location might actually hurt Pine Beach and the franchise in general since I believe it draws from a larger radius and relies somewhat on nostalgia and 'something different'. For now, I will continue to enjoy Double R Bar Burgers, roast beef and their chicken - especially since Arby's came and left our area, taking its roast beef with it.
My cousin lives there in Pine Beach. He would take me there especially for Breakfast. Though the last time I visited him there was in 05, so I had no idea its still there.
I used to enjoy the one in Edison near the Menlo Park Mall. That one I believe is gone.
Quote from: roadman65 on June 10, 2017, 10:31:22 PM
Ginos. They sold their stores to Marriot and then there were all changed to Roy Rogers, unless a Roy Rogers was nearby then they closed them. Roy Rogers was already a Marriot brand and did not want to operate two hamburger joints so made them all Roy Rogers.
They were only in DE, MD, PA, and NJ but was the retailer for KFC. Until they closed, I did not know KFC had their own outlets.
I think now Roy Rogers is defunct as Marriot unloaded them when I worked for them in the late 80s. They only kept the toll road stores, but I think they're gone too.
Roy Rogers went through a series of new owners, but there were always some franchised stores that did not go through the RR-to-Hardees-to-RR-to McDonald's changes, and they remained under the old cowboy's name - and apparently remained rather profitable.
The Roy Rogers concept and trademarks and the rest was finally purchased Plamondon Companies of Frederick, Maryland (founded by a former Marriott executive, which also owns several hotels that run under the Marriott brand).
Plamondon has been expanding the Roy Rogers chain, selling franchises in Maryland and Virginia, and putting up brand-new stores.
So Roy Rogers himself may be six feet under, but the fast food chain with his name on the outside is doing quite well, in spite of being pronounced dead more than once.
Quote from: mefailenglish on May 13, 2017, 12:14:07 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 09, 2017, 04:10:28 PM
[Wawa which is mainly NJ, DE, MD, Northern VA, SE PA, and now Central Florida, Tampa Bay, and SW FL in the Sunshine State.
And now also Palm Beach, with Broward County locations (Davie, Ft Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach) coming this Summer and Fall.
Jacksonville stores are under construction.. 4 or 5 set to open in the upcoming fall/winter 2017-8...
The Jacksonville based Gate and Dailys c-sores are upgrading food choices( not to mention upgrades to RaceTrac) in response partly to WaWa
LGMS428
Wawa sure has the capital, as in five years they went from only four locations in Orlando to almost ever major market in Florida minus the Panhandle. They must be loaded or in hock up to their eyebrows with hopes of potential revenue to finance the building of their new stores.
Also who remembers The Rustler Steakhouse and Bonanza?
Quote from: roadman65 on June 18, 2017, 11:39:34 AM
Wawa sure has the capital, as in five years they went from only four locations in Orlando to almost ever major market in Florida minus the Panhandle. They must be loaded or in hock up to their eyebrows with hopes of potential revenue to finance the building of their new stores.
Also who remembers The Rustler Steakhouse and Bonanza?
I remember Bonanza and it's sister restaurant Ponderosa. Had a Ponderosa in my town until about 15 years ago. It's now a dental office and hair salon, but you can clearly see the architecture. Would have been more appropriate if it had become a similar restaurant like Golden Corral.
Ponderosa is not as big as it used to be. I had one up the road from where I live now, but its now a mom and pop Mexican place. I think we have a couple left in Orlando, but hardly what it once was.
Rustler I believe was absorbed into Sizzler, but even they are not as big as they once were as well. Rustler was short lived in the 1980's and I remember one in particular seen on the NJ Turnpike where it meets NJ 45 near Woodbury, NJ. Obviously due to the lack of interchange there it was not a interchange service of the Turnpike, but made your mouth water for steak when driving past it.
The Rustlers here in southeast Michigan all closed around 1983. I was a telephone installer back then, and one fine day I had the work order to disconnect all the phone service in their regional office, which was on the second floor of one of the restaurants. My arrival that day was the first clue the office workers (including the manager) had that their jobs were gone. The office manager told me I must be mistaken, and he called corporate HQ who confirmed my work order. Not a fun day.
Quote from: roadman65 on June 20, 2017, 08:03:25 PM
Ponderosa is not as big as it used to be. I had one up the road from where I live now, but its now a mom and pop Mexican place. I think we have a couple left in Orlando, but hardly what it once was.
Rustler I believe was absorbed into Sizzler, but even they are not as big as they once were as well. Rustler was short lived in the 1980's and I remember one in particular seen on the NJ Turnpike where it meets NJ 45 near Woodbury, NJ. Obviously due to the lack of interchange there it was not a interchange service of the Turnpike, but made your mouth water for steak when driving past it.
I ate at that Sizzler many times. It's now a Diner/Sports Bar. There was a Ponderosa nearby as well, which is now a speciality car parts store.
Quote from: Big John on June 10, 2017, 10:56:46 PM
^^ There are still a few RR restaurants still open: http://www.royrogersrestaurants.com/store_locator
I ate at Roy Rogers yesterday, the one in the Manchester Lakes shopping center in Virginia, after playing golf. Place was quite busy, too. They still have the Fixin's Bar and most of the familiar menu items. They also now have a rewards program accessible via an app. Got me a $5 discount yesterday. That particular Roy Rogers is always WAY busier than the Boardwalk Burgers and Fries located about four doors down in the same shopping center. I'd say Boardwalk has better fries and Roy's has better everything else.
roadman65's list of states where Gino's "operated" is incomplete, as they were also in Virginia. I clearly remember the one on the corner of VA-236 and Prosperity Avenue, across the street from where the Walgreens is now. The Gino's became a Pizza Hut. My parents live near that location. The police station nearby used to be Pine Ridge Elementary, which I attended from kindergarten through third grade (the county then closed the school), and we took a walking field trip to Gino's one year as part of some sort of unit about jobs (I have no idea what we were studying, just too long ago). They'd never allow a walking field trip like that now because we had to cross TWO streets.
I believe there's still a Ponderosa in Charlottesville at the Pantops shopping center. Only Ponderosa I know of these days.
Regarding Wawa, I've bought gas at the one on Opitz Boulevard in Woodbridge and the main thing I noted is that their super unleaded is still 92 octane. That was the norm in this part of the country until the mid-1990s, at which time they all switched to 93 for whatever reason.
Apparently, Rite-Aid isn't as dead as we originally thought (yet). Looks like they'll focus on their stores in their closer in markets in the Mid-Atlantic, New York, and Connecticut:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/walgreens-scraps-rite-aid-bid-but-will-still-buy-some-stores/ar-BBDrjrX?li=AA4Zjn&ocid=spartandhp
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on June 29, 2017, 10:54:05 PM
Apparently, Rite-Aid isn't as dead as we originally thought (yet). Looks like they'll focus on their stores in their closer in markets in the Mid-Atlantic, New York, and Connecticut:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/walgreens-scraps-rite-aid-bid-but-will-still-buy-some-stores/ar-BBDrjrX?li=AA4Zjn&ocid=spartandhp
Huh...they seem to be in the west coast aswell
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Rite_Aid_footprint.png/800px-Rite_Aid_footprint.png)
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on June 29, 2017, 10:54:05 PM
Apparently, Rite-Aid isn't as dead as we originally thought (yet). Looks like they'll focus on their stores in their closer in markets in the Mid-Atlantic, New York, and Connecticut:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/walgreens-scraps-rite-aid-bid-but-will-still-buy-some-stores/ar-BBDrjrX?li=AA4Zjn&ocid=spartandhp
On the one hand, I'm disappointed that the merger wasn't pursued, but then on the other hand, I'm glad Wag's is buying almost 2200 stores. Means work for me, but my raise come November will probably be crap.
(I'm a Wag IT employee)
Wikipedia is full of those footprint maps. Most big bank articles have them. I would love to know how these are made.
Anyway, Rite Aid and Walgreen's seem like a tough marriage, whether it be the now called off total deal or Walgreen's buying a large part of their stores. They are just night and day on different edges of the specturm. Rite Aid is so down market and the customer service is about the worst there is. Whatever Rite Aids are taken over will need a big "come to Jesus" meeting with the employees to bring it up to acceptable levels, otherwise the reverse will happen. Hate to see that happen to Walgreen's.
Quote from: SP Cook on June 30, 2017, 09:59:06 AM
Wikipedia is full of those footprint maps. Most big bank articles have them. I would love to know how these are made.
Actually, I've made some myself, one with a local bank and one with Big Y. I made them using this tool: https://tools.wmflabs.org/magog/branchmapper/start.php (https://tools.wmflabs.org/magog/branchmapper/start.php) and the zip codes of the places.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on June 29, 2017, 10:54:05 PM
Apparently, Rite-Aid isn't as dead as we originally thought (yet). Looks like they'll focus on their stores in their closer in markets in the Mid-Atlantic, New York, and Connecticut:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/walgreens-scraps-rite-aid-bid-but-will-still-buy-some-stores/ar-BBDrjrX?li=AA4Zjn&ocid=spartandhp
There's a Rite-Aid near our house, across from the Roy Rogers. I guess they need a K-Mart or Sears right there to complete the image, huh? The Roy's is always extremely busy, though. I've only been to the Rite-Aid once. I can't say it struck me as any different from the other ubiquitous chains like CVS or Walgreens, neither of which strike me as all that great either.
Quote from: JJBers on June 30, 2017, 01:18:19 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on June 29, 2017, 10:54:05 PM
Apparently, Rite-Aid isn't as dead as we originally thought (yet). Looks like they'll focus on their stores in their closer in markets in the Mid-Atlantic, New York, and Connecticut:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/walgreens-scraps-rite-aid-bid-but-will-still-buy-some-stores/ar-BBDrjrX?li=AA4Zjn&ocid=spartandhp
Huh...they seem to be in the west coast aswell
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Rite_Aid_footprint.png/800px-Rite_Aid_footprint.png)
None in Texas?
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 01, 2017, 11:53:43 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on June 29, 2017, 10:54:05 PM
Apparently, Rite-Aid isn't as dead as we originally thought (yet). Looks like they'll focus on their stores in their closer in markets in the Mid-Atlantic, New York, and Connecticut:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/walgreens-scraps-rite-aid-bid-but-will-still-buy-some-stores/ar-BBDrjrX?li=AA4Zjn&ocid=spartandhp
There's a Rite-Aid near our house, across from the Roy Rogers. I guess they need a K-Mart or Sears right there to complete the image, huh? The Roy's is always extremely busy, though. I've only been to the Rite-Aid once. I can't say it struck me as any different from the other ubiquitous chains like CVS or Walgreens, neither of which strike me as all that great either.
I don't have a Rite-Aid until Norwich or Moosup around here.
I have 2 Rite Aids in my town (along with 2 CVS's and a Walgreens). One of the Rite Aids was built about 10 years ago and is always clean and is actually pretty nice. The other is about 35 years old, has very narrow junk strewn aisles, and the pharmacy is almost like a closet. The latter one certainly would have closed if Walgreens had gone through with the merger because Walgreens built a store about a half mile from there about 15 years ago (across from a CVS, of course).
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 02, 2017, 09:45:31 AM
I have 2 Rite Aids in my town (along with 2 CVS's and a Walgreens). One of the Rite Aids was built about 10 years ago and is always clean and is actually pretty nice. The other is about 35 years old, has very narrow junk strewn aisles, and the pharmacy is almost like a closet. The latter one certainly would have closed if Walgreens had gone through with the merger because Walgreens built a store about a half mile from there about 15 years ago (across from a CVS, of course).
I've never been in a Rite-Aid before, and the one I got closest to was a Rite-Aid in East Lyme, which looked like it was built in 2010.
I have a CVS and a Walgreens in the town next to me. (Willimantic)
Quote from: JJBers on July 02, 2017, 11:35:25 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 02, 2017, 09:45:31 AM
I have 2 Rite Aids in my town (along with 2 CVS's and a Walgreens). One of the Rite Aids was built about 10 years ago and is always clean and is actually pretty nice. The other is about 35 years old, has very narrow junk strewn aisles, and the pharmacy is almost like a closet. The latter one certainly would have closed if Walgreens had gone through with the merger because Walgreens built a store about a half mile from there about 15 years ago (across from a CVS, of course).
I've never been in a Rite-Aid before, and the one I got closest to was a Rite-Aid in East Lyme, which looked like it was built in 2010.
I have a CVS and a Walgreens in the town next to me. (Willimantic)
There's one remaining Rite-Aid in my immediate neighborhood; it's in a strip of businesses next door to a Safeway that conveniently lacks a pharmacy (that particular market went "upscale" a few years back and installed a "gourmet" deli and bakery section and otherwise moved things around, with no remaining room for a pharmacy). It does a decent business, despite a Walgreen's across the street -- but the employees have always been a bit clueless in regards to their inventory. But it's likely that due to the fact that it's the only Rite-Aid within a 5-mile (or so) radius, it probably is bypassed by folks for prescription use (including myself) -- and that's the lifeline of such stores. In reality the only reason to patronize the store is the occasional published special sale prices on demand items (12-packs of soda, snack items, or such things as OTC first-aid items).
Quote from: JJBers on June 30, 2017, 12:18:46 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on June 30, 2017, 09:59:06 AM
Wikipedia is full of those footprint maps. Most big bank articles have them. I would love to know how these are made.
Actually, I've made some myself, one with a local bank and one with Big Y. I made them using this tool: https://tools.wmflabs.org/magog/branchmapper/start.php (https://tools.wmflabs.org/magog/branchmapper/start.php) and the zip codes of the places.
Thanks for reminding me that tool existed. Think I might make a few for regional stores over my vacation time.
As of last year there was still a Bonanza in St. Cloud. I haven't checked on its latest status but it was in a good location and seemed busy enough.
Regarding the quality of stores (Rite Aid vs. CVS vs. Walgreens):
Perhaps my experience is skewed having generally lived closer to the home territories of Rite Aid and CVS (and therefore, some of their older stores). But it seems that both of those chains are far less aggressive than Walgreens in terms of weeding out or renovating older locations. I've seen plenty of tired, small CVSes and Rite Aids still hanging on in declining strip malls, but it seems every Walgreens I've encountered (except in downtown areas) is a fairly new superstore-type of location.
Quote from: briantroutman on July 03, 2017, 12:28:28 AM
Regarding the quality of stores (Rite Aid vs. CVS vs. Walgreens):
Perhaps my experience is skewed having generally lived closer to the home territories of Rite Aid and CVS (and therefore, some of their older stores). But it seems that both of those chains are far less aggressive than Walgreens in terms of weeding out or renovating older locations. I've seen plenty of tired, small CVSes and Rite Aids still hanging on in declining strip malls, but it seems every Walgreens I've encountered (except in downtown areas) is a fairly new superstore-type of location.
Huh, my CVS is the same, if not newer than my Walgreens
Pappy Pizza in Northern Delaware and South Central PA are one that had good pizza! They still have one left, according to the internet, but its in Johnstown, PA.
Another chain that condensed to only one store was Chesapeake Seafood House, now located in Potomac Mills in Northern VA. They used to be in Fairfax County in various locations and had two in PA, one on Roosevelt Blvd. in Philly and the other in Langhorne, PA next to Oxford Valley Mall.
Who remembers Borden Burger? I recall one in Orlando somewhere near Disney way back in the 70's
Quote from: inkyatari on July 03, 2017, 11:52:44 AM
Who remembers Borden Burger? I recall one in Orlando somewhere near Disney way back in the 70's
69 cents for a burger!
Back in the late '80's and through most of the '90's there was a very unusual chain of electronic stores in Northern California called Sound Goods. They stocked the usual cross-section of consumer electronics (portables, some smaller TV's -- this was before flat-screen -- and video cameras) but also had several lines of high-end (mostly vacuum tube) electronics -- and they advertised discounts (not too deep) on these normally non-discounted lines, a practice discouraged by most specialty audio manufacturers. This, and the fact that they had a dozen or so stores scattered around the Bay Area as well as Sacramento, allowed them to grab a substantial chunk of the audio-store market (this was after the demise of most of the "mainstream" chains like Pacific Stereo as well as the decline of latter-day equivalents like Good Guys). They saw the "writing on the wall" early regarding the decline of the "brick & mortar" audio store, so they broadened their appeal by moving upscale. Unfortunately, the changing of consumer tastes toward "convenience" products and the advances of mail-order (and later, web-based) retailing doomed Sound Goods; they couldn't make up for losses at the entry-level by supplying high-end stuff, even at discounted prices. Also, the competence of their sales force seemed to vary drastically, with knowledgeable staff functioning along with functional voids who couldn't sell a higher-end product if their life (and that of the chain!) depended upon it. They had a "fire sale" about 1998 in order to get rid of inventory; I was living in Anaheim at the time but almost came up to see if I could get a bargain on some VTL tube amps, one of their main product lines -- but when I called to check if they had any inventory left of that stuff, they said they had moved most of that product sideways to other dealers.
It was a good broad-based business model.....provided they had a customer base that was interested in higher-quality sound reproduction -- and wanted a place to audition such. When that dissipated in the late '90's, they just couldn't compete with mass marketing whether in the form of a physical store or mail-order/net based.
Quote from: briantroutman on July 03, 2017, 12:28:28 AM
Regarding the quality of stores (Rite Aid vs. CVS vs. Walgreens):
Perhaps my experience is skewed having generally lived closer to the home territories of Rite Aid and CVS (and therefore, some of their older stores). But it seems that both of those chains are far less aggressive than Walgreens in terms of weeding out or renovating older locations. I’ve seen plenty of tired, small CVSes and Rite Aids still hanging on in declining strip malls, but it seems every Walgreens I’ve encountered (except in downtown areas) is a fairly new superstore-type of location.
That seems to be the biggest issue with Rite Aid's image. Almost every Walgreens around here looks about the same. They all look pretty new, they're all in standalone buildings with similar, familiar, pretty good looking design. Rite Aid does have some locations like that. A new Rite Aid just opened about a mile from where I live, and it's very nice. One the outside, it looks like, well, Walgreens haha. But they have a lot of older locations. One near downtown Boise is in an old marina-style Safeway building. The one in downtown Meridian is in an ugly looking strip mall. The ones in Bend, OR are in older strip malls.
That said, a lot of these older locations have received interior redesigns that make them look and feel just as nice as the newer locations, on the inside. But you'd never know unless you went inside (which a lot of people probably just don't bother, especially if there is a Walgreens in a new building a few blocks away, which there often is).
In terms of customer service, prices, selection, etc., I have no preference towards Walgreens or Rite Aid, they both seem the same (we don't have CVS here so can't compare to that).
Quote from: doorknob60 on July 03, 2017, 01:52:12 PM
Quote from: briantroutman on July 03, 2017, 12:28:28 AM
Regarding the quality of stores (Rite Aid vs. CVS vs. Walgreens):
Perhaps my experience is skewed having generally lived closer to the home territories of Rite Aid and CVS (and therefore, some of their older stores). But it seems that both of those chains are far less aggressive than Walgreens in terms of weeding out or renovating older locations. I've seen plenty of tired, small CVSes and Rite Aids still hanging on in declining strip malls, but it seems every Walgreens I've encountered (except in downtown areas) is a fairly new superstore-type of location.
That seems to be the biggest issue with Rite Aid's image. Almost every Walgreens around here looks about the same. They all look pretty new, they're all in standalone buildings with similar, familiar, pretty good looking design. Rite Aid does have some locations like that. A new Rite Aid just opened about a mile from where I live, and it's very nice. One the outside, it looks like, well, Walgreens haha. But they have a lot of older locations. One near downtown Boise is in an old marina-style Safeway building. The one in downtown Meridian is in an ugly looking strip mall. The ones in Bend, OR are in older strip malls.
That said, a lot of these older locations have received interior redesigns that make them look and feel just as nice as the newer locations, on the inside. But you'd never know unless you went inside (which a lot of people probably just don't bother, especially if there is a Walgreens in a new building a few blocks away, which there often is).
In terms of customer service, prices, selection, etc., I have no preference towards Walgreens or Rite Aid, they both seem the same (we don't have CVS here so can't compare to that).
I could say something about this, but NDA's and all...
Quote from: roadman65 on July 03, 2017, 10:21:32 AM
Pappy Pizza in Northern Delaware and South Central PA are one that had good pizza! They still have one left, according to the internet, but its in Johnstown, PA.
The Johnston area has a "Pappy's Family Pub" that I ate at in the mid '90s (and totally forgot about until reading your sentence). Couldn't tell you what I had, and I don't recall ever seeing another one.
And according to street view it is still there and open as of 2015
https://goo.gl/maps/9rqnAKA3HtK2
Quote from: Mr_Northside on July 03, 2017, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 03, 2017, 10:21:32 AM
Pappy Pizza in Northern Delaware and South Central PA are one that had good pizza! They still have one left, according to the internet, but its in Johnstown, PA.
The Johnston area has a "Pappy's Family Pub" that I ate at in the mid '90s (and totally forgot about until reading your sentence). Couldn't tell you what I had, and I don't recall ever seeing another one.
And according to street view it is still there and open as of 2015
https://goo.gl/maps/9rqnAKA3HtK2
this sounds like a kiddie tv show.
The Rite-Aids here used to be K & B Drugstores when I was a kid. The one near me in Ruston was in an older strip mall in the 80s & 90s. They built their own place in the mid to late 90s, then the strip mall was destroyed 10 years later.
It was only a few years later that Wal-Greens built their new location right across the street from Rite-Aid.
What keeps both places going? The "hospital" (I use quotes because we all call that place "the place you go to try to die") is nearby.
Quote from: Roadgeekteen on July 03, 2017, 08:52:34 PM
Quote from: Mr_Northside on July 03, 2017, 03:25:12 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 03, 2017, 10:21:32 AM
Pappy Pizza in Northern Delaware and South Central PA are one that had good pizza! They still have one left, according to the internet, but its in Johnstown, PA.
The Johnston area has a "Pappy's Family Pub" that I ate at in the mid '90s (and totally forgot about until reading your sentence). Couldn't tell you what I had, and I don't recall ever seeing another one.
And according to street view it is still there and open as of 2015
https://goo.gl/maps/9rqnAKA3HtK2
this sounds like a kiddie tv show.
Because alcohol and bars are a kid-friendly topic
Quote from: cjk374 on July 03, 2017, 09:12:10 PM
The Rite-Aids here used to be K & B Drugstores when I was a kid. The one near me in Ruston was in an older strip mall in the 80s & 90s. They built their own place in the mid to late 90s, then the strip mall was destroyed 10 years later.
It was only a few years later that Wal-Greens built their new location right across the street from Rite-Aid.
What keeps both places going? The "hospital" (I use quotes because we all call that place "the place you go to try to die") is nearby.
The Walgreen's in my town is a stones-throw away from the local hospital
Quote from: JJBers on July 03, 2017, 10:07:57 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on July 03, 2017, 09:12:10 PM
The Rite-Aids here used to be K & B Drugstores when I was a kid. The one near me in Ruston was in an older strip mall in the 80s & 90s. They built their own place in the mid to late 90s, then the strip mall was destroyed 10 years later.
It was only a few years later that Wal-Greens built their new location right across the street from Rite-Aid.
What keeps both places going? The "hospital" (I use quotes because we all call that place "the place you go to try to die") is nearby.
The Walgreen's in my town is a stones-throw away from the local hospital
Same here. Walgreens is directly across the street from the hospital.
Quote from: slorydn1 on July 04, 2017, 01:11:21 AM
Quote from: JJBers on July 03, 2017, 10:07:57 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on July 03, 2017, 09:12:10 PM
The Rite-Aids here used to be K & B Drugstores when I was a kid. The one near me in Ruston was in an older strip mall in the 80s & 90s. They built their own place in the mid to late 90s, then the strip mall was destroyed 10 years later.
It was only a few years later that Wal-Greens built their new location right across the street from Rite-Aid.
What keeps both places going? The "hospital" (I use quotes because we all call that place "the place you go to try to die") is nearby.
The Walgreen's in my town is a stones-throw away from the local hospital
Same here. Walgreens is directly across the street from the hospital.
Also the same here. It's just separated by a Taco Bell, a neighborhood street, and the hospital parking lot, but aside from that it's adjacent to the hospital.
Zayre's. A defunct New England chain.
Diary Queen. There used to be three in las Cruces, down to one, but it is popular, probably because it is the last one, and customers are loyal to it.
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've never been to a "Diary Queen." As to Dairy Queen, there's one half a mile from our house that always seems quite busy.
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 04, 2017, 03:56:43 PM
I've never been to a "Diary Queen." As to Dairy Queen, there's one half a mile from our house that always seems quite busy.
Classic book store, based mostly in New Mexico, though they've been doing poorly thanks to e-sales in the last decade
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 07:07:40 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 04, 2017, 03:56:43 PM
I've never been to a "Diary Queen." As to Dairy Queen, there's one half a mile from our house that always seems quite busy.
Classic book store, based mostly in New Mexico, though they've been doing poorly thanks to e-sales in the last decade
Tried to go to the one in Farmington, but there was a leather strap and lock around the door handles. Probably could have easily picked the lock to get inside, but I respect their privacy.
Quote from: roadman65 on July 03, 2017, 10:21:32 AM
Another chain that condensed to only one store was Chesapeake Seafood House, now located in Potomac Mills in Northern VA. They used to be in Fairfax County in various locations and had two in PA, one on Roosevelt Blvd. in Philly and the other in Langhorne, PA next to Oxford Valley Mall.
There were several of them in various places in Maryland too.
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Zayre's. A defunct New England chain.
Zayre's existed as far south as Virginia.
IMO never very good, reminded me a lot of E. J. Korvette (also not that great).
Quote from: SP Cook on July 04, 2017, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 04, 2017, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
Ice cream, Blizzards, Sundaes , and at least a BBQ Pork Sandwich or Hot Dogs.
It really varies by location, but those are the most common items.
And I have another oldish (late-60's-early 70's) location in Willimantic on CT 66.
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 11:04:47 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 04, 2017, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
Ice cream, Blizzards, Sundaes , and at least a BBQ Pork Sandwich or Hot Dogs.
It really varies by location, but those are the most common items.
And I have another oldish (late-60's-early 70's) location in Willimantic on CT 66.
Many of the older Dairy Queens in my area are seasonal stands that are open from March to October. Dairy Queen opening for the season was one of the first rites of Spring. There are a couple of newer year round ones, including one with the Grill n Chill concept.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 04, 2017, 11:15:12 PM
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 11:04:47 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 04, 2017, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
Ice cream, Blizzards, Sundaes , and at least a BBQ Pork Sandwich or Hot Dogs.
It really varies by location, but those are the most common items.
And I have another oldish (late-60's-early 70's) location in Willimantic on CT 66.
Many of the older Dairy Queens in my area are seasonal stands that are open from March to October. Dairy Queen opening for the season was one of the first rites of Spring. There are a couple of newer year round ones, including one with the Grill n Chill concept.
Same in Willimantic, expect mine opens on April 1 and closes on November 1
I went to one in Southington area that was a late 50's style DQ with the old logo on it
Quote from: slorydn1 on July 04, 2017, 01:11:21 AM
Quote from: JJBers on July 03, 2017, 10:07:57 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on July 03, 2017, 09:12:10 PM
The Rite-Aids here used to be K & B Drugstores when I was a kid. The one near me in Ruston was in an older strip mall in the 80s & 90s. They built their own place in the mid to late 90s, then the strip mall was destroyed 10 years later.
It was only a few years later that Wal-Greens built their new location right across the street from Rite-Aid.
What keeps both places going? The "hospital" (I use quotes because we all call that place "the place you go to try to die") is nearby.
The Walgreen's in my town is a stones-throw away from the local hospital
Same here. Walgreens is directly across the street from the hospital.
Now a great deal of Walgreens are taking over the pharmacies inside hospitals. That seems to be where most of the expansion happens these days.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
If your many travels take you near, the WV DQ that I recommend is in Hinton. The food is better than standard DQ, but the important detail is that it is located just along the New River right where the Greenbrier River joins, the back wall of the place is all glass and overlooks the river. Very scenic.
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 11:19:06 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 04, 2017, 11:15:12 PM
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 11:04:47 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 04, 2017, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
Ice cream, Blizzards, Sundaes , and at least a BBQ Pork Sandwich or Hot Dogs.
It really varies by location, but those are the most common items.
And I have another oldish (late-60's-early 70's) location in Willimantic on CT 66.
Many of the older Dairy Queens in my area are seasonal stands that are open from March to October. Dairy Queen opening for the season was one of the first rites of Spring. There are a couple of newer year round ones, including one with the Grill n Chill concept.
Same in Willimantic, expect mine opens on April 1 and closes on November 1
I went to one in Southington area that was a late 50's style DQ with the old logo on it
Probably the one in Plainville or Kensington (most likely Plainville since Kensington is a little more modern since it has a drive thru). Southington (Milldale) is open year round.
Wow well I remember Longs Drugs used to exist a decade ago in the San Francisco area and the Sacramento area too and the Northern California Stores became CVS Pharmacy.
However when I went to Hawaii a few years later in 2011 I noticed that Somehow CVS Pharmacy manage to keep the Longs Pharmacy name for their Hawaii stores.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 05, 2017, 10:44:00 AM
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 11:19:06 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 04, 2017, 11:15:12 PM
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 11:04:47 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 04, 2017, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
Ice cream, Blizzards, Sundaes , and at least a BBQ Pork Sandwich or Hot Dogs.
It really varies by location, but those are the most common items.
And I have another oldish (late-60's-early 70's) location in Willimantic on CT 66.
Many of the older Dairy Queens in my area are seasonal stands that are open from March to October. Dairy Queen opening for the season was one of the first rites of Spring. There are a couple of newer year round ones, including one with the Grill n Chill concept.
Same in Willimantic, expect mine opens on April 1 and closes on November 1
I went to one in Southington area that was a late 50's style DQ with the old logo on it
Probably the one in Plainville or Kensington (most likely Plainville since Kensington is a little more modern since it has a drive thru). Southington (Milldale) is open year round.
Yep, it was Plainville, I completely forgot...
Quote from: SP Cook on July 05, 2017, 10:27:53 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
If your many travels take you near, the WV DQ that I recommend is in Hinton. The food is better than standard DQ, but the important detail is that it is located just along the New River right where the Greenbrier River joins, the back wall of the place is all glass and overlooks the river. Very scenic.
I was in Hinton back in the winter. Probably won't be back that way for a while, unfortunately.
There was one chain in Florida that seemed to die down to one just like the one I mentioned in VA, but this one is the Clock Restaurant which was all over Central Florida and now has one location left in Auburndale on US 92.
Wags,, is another I ate at in Key West that had stores throughout South Florida, but now is defunct.
I do not know if its been mentioned but the old Howard Johnson restaurants in addition to their once big hotel chain. They were the originators of coffee shops and were around long before Denny's hit the scene. Too bad the managers could not run that place right, as they had a very good thing going.
Quote from: roadman65 on July 05, 2017, 08:56:47 PM
Wags,, is another I ate at in Key West that had stores throughout South Florida, but now is defunct.
Wag's were in every market that had Walgreen's stores. Walgreens got rid of Wag's and the snack bars in their stores to focus on their core business, drugstores. That was a shame, as they were pretty good restaurants.
Trivia...
IN the 60's, Walgreen's experimented with fast food outlets by creating a restaurant in Alabama (I think.) called "Corky's." Corky was the nickname of Charles Walgreen.
In the 30's, at the Chicago "Century of Progress" World's Fair, Walgreen's had the world's largest soda fountain, and it was here they invented the chocolate malt.
http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_40acff56-6384-11e7-a7b2-23062d7d51a5.html
Update True Religion will close 27 stores.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/national/ct-alfred-angelo-closing-stores-20170714-story.html. Update a wedding store is closed and the store Alfred Angelo is dealing with angry customers over recent wedding gown purchases.
Quote from: bing101 on July 14, 2017, 09:03:22 PM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/national/ct-alfred-angelo-closing-stores-20170714-story.html. Update a wedding store is closed and the store For some reason the app crashes wherever I have no connection...is dealing with angry customers over recent wedding gown purchases.
There's now a massive drama over the Manchester, Connecticut location
Quote from: JJBers on July 14, 2017, 09:07:07 PM
Quote from: bing101 on July 14, 2017, 09:03:22 PM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/national/ct-alfred-angelo-closing-stores-20170714-story.html. Update a wedding store is closed and the store For some reason the app crashes wherever I have no connection...is dealing with angry customers over recent wedding gown purchases.
There's now a massive drama over the Manchester, Connecticut location
https://patch.com/connecticut/manchester/angry-brides-bridesmaids-left-banging-doors-bridal-shop-closes. Yes and here's the reaction from Manchester, Connecticut.
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/business/gymboree-to-close-350-stores/763796196. Gymboree to close 350 stores.
Quote from: bing101 on July 14, 2017, 11:13:40 PM
Quote from: JJBers on July 14, 2017, 09:07:07 PM
Quote from: bing101 on July 14, 2017, 09:03:22 PM
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/national/ct-alfred-angelo-closing-stores-20170714-story.html. Update a wedding store is closed and the store For some reason the app crashes wherever I have no connection...is dealing with angry customers over recent wedding gown purchases.
There's now a massive drama over the Manchester, Connecticut location
https://patch.com/connecticut/manchester/angry-brides-bridesmaids-left-banging-doors-bridal-shop-closes. Yes and here's the reaction from Manchester, Connecticut.
Yeah, that sucks.
I'm sure people left significant chunks of change down in exchange for dresses and other such arrangements, and they're getting nothing in return with a wedding date looming.
Quote from: bing101 on July 15, 2017, 08:39:54 AM
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/business/gymboree-to-close-350-stores/763796196. Gymboree to close 350 stores.
Good-quality kids (ages 0-6) clothes, but a bit on the pricey side. Their stuff has pretty good used resale value, we've found.
They'll probably keep their online presence.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 04, 2017, 11:15:12 PM
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 11:04:47 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 04, 2017, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
Ice cream, Blizzards, Sundaes , and at least a BBQ Pork Sandwich or Hot Dogs.
It really varies by location, but those are the most common items.
And I have another oldish (late-60's-early 70's) location in Willimantic on CT 66.
Many of the older Dairy Queens in my area are seasonal stands that are open from March to October. Dairy Queen opening for the season was one of the first rites of Spring. There are a couple of newer year round ones, including one with the Grill n Chill concept.
Online research has been no avail when it comes it to my most pressing question regarding DQ. What IS the difference between Dairy Queen Brazier and Dairy Queen Grill 'n' Chill (as well as, possibly, other kinds)? (Before you lecture me, yes I know the Brazier is the kind of oven they used - or used to use, at least. :rolleyes:)
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on August 02, 2017, 08:52:25 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 04, 2017, 11:15:12 PM
Quote from: JJBers on July 04, 2017, 11:04:47 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 04, 2017, 10:16:37 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 04, 2017, 03:37:40 PM
Quote from: DJStephens on July 04, 2017, 03:21:15 PM
Diary Queen.
Far from defunct. Belongs to that POS Warren Buffett. According to its website, it has over 6000 outlets in 20 countries.
Trivia. Unlike most franchises, whatever DQ had when a particular franchisee bought in is all he has the rights to. Anything new has to be bought. There are some old time franchisees who bought only the ice cream and either have their own food (which they must put in generic wrappers) or just the ice cream. The state of Texas was sold all at once and has its own food and its own website different from the rest of the USA. Also each restaurant can make its own soda deal, and DQ corporate produces menu boards and stock photos with both Coke and the imitator.
I've been by that old-timey one on US 50 near Grafton. Wonder what it has on the menu?
Ice cream, Blizzards, Sundaes , and at least a BBQ Pork Sandwich or Hot Dogs.
It really varies by location, but those are the most common items.
And I have another oldish (late-60's-early 70's) location in Willimantic on CT 66.
Many of the older Dairy Queens in my area are seasonal stands that are open from March to October. Dairy Queen opening for the season was one of the first rites of Spring. There are a couple of newer year round ones, including one with the Grill n Chill concept.
Online research has been no avail when it comes it to my most pressing question regarding DQ. What IS the difference between Dairy Queen Brazier and Dairy Queen Grill 'n' Chill (as well as, possibly, other kinds)? (Before you lecture me, yes I know the Brazier is the kind of oven they used - or used to use, at least. :rolleyes:)
QuoteToday there are several different Dairy Queen brands, but they all carry soft serve topped off with that signature curl, which is actually trademarked by the company. "Standard stores" sell mostly frozen treats and are only open in the spring and summer (although some food court locations are open year-round); "Treat Centers" are primarily found in food courts and sell frozen treats along with Orange Julius; "Dairy Queen Braziers" serve a fast-food menu of burgers, fries, hot dogs, salads, and chicken strips (The term "brazier" has been phased out over the past 20 years, though); and "DQ Grill & Chill" locations offer limited table service, a modern design, and, in most cases, an expanded menu that includes breakfast. In Texas, you can get a different menu of "Texas Country Foods" with items like the Triple Buster (three patties), the Dude (a chicken-fried steak sandwich), Jalitos (fried jalapeño strips), and beef tacos.
Quote from: spooky on August 02, 2017, 09:27:05 AM
"Dairy Queen Braziers" serve a fast-food menu of burgers, fries, hot dogs, salads, and chicken strips (The term "brazier" has been phased out over the past 20 years, though); and "DQ Grill & Chill" locations offer limited table service, a modern design, and, in most cases, an expanded menu that includes breakfast.
I had two in my area that did a sign update from Dairy Queen Brazier to DQ Grill & Chill. I saw little, if any, major remodeling at either location with maybe the exception of menu signage. There still is one Dairy Queen Brazier that has the old signage, Probably because it closes from Early-November to Mid/Late-February.
Hmm. I wonder if the DQ in my town is a Grill and Chill, or a Braizer...
Interesting. They sell burgers, hot dogs and so on, but no Brazier or Grill & Chill sign...
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3681709,-88.4217804,3a,60.5y,41.95h,93.45t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1seC38jFqXYHV3rYzSwwkFCA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DeC38jFqXYHV3rYzSwwkFCA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D35.450497%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i3328!8i1664
Used to be a chain of burger restaurants -- I'd hesitate to call them "fast food" -- in greater L.A. called Woody's Smorgasburger. Good beef, char-broiled (IIRC, 3 sizes of patties available -- 1/4, 1/3, and 1/2 lb.) to order, with all add-ons available at a series of stations -- you assembled your burger, all but the meat (and cheese, if ordered that way) obtained in chilled stations similar to a buffet restaurant. They seemed to stock every type of condiment available, from popular BBQ sauces (lots of Chris & Pitt's, a L.A. standard) to a selection of Beaver mustards from Oregon. Decent potato/mac salad, green salad -- the usual burger-bar options. But it all came together. Discovered them while in college in the late '60's, and continued going to them whenever I was in the area until the last one shut down several years back. Several of them were arrayed along Sepulveda Blvd. (the original CA 7 and Alternate US 101); later the parallel surface street to the northern part of I-405 from Redondo Beach north to Sherman Oaks; there were also outlets in Long Beach, downtown L.A. (at Figueroa and Adams, right by USC -- great location for a burger joint), and in Pasadena as well, near the city college. When I moved back to L.A. in early '96, the only one remaining was the one in El Segundo, on Sepulveda a few blocks south of I-105. It lasted a few years; was gone by spring 2001.
We've got a couple of independent burger places like that up here in the South Bay (Clarke's in Mountain View and Kirk's in Campbell), but unfortunately their prices are so high as to be a "special occasion" meal (if you can get out for $35 for two, you're lucky!).
From living in St. Louis for 16 years:
-Service Merchandise: Never went in there with my mom, but I have heard that it wasn't the best dep. store.
-Franks Nursery and Crafts: Was your average nursery store. Towards the end their service slumped.
-Venture: The black and white color scheme was distinctive. Their products weren't great. K-Mart bought them out.
-Grandpas: Your typical department store. I remember when they went bankrupt. Was a st. Louis thing. Some were bought by Value City from what I recall.
-Levitz Furniture: Pretty cheap stuff.
Quote from: CapeCodder on August 05, 2017, 09:40:26 AM
From living in St. Louis for 16 years:
-Service Merchandise: Never went in there with my mom, but I have heard that it wasn't the best dep. store.
Although you would hear them on Wheel of Fortune or whatever for many years, I never knew it was an actual store until I happened to see one in Delaware! It was pretty much like a BEST department store (if you remember those, which is also a defunct retailer).
Quote
-Levitz Furniture: Pretty cheap stuff.
I furnished a lot of my house in 2001 with a multi-room deal from Levitz. Fairly cheap, but wasn't bad. We actually still have an end table that's now used as an outside table since we don't care about it anymore. The other stuff we replaced over the years, although it was all still in decent shape. Actually, I still have the file in my file draw, and just saw our mattress we still have we got from there too.
The concept of Service Merchandise is that it was a catalog showroom. There was one in Bishop's Corner in West Hartford, CT that I went to a few times as a kid. The merchandise would be displayed in glass showcases a la a jewelry store, and when you wanted something, you would take a ticket for that item and give it to one of the associates who would go in the backroom and get you that item. A competitor called Consumers opened in my town in what was a closed down Chuck E Cheese (from the first wave of their popularity), but it only lasted a year or two before closing. Lechmere also practiced this method before they closed down.
I remember Levitz as well. We had one in my town that was in a huge warehouse. You would actually pass through the warehouse to get to the showroom. My older child furniture set was from Levitz. Quality was pretty good; had much of it still when I moved out of my childhood home. Both Levitz locations that we had in the area are another furniture chain called Pilgrim Furniture City.
We also had a Frank's in my town. It is now an Agway.
Another store that I just remembered that we had was Card Gallery. It was kind of an early form of Party City only with some higher end gifts.
Borders used to kinda big.
Wasn't so long ago before May merged everything under the Macy's label that each region had a department store it could call its own. You had G. Fox in CT and upstate NY, Filene's in Boston Metro, Strawbridge & Clothier and Jon Wanamaker in the Delaware Valley, Hecht's in the Baltimore and DC areas, Marshall Fields in Chicagoland.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 06, 2017, 10:33:17 PM
Wasn't so long ago before May merged everything under the Macy's label that each region had a department store it could call its own. You had G. Fox in CT and upstate NY, Filene's in Boston Metro, Strawbridge & Clothier and Jon Wanamaker in the Delaware Valley, Hecht's in the Baltimore and DC areas, Marshall Fields in Chicagoland.
I remember when we had Kaufmann's in Rochester.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 06, 2017, 10:33:17 PM
Wasn't so long ago before May Federated merged everything under the Macy's label that each region had a department store it could call its own. You had G. Fox in CT and upstate NY, Filene's in Boston Metro, Strawbridge & Clothier and Jon Wanamaker in the Delaware Valley, Hecht's in the Baltimore and DC areas, Marshall Fields in Chicagoland.
Federated basically bought May and all the store brands that May had (see above). Prior to that, they combined other names such as The Bon Marche, Burdine's, Lazarus (ironic as that's what Federated basically is, even as Macy's), and Rich's into Macy's (a name which means something in San Francisco and New York only).
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 06, 2017, 10:33:17 PM
Wasn't so long ago before May merged everything under the Macy's label that each region had a department store it could call its own. You had G. Fox in CT and upstate NY, Filene's in Boston Metro, Strawbridge & Clothier and Jon Wanamaker in the Delaware Valley, Hecht's in the Baltimore and DC areas, Marshall Fields in Chicagoland.
Actually, the department store chain that Macy's took over in Boston Metro area was Jordan Marsh, not Filenes. While Filenes was bought by Macys AFTER Macys had bought Jordan Marsh, Filene's only had the single store in Downtown Boston, whereas Jordan Marsh had quickly cloned themselves during the Eastern Massachusetts suburban shopping center boom of the 1960s. Although originally there was a 'bargain basement' in the main Filene's store (Jordan Marsh in Downtown Boston had a similar 'bargain basement') , the individual Filene's Basement stores of later years were a totally separate chain that bought the rights to the name from the parent store.
Speaking of May's, I miss Venture.
Quote from: vdeane on August 07, 2017, 01:06:09 PM
I remember when we had Kaufmann's in Rochester.
I remember when it was Sibley's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibley's) (Sibley, Lindsay, & Curr). It was absorbed into Kaufmann's in 1990, after May Department Stores took over Associated Dry Goods.
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2017, 01:12:57 PM
Federated basically bought May and all the store brands that May had (see above). Prior to that, they combined other names such as The Bon Marche, Burdine's, Lazarus (ironic as that's what Federated basically is, even as Macy's),
It is interesting indeed considering Lazarus did all that basically with a mid-double-digit number of stores in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati and a few smaller Ohio cities such as Springfield and Lancaster. I suppose they did dip a bit into WV and KY.
Quote from: GCrites80s on August 07, 2017, 08:57:34 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2017, 01:12:57 PM
Federated basically bought May and all the store brands that May had (see above). Prior to that, they combined other names such as The Bon Marche, Burdine's, Lazarus (ironic as that's what Federated basically is, even as Macy's),
It is interesting indeed considering Lazarus did all that basically with a mid-double-digit number of stores in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati and a few smaller Ohio cities such as Springfield and Lancaster. I suppose they did dip a bit into WV and KY.
In Lexington, Lazarus took over what was formerly known as Shillito's.
Saw a trailer for another defunct retailer tonight: Heilig-Meyers furniture. Yes, I put my car in the photo.
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/mrknaxyhms4pswmrvydr.jpg)
Sprouse Reitz.
Western Auto
Yellow Front
Revco
Thrifty Drug (remember the ice cream?)
The Room Store. I still remember the jingle: "We put it all together, and save you more, at the room store!"
Pic-N-Save, later became MacFrugal's, now Big Lots!
JC Flicks video, was a movie rental chain in Arizona and perhaps some other places. The sign at night looked like a bad word and not "FLICKS"
ALCO served smaller towns too small for Walmart, but shut down all their stores a few years ago.
Oshman's Sporting Goods. There was a location in tempe and one in the Tucson area when I was younger. both gone.
Quote from: roadiejay on August 27, 2017, 11:44:51 PM
JC Flicks video, was a movie rental chain in Arizona and perhaps some other places. The sign at night looked like a bad word and not "FLICKS"
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bwghSTgwpeQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
This is what I got for trying to look up that
The Room Store was apparently kinda-sorta a successor to Heilig-Meyers after they went bankrupt.
Mays was a store in NYC on 14th Street and in some other Long Island locations. I remember its commercial and its jingle "Everyday's a sale day at Mays."
Also JGE Appliances with "Hey Jerry what's the story?" Then he would always end the commercial with "That's the storrrry!" in a Brooklyn accent.
S. Klein
Fortunoff
Hahnes (not the underwear but a store that was in Westfield, NJ and a few other locations like Woodbridge Center Mall in Woodbridge, NJ and Livingston Mall in Livingston, NJ.)
Abraham and Strauss
Alexanders
Valley Fair
Great Eastern
Kmarts (in many cities)
Ames.
Sage-Allen
D & L/Weathervane
Two Guys
JJ Newberry's/McCrory
Shoe Town
Fayva Shoes
The Magic Pan
Strawberries/Coconuts
Genovese Drug
Fay's
Bernie's/Newmark & Lewis
looks like Toys R Us is going to be eligible for this thread soon . . . .
Benny's is a local chain in Southeastern New England, in the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Well, they announced that they'll be dead by the beginning of 2018. Luckily there's a few nearby me, so I snapped a few photos of them (https://flic.kr/s/aHsm53xVud).
Does Winn-Dixie still exist?
Quote from: JJBers on September 16, 2017, 03:54:47 PM
Benny's is a local chain in Southeastern New England, in the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Well, they announced that they'll be dead by the beginning of 2018. Luckily there's a few nearby me, so I snapped a few photos of them (https://flic.kr/s/aHsm53xVud).
There's also another kind of Benny's around Montreal, this one is food related. http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=45.47498,-73.43928&z=17&t=M
Quote from: Takumi on September 16, 2017, 05:48:41 PM
Does Winn-Dixie still exist?
Yep, went there last March in Englewood, FL.
Chi-Chi's is still around, but not in the states.
Quote from: Takumi on September 16, 2017, 05:48:41 PM
Does Winn-Dixie still exist?
Yes... Winn Dixie is part of Southeastern Grocers now. Merged with BiLo. They now have Winn Dixie, BiLo, Harveys and Fresco y Más stores ..
Winn Dixie scaled back locations big time about 10 years ago before they merged and were in bankrupcy
LGMS428
Quote from: US71 on September 16, 2017, 07:59:09 PM
Chi-Chi's is still around, but not in the states.
Same with Kenny Rogers' Roasters
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on September 16, 2017, 09:33:12 PM
Quote from: US71 on September 16, 2017, 07:59:09 PM
Chi-Chi's is still around, but not in the states.
Same with Kenny Rogers' Roasters
Technically incorrect. Nathan's has Kenny Rogers' Roasters items at some locations.
https://www.rappler.com/business/175612-shakeys-expansion-uae-dubai-outlets
Shakeys Pizza its actual birthplace was in Sacramento on J@57 street but its Sacramento area outlets are forgotten but Shakeys has become a bigger brand in the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates.
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on August 30, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Ames.
I don't miss Ames. They ruined Zayre and a local discount chain, Hornsby's
On Saturday I visited the only Druther's restaurant left in the world. It's in Campbellsville, Ky.
Druther's originally started out as Burger Queen and in many small Kentucky towns, was the first (and sometimes only) fast-food restaurant there.
Dairy Queen bought out Druther's in the early 1990s and most of the Kentucky locations either converted to DQ or closed down.
Although no longer part of a chain, the Campbellsville location still has a hot food bar and the Andy Dandytales kids meals that the chain featured. I got a double cheeseburger and it tasted just like I remember them tasting back in the 1980s. It was doing a brisk business when I was there shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday.
I also stopped by the only Rax Roast Beef left in Kentucky earlier in the day. It's in Harlan but wasn't open yet when I was there. The one in Ironton, Ohio, is probably a closer drive to me than the one in Harlan, although the one in Harlan may be closer as the crow flies.
Hot 'n' Now has one location left, in Sturgis, MI. I grabbed some food from there and it was good.
I never went to one when they were more prevalent. They did have some odd location choices. For example, there was a Hot 'n' Now in Hart, but not in the nearby larger communities of Ludington or Manistee.
Here are a list of former locations of restaurant chains in Michigan: http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/forgottenmi/former/former.html
Blockbuster is closing its last Oregon location in Sandy. I miss those days (even though I was like 3).
Quote from: ftballfan on December 17, 2017, 12:53:18 AM
Hot 'n' Now has one location left, in Sturgis, MI. I grabbed some food from there and it was good.
We had a few of them in South Florida in the early-90s, and I thought they'd all disappeared.
When I had a project in Sturgis about 5 years ago, I hit it up for old times' sake. It wasn't spectacular nor disappointing; considering they seemed to operating on an
ad lib basis with no glossy promotional gimmicks, and no obvious corporate standard to follow, other than the signage. In short, it was as if a traditional mom-and-pop was trying out their first drive thru.
I had a cheeseburger and tater tots, and that was an okay lunch.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2FxrfTmpDA7aFY5xFWMp_1fxwcKrnkBTuxomf6CpHcCyRhdPeH4h0OrUQ4pCi_YmBFmdns4bOVNt4B50GJWHDWipoHh9x7K-KNrp0aKZaFyHSmKPr-osn5fmLNu5_FgisSbReCJT_8SSDu4OySAjBDSefzstRMMsE5tY44rcByjsZ7PDfuZx2Mv0xe64XLYd8zwsDDo9lCc9rMpnFgwoe50bU3VNavd_avgBZItQbMgbzgEKot4EizpP1DXv1sxbvI_f8Q68JRVaNNis8J7O3Q-bKDPvqFxNZcEO4fYiZswPGCwwnD-MOTEk_yjqMofNZYwBA3Sh5P8BGXzwzvfuzsESte4K8W_bTPgH7ZBMW6NHxrKMYsJiV3awICjn1VS6cB_55saF7arjJirkzDqfHFYj5jDmX-8s9ZSt7nSOu9oEWptPzCWrJiF-kCRPF5rsmVAUugTiUuY_G9m40XE_6FE_8I1mA6VnwNThV6g9f4btHKRhdbYio5w9hWF7YiGsma_I4iI1U6a_Z6_Yfce5jJAYlRQhQYC-UGsxKhpz-Kb3_ScX8SPyoY9P4lp4UtIgaxzpYGf72YHzvkpjFEkWL764EiR7iIqrMIS5lgg25aRfc%3Dw1206-h804-no&hash=7320325e11e0f03e7ff74af39b7b4bd99b8df014)
Quote from: inkyatari on October 23, 2017, 09:03:57 AM
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on August 30, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Ames.
I don't miss Ames. They ruined Zayre and a local discount chain, Hornsby's
And Ames's sudden expansion beyond the northeast as far west as Iowa is what killed them. I remember seeing an Ames advertising sign at the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis watching an NFL postgame report. In 2 years they were closing up, little by little, getting closer and closer to their headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. And then poof, they were gone. 15 years later, their headquarters building still sits abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/y9JiwNtPg4R2
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on December 17, 2017, 10:58:37 AM
Quote from: inkyatari on October 23, 2017, 09:03:57 AM
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on August 30, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Ames.
I don't miss Ames. They ruined Zayre and a local discount chain, Hornsby's
And Ames's sudden expansion beyond the northeast as far west as Iowa is what killed them. I remember seeing an Ames advertising sign at the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis watching an NFL postgame report. In 2 years they were closing up, little by little, getting closer and closer to their headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. And then poof, they were gone. 15 years later, their headquarters building still sits abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/y9JiwNtPg4R2
Ames went from 700 stores in 1998 to chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2002. One of the quickest falls in retail history
Quote from: ftballfan on December 17, 2017, 07:15:35 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on December 17, 2017, 10:58:37 AM
Quote from: inkyatari on October 23, 2017, 09:03:57 AM
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on August 30, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Ames.
I don't miss Ames. They ruined Zayre and a local discount chain, Hornsby's
And Ames's sudden expansion beyond the northeast as far west as Iowa is what killed them. I remember seeing an Ames advertising sign at the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis watching an NFL postgame report. In 2 years they were closing up, little by little, getting closer and closer to their headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. And then poof, they were gone. 15 years later, their headquarters building still sits abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/y9JiwNtPg4R2
Ames went from 700 stores in 1998 to chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2002. One of the quickest falls in retail history
Yep, and it was the second time Ames came to Chicagoland. First was after they bought Zayre (1988-1990). The left two years later. Again, in 1998, leaving yet again within two years. One would think they'd have learned their lesson about expanding too fast.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on December 17, 2017, 10:58:37 AM
Quote from: inkyatari on October 23, 2017, 09:03:57 AM
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on August 30, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Ames.
I don't miss Ames. They ruined Zayre and a local discount chain, Hornsby's
And Ames's sudden expansion beyond the northeast as far west as Iowa is what killed them. I remember seeing an Ames advertising sign at the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis watching an NFL postgame report. In 2 years they were closing up, little by little, getting closer and closer to their headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. And then poof, they were gone. 15 years later, their headquarters building still sits abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/y9JiwNtPg4R2
Lots of their stores still sit abandoned 15 years later too, some with signage still up like in Seabrook NH.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9006897,-70.8700442,3a,75y,132.61h,91.11t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sukY-aJi1XXNE6KefxQwwFQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DukY-aJi1XXNE6KefxQwwFQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D39.183918%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
Quote from: SectorZ on December 18, 2017, 02:20:38 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on December 17, 2017, 10:58:37 AM
Quote from: inkyatari on October 23, 2017, 09:03:57 AM
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on August 30, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Ames.
I don't miss Ames. They ruined Zayre and a local discount chain, Hornsby's
And Ames's sudden expansion beyond the northeast as far west as Iowa is what killed them. I remember seeing an Ames advertising sign at the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis watching an NFL postgame report. In 2 years they were closing up, little by little, getting closer and closer to their headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. And then poof, they were gone. 15 years later, their headquarters building still sits abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/y9JiwNtPg4R2
Lots of their stores still sit abandoned 15 years later too, some with signage still up like in Seabrook NH.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9006897,-70.8700442,3a,75y,132.61h,91.11t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sukY-aJi1XXNE6KefxQwwFQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DukY-aJi1XXNE6KefxQwwFQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D39.183918%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
That's impressive, honestly!
There used to be an Ames in a shopping center in Deptford, NJ. Many years after it closed, it and the rest of the shopping center was torn down. A Walmart now sits there.
What was interesting/funny/NIMBYism-at-its-worse, was when the shopping center was an Ames various one-off Supermarkets and a few other stores, with a parking lot that hadn't been repaved in 30 years, no one seem to complain. After it was all torn down and a Walmart was going to move it, people in the area had a fit that they would be using the site for a Walmart!
Based on NJ's zoning laws, the town couldn't deny a business moving in to a site that was already commercial in nature, especially considering the site's size and previous use, so the nearby whiners couldn't exactly do too much about it. The last laugh against the whiners was Walmart originally said they were going to build a traditional store, then probably add on a supermarket later on. Because this was around the same time Walmart was extensively building the larger 'Super' Walmart, their site plan was amended and became one of their largest stores!
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on December 17, 2017, 02:23:13 AM
Blockbuster is closing its last Oregon location in Sandy. I miss those days (even though I was like 3).
Isn't the one in Bend still open? This article indicates it is, in addition to the Redmond one: http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2017/12/blockbuster_in_sandy_one_of_10.html Goes to show how shitty BendBroadband is. I hated them (though their prices are a lot more fair now than when I lived there, it was highway robbery with their data caps and overage charges for a while, far far worse than the usual offenders like Comcast back then).
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 18, 2017, 02:36:00 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on December 18, 2017, 02:20:38 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on December 17, 2017, 10:58:37 AM
Quote from: inkyatari on October 23, 2017, 09:03:57 AM
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on August 30, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Ames.
I don't miss Ames. They ruined Zayre and a local discount chain, Hornsby's
And Ames's sudden expansion beyond the northeast as far west as Iowa is what killed them. I remember seeing an Ames advertising sign at the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis watching an NFL postgame report. In 2 years they were closing up, little by little, getting closer and closer to their headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. And then poof, they were gone. 15 years later, their headquarters building still sits abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/y9JiwNtPg4R2
Lots of their stores still sit abandoned 15 years later too, some with signage still up like in Seabrook NH.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9006897,-70.8700442,3a,75y,132.61h,91.11t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sukY-aJi1XXNE6KefxQwwFQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DukY-aJi1XXNE6KefxQwwFQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D39.183918%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
That's impressive, honestly!
There used to be an Ames in a shopping center in Deptford, NJ. Many years after it closed, it and the rest of the shopping center was torn down. A Walmart now sits there.
What was interesting/funny/NIMBYism-at-its-worse, was when the shopping center was an Ames various one-off Supermarkets and a few other stores, with a parking lot that hadn't been repaved in 30 years, no one seem to complain. After it was all torn down and a Walmart was going to move it, people in the area had a fit that they would be using the site for a Walmart!
Based on NJ's zoning laws, the town couldn't deny a business moving in to a site that was already commercial in nature, especially considering the site's size and previous use, so the nearby whiners couldn't exactly do too much about it. The last laugh against the whiners was Walmart originally said they were going to build a traditional store, then probably add on a supermarket later on. Because this was around the same time Walmart was extensively building the larger 'Super' Walmart, their site plan was amended and became one of their largest stores!
There are a ton of abandoned Ames stores that still have signage. Elmira, NY (on former NY 13/14/17) is one (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1442132,-76.8147551,3a,75y,59.47h,79.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snaVTGVkY1ZB9_o4gLAfCpA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DnaVTGVkY1ZB9_o4gLAfCpA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D46.869717%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), with signs still up as of Friday.
Quote from: cl94 on December 19, 2017, 05:36:58 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 18, 2017, 02:36:00 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on December 18, 2017, 02:20:38 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on December 17, 2017, 10:58:37 AM
Quote from: inkyatari on October 23, 2017, 09:03:57 AM
Quote from: ColossalBlocks on August 30, 2017, 03:06:13 PM
Ames.
I don't miss Ames. They ruined Zayre and a local discount chain, Hornsby's
And Ames's sudden expansion beyond the northeast as far west as Iowa is what killed them. I remember seeing an Ames advertising sign at the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis watching an NFL postgame report. In 2 years they were closing up, little by little, getting closer and closer to their headquarters in Rocky Hill, CT. And then poof, they were gone. 15 years later, their headquarters building still sits abandoned.
https://goo.gl/maps/y9JiwNtPg4R2
Lots of their stores still sit abandoned 15 years later too, some with signage still up like in Seabrook NH.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9006897,-70.8700442,3a,75y,132.61h,91.11t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sukY-aJi1XXNE6KefxQwwFQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DukY-aJi1XXNE6KefxQwwFQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D39.183918%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
That's impressive, honestly!
There used to be an Ames in a shopping center in Deptford, NJ. Many years after it closed, it and the rest of the shopping center was torn down. A Walmart now sits there.
What was interesting/funny/NIMBYism-at-its-worse, was when the shopping center was an Ames various one-off Supermarkets and a few other stores, with a parking lot that hadn't been repaved in 30 years, no one seem to complain. After it was all torn down and a Walmart was going to move it, people in the area had a fit that they would be using the site for a Walmart!
Based on NJ's zoning laws, the town couldn't deny a business moving in to a site that was already commercial in nature, especially considering the site's size and previous use, so the nearby whiners couldn't exactly do too much about it. The last laugh against the whiners was Walmart originally said they were going to build a traditional store, then probably add on a supermarket later on. Because this was around the same time Walmart was extensively building the larger 'Super' Walmart, their site plan was amended and became one of their largest stores!
There are a ton of abandoned Ames stores that still have signage. Elmira, NY (on former NY 13/14/17) is one (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.1442132,-76.8147551,3a,75y,59.47h,79.97t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snaVTGVkY1ZB9_o4gLAfCpA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DnaVTGVkY1ZB9_o4gLAfCpA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D46.869717%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656), with signs still up as of Friday.
Most of them in CT have been filled. The one in my town (originally a Zayre's) was subdivided into a furniture store and Bed Bath & Beyond. A couple became Lowe's, one of which is already closed down. A few became stores like Big Lots. One even became a supermarket. The one near the headquarters is now a branch of a regional technical college.
Zayre's in Hadley, MA was in the same shopping center as a Stop & Shop. Stop & Shop moved into the Zayre space, remodeling it into a "Super Stop & Shop" and its old space in the center became a large liquor store.
Mattress Firm may be joining the party, soon.
Quote from: US71 on December 28, 2017, 11:32:30 AM
Mattress Firm may be joining the party, soon.
I think they'll be OK after closing 200 of their 2,345,673.932 stores.
Quote from: inkyatari on December 28, 2017, 12:43:33 PM
Quote from: US71 on December 28, 2017, 11:32:30 AM
Mattress Firm may be joining the party, soon.
I think they'll be OK after closing 200 of their 2,345,673.932 stores.
Shit, they could close two by the mall and still have one left over for all of anyone's needs. Even closing one of two at Black and 59 should be an option. Really, two Mattress Firms kitty corner from each other?
You know Mattress Firm has too many damn stores when you can literally walk less than a mile from one store to another.
Quote from: Takumi on August 22, 2017, 08:51:24 PM
Saw a trailer for another defunct retailer tonight: Heilig-Meyers furniture. Yes, I put my car in the photo.
(https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/mrknaxyhms4pswmrvydr.jpg)
I know of a bunch of trailers for PathMark Supermarkets... in Garden Grove, FLORIDA!
BTW, I went to the last Horne's restaurant and gas station on my way up to NYC last month.
Quote from: inkyatari on December 28, 2017, 12:43:33 PM
Quote from: US71 on December 28, 2017, 11:32:30 AM
Mattress Firm may be joining the party, soon.
I think they'll be OK after closing 200 of their 2,345,673.932 stores.
Their purchase of Sleepy's is what the Hills purchase was to Ames. They spread themselves too thin and now they're cutting back little by little. It's becoming a running joke in my area that Dunkin Donuts and Mattress Firm ought to join forces because there is one of each every 500 feet it seems.
Quote from: US71 on December 28, 2017, 11:32:30 AM
Mattress Firm may be joining the party, soon.
Its not going to be the end of then because they are the mattress store giant for the country.
A Mattress Firm replaced a Dunkin Donuts here in Albany. Of course, there was a Dunkin Donuts in the mall behind the standalone store, too.
Quote from: Hurricane Rex on December 29, 2017, 04:07:07 AM
Quote from: US71 on December 28, 2017, 11:32:30 AM
Mattress Firm may be joining the party, soon.
Its not going to be the end of then because they are the mattress store giant for the country.
Even after they close 200 stores, there will still be over 3,200 Mattress Firm stores nationwide
Quote from: Brandon on December 28, 2017, 07:16:10 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on December 28, 2017, 12:43:33 PM
Quote from: US71 on December 28, 2017, 11:32:30 AM
Mattress Firm may be joining the party, soon.
I think they'll be OK after closing 200 of their 2,345,673.932 stores.
Shit, they could close two by the mall and still have one left over for all of anyone's needs. Even closing one of two at Black and 59 should be an option. Really, two Mattress Firms kitty corner from each other?
Freakonomics Radio had a great episode a few years ago asking the question "Why are there so many mattress stores?"
The episode highlights a guy driving US 41 in Schererville, IN. It's a great listen..
http://freakonomics.com/podcast/mattress-store-bubble/
I don't understand why Mattress Firm bought out Sleepy's. Sleepy's already had stores on every corner in the northeast. With Mattress Firm, there are even MORE locations in this area. It's ridiculous. There are a couple places in the Albany area where, yes, there was a Mattress Firm a block away from a Sleepy's and both are now Mattress Firm.
Of course, the northeast has 2 other similar chains with high density (PC Richard and Son and Bob's Discount Furniture), so virtually every shopping plaza of any size has something of the sort.
HH Gregg! I noticed the other day the store in Kissimmee, FL closed. Now I read on line that it went under and closed all of its stores in May of 2017.
HH Gregg was an appliance store FYI as it was not in the full US markets.
Quote from: roadman65 on December 29, 2017, 02:34:10 PM
HH Gregg! I noticed the other day the store in Kissimmee, FL closed. Now I read on line that it went under and closed all of its stores in May of 2017.
HH Gregg was an appliance store FYI as it was not in the full US markets.
There's a trope for that: Death by Rapid Expansion.
I hope Wawa is not going to die as they have grown so much in FL. They are now in many cities and they just opened in Broward. I heard to that Jacksonville could be next.
Anyway, from four stores in 2012 to so many I cannot count em.
Quote from: cl94 on December 29, 2017, 02:25:24 PM
I don't understand why Mattress Firm bought out Sleepy's. Sleepy's already had stores on every corner in the northeast. With Mattress Firm, there are even MORE locations in this area. It's ridiculous. There are a couple places in the Albany area where, yes, there was a Mattress Firm a block away from a Sleepy's and both are now Mattress Firm.
Of course, the northeast has 2 other similar chains with high density (PC Richard and Son and Bob's Discount Furniture), so virtually every shopping plaza of any size has something of the sort.
Sleepy's is also a much better name for a mattress store. What if I prefer a plush mattress? Or perhaps "firm" is a synonym for "company" - "we're your mattress firm!"
Quote from: cl94 on December 29, 2017, 02:25:24 PM
I don't understand why Mattress Firm bought out Sleepy's. Sleepy's already had stores on every corner in the northeast. With Mattress Firm, there are even MORE locations in this area. It's ridiculous. There are a couple places in the Albany area where, yes, there was a Mattress Firm a block away from a Sleepy's and both are now Mattress Firm.
Of course, the northeast has 2 other similar chains with high density (PC Richard and Son and Bob's Discount Furniture), so virtually every shopping plaza of any size has something of the sort.
Mattress Firm is a money laundering operation. How many people do you know that have actually bought a mattress recently? And how many locations are there??
In Boise, we have one here:
https://goo.gl/maps/F11FsEtbAd42
And then they built one here, right across the street!
https://goo.gl/maps/Qr12iVyVdYu
Both are still in operation and have been for a couple years. There's no other explanation.
One could still stay the same about K Mart. Crippled as they are, they bought Sears and now their subsidiary is got more stores staying open then themselves.
I often wondered how a belly up enterprise got the cash to buy up one of America's largest retailers especially after Government intervening with the court ruling of liquidating.
Quote from: cl94 on December 29, 2017, 02:25:24 PM
I don't understand why Mattress Firm bought out Sleepy's. Sleepy's already had stores on every corner in the northeast. With Mattress Firm, there are even MORE locations in this area. It's ridiculous. There are a couple places in the Albany area where, yes, there was a Mattress Firm a block away from a Sleepy's and both are now Mattress Firm.
Of course, the northeast has 2 other similar chains with high density (PC Richard and Son and Bob's Discount Furniture), so virtually every shopping plaza of any size has something of the sort.
We never had Mattress Firm in CT or in New England before the buyout, so it was just a matter of converting the Sleepy's stores. We did have one situation in my town where a local outfit ran by two brothers sold the chain to Sleepy's when one of the brothers passed away. The original name was kept for a while, but then rebranded as a Sleepy's. There is another Mattress Firm location about 3/4 of a mile away that was Sleepy's at the time, so for a short while we had two Sleepy's. Then, the surviving brother of the old store started a new mattress store, and opened a location in the store formerly occupied by his old business.
There aren't that many PC Richards in CT. Most opened up in locations formerly occupied by Circuit City. Bob's Discount Furniture is based in Manchester, and I can remember when they only had 2 or 3 locations in state only. Now, I see they've spread as far west as Chicagoland and Milwaukee (I saw advertising in the penalty box at United Center during a Blackhawks game). I have a Bob-o-Pedic memory foam mattress from Bob's, and I sleep well every night.
Side note about Bob's: I'll never forget one time when the neon sign for a store had a couple of letters go out, leaving the sign to say "Bob's Disco n Furniture". Made you think it was a combination dance club and furniture store. :spin:
Quote from: roadman65 on December 29, 2017, 03:35:48 PM
One could still stay the same about K Mart. Crippled as they are, they bought Sears and now their subsidiary is got more stores staying open then themselves.
I often wondered how a belly up enterprise got the cash to buy up one of America's largest retailers especially after Government intervening with the court ruling of liquidating.
There's probably a reason why Eddie Lampert is called "Fast Eddie"
I was wondering if Mattress Firm could be money laundering, but it isn't like they would be taking in a lot of cash like car washes or laundromats.
Frankly, if it does work, I want to know how. I want a piece of that action!
Quote from: roadman65 on December 29, 2017, 03:12:34 PM
I hope Wawa is not going to die as they have grown so much in FL. They are now in many cities and they just opened in Broward. I heard to that Jacksonville could be next.
Anyway, from four stores in 2012 to so many I cannot count em.
They opened their first Jacksonville stores 12/13/17. They are really busy just like in Orlando.. I think the expansion into Florida was well planned.. they seem to be sticking to busy commuter corridors.
They are better than completion at food service
Z981
A FB friend of mine just said Tim Horton's donuts just closed all of their stores in the St. Louis area last week. IIRC, that was about the furthest west they went.
They are planning to enter the Northern Ohio market (Cleveland/Akron) within the next several months. So I think they are preferring to grow in their core area, around the lower Great Lakes.
Wonder why Tim Horton's couldn't survive down there.
Seems a bit far removed from their core customer base. I would imagine it's expensive to have to ship product and travel to those stores from a company perspective.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 31, 2017, 02:21:32 AM
Seems a bit far removed from their core customer base. I would imagine it's expensive to have to ship product and travel to those stores from a company perspective.
I think Culver's got to be that way too. Originally from Wisconsin and has most of it's locations in Wisconsin then expanded to other Great Lakes states and then to the western U.S. Seems like their locations out west are quite aways from their core locations.
There are seven Rite Aid's in my town, four Walgreens and no CVS. They just built two CVS stores within 25 miles of here. One in Midland and one in Bay City. Saginaw use to have CVS twice, the second time was when they bought out Arbor Drugs but were shuttered later. CVS even built two new stores before shuttering them.
Btw, each Walgreens location is within a half mile of a Rite Aid location. Three of the Walgreens are right directly across the street from a Rite Aid.
We had a few Tim Horton's in Southern New England. Many of them took over old Bess Eaton locations, one was even new construction that was paired with a Coldstone Creamery. All have since closed (the two near me are now a Little Caesar's and a bank), and ironically, Bess Eaton has made a comeback in the South County, RI area. They basically suffered the same fate as Krispy Kreme: couldn't beat Dunkin on its home turf.
Quote from: thenetwork on December 30, 2017, 07:41:24 PM
A FB friend of mine just said Tim Horton's donuts just closed all of their stores in the St. Louis area last week. IIRC, that was about the furthest west they went.
They are planning to enter the Northern Ohio market (Cleveland/Akron) within the next several months. So I think they are preferring to grow in their core area, around the lower Great Lakes.
Tim Hortons does very well in the lower Michigan area. I think there are areas where there are as many Tim Hortons as there are McDonalds. Dunkin and Krispy Kreme don't have much of a presence in the state.
Quote from: ftballfan on December 31, 2017, 02:59:40 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on December 30, 2017, 07:41:24 PM
A FB friend of mine just said Tim Horton's donuts just closed all of their stores in the St. Louis area last week. IIRC, that was about the furthest west they went.
They are planning to enter the Northern Ohio market (Cleveland/Akron) within the next several months. So I think they are preferring to grow in their core area, around the lower Great Lakes.
Tim Hortons does very well in the lower Michigan area. I think there are areas where there are as many Tim Hortons as there are McDonalds. Dunkin and Krispy Kreme don't have much of a presence in the state.
Tim Horton's seems to do very well in Saginaw too. There are four locations in Saginaw.
Quote from: thenetwork on December 30, 2017, 07:41:24 PM
A FB friend of mine just said Tim Horton's donuts just closed all of their stores in the St. Louis area last week. IIRC, that was about the furthest west they went.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 31, 2017, 02:21:32 AM
Seems a bit far removed from their core customer base. I would imagine it's expensive to have to ship product and travel to those stores from a company perspective.
I'm not familiar with Tim Horton's distribution chain, but I know that some other bakery chains operate on a sort of hub and spoke system where a flagship store or production center (the hub) will supply either unbaked dough or finished product to several smaller stores (the spokes) within a metro area or region. Because of the economics of operating such a setup, the company may be forced to make an all-in/all-out decision on an area. Assumably, this is what just happened in St. Louis, and perhaps this is what occurred in southern New England as well.
Quote from: thenetwork on December 30, 2017, 07:41:24 PM
They are planning to enter the Northern Ohio market (Cleveland/Akron) within the next several months. So I think they are preferring to grow in their core area, around the lower Great Lakes.
On the other hand, that arrangement often means it makes more sense to thoroughly saturate a region that the company already occupies, and that seems to be what's happening here. In addition, increasing presence in a region can make marketing more straightforward so that advertising can be effectively targeted, geographically speaking.
Also, I believe that Tim Hortons sponsors hockey broadcasts and has other hockey related marketing tie-ins, so perhaps they're trying to focus on regions where that's more relevant. Along those lines, southern New England might be more fertile ground if not for the dominance of Dunkin' Donuts there.
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 31, 2017, 11:26:52 AM
I think Culver's got to be that way too. Originally from Wisconsin and has most of it's locations in Wisconsin then expanded to other Great Lakes states and then to the western U.S. Seems like their locations out west are quite aways from their core locations.
I haven't been to Culver's in about a year, but do you have evidence to suggest that the company is somehow in trouble or that the performance of its remote units is somehow suffering? During my brief time in Tampa, I appreciated Culver's relatively recent growth there, and I always found the stores to be just as well run and the products just as good as those I had enjoyed in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska–closer to the company's home.
When I discovered that Culver's had invaded Florida, my initial uneducated guess was that the Florida stores were started by someone from the upper Midwest who either had moved to or regularly wintered in Florida and said "Gee...wouldn't it be great if we had a Culver's here?" And then in one of the Tampa Culver's stores, I noticed a framed news article announcing the opening of the first Tampa-area Culver's and my guess was right. It was a Wisconsinite who moved to Florida and decided to open his own franchise there.
Admittedly, though I enjoyed having Culver's in Florida, I also have to add it to the list of regional chains that have become a bit less special since they've grown to an almost national footprint.
Quote from: briantroutman on December 31, 2017, 03:51:22 PM
Quote from: thenetwork on December 30, 2017, 07:41:24 PM
A FB friend of mine just said Tim Horton's donuts just closed all of their stores in the St. Louis area last week. IIRC, that was about the furthest west they went.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 31, 2017, 02:21:32 AM
Seems a bit far removed from their core customer base. I would imagine it's expensive to have to ship product and travel to those stores from a company perspective.
I'm not familiar with Tim Horton's distribution chain, but I know that some other bakery chains operate on a sort of hub and spoke system where a flagship store or production center (the hub) will supply either unbaked dough or finished product to several smaller stores (the spokes) within a metro area or region. Because of the economics of operating such a setup, the company may be forced to make an all-in/all-out decision on an area. Assumably, this is what just happened in St. Louis, and perhaps this is what occurred in southern New England as well.
Quote from: thenetwork on December 30, 2017, 07:41:24 PM
They are planning to enter the Northern Ohio market (Cleveland/Akron) within the next several months. So I think they are preferring to grow in their core area, around the lower Great Lakes.
On the other hand, that arrangement often means it makes more sense to thoroughly saturate a region that the company already occupies, and that seems to be what's happening here. In addition, increasing presence in a region can make marketing more straightforward so that advertising can be effectively targeted, geographically speaking.
Also, I believe that Tim Hortons sponsors hockey broadcasts and has other hockey related marketing tie-ins, so perhaps they're trying to focus on regions where that's more relevant. Along those lines, southern New England might be more fertile ground if not for the dominance of Dunkin' Donuts there.
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 31, 2017, 11:26:52 AM
I think Culver's got to be that way too. Originally from Wisconsin and has most of it's locations in Wisconsin then expanded to other Great Lakes states and then to the western U.S. Seems like their locations out west are quite aways from their core locations.
I haven't been to Culver's in about a year, but do you have evidence to suggest that the company is somehow in trouble or that the performance of its remote units is somehow suffering? During my brief time in Tampa, I appreciated Culver's relatively recent growth there, and I always found the stores to be just as well run and the products just as good as those I had enjoyed in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska–closer to the company's home.
When I discovered that Culver's had invaded Florida, my initial uneducated guess was that the Florida stores were started by someone from the upper Midwest who either had moved to or regularly wintered in Florida and said "Gee...wouldn't it be great if we had a Culver's here?" And then in one of the Tampa Culver's stores, I noticed a framed news article announcing the opening of the first Tampa-area Culver's and my guess was right. It was a Wisconsinite who moved to Florida and decided to open his own franchise there.
Admittedly, though I enjoyed having Culver's in Florida, I also have to add it to the list of regional chains that have become a bit less special since they've grown to an almost national footprint.
I would say that Culver's is doing okay I'm not sure totally though. I just think that expanding West when your headquarters is in Wisconsin and that was where most of your locations were before this expansion maybe a problem but I don't know.
SAMSUNG-SM-J727A
Florida is a special case due to all the transplanted people from other parts of the country
Tim Horton's, which just closed the outlet nearest me (but still has some others nearby) really mis-managed its US expansion, IMHO. When it entered the US, the chain was owned by Columbus HQed Wendy's and seemed to just start expanding outward from there, which put in a lot of declining markets (like mine).
It would have seemed best to first expand to places just across the border, where people were familiar with the brand; along the highways frequented by Canadian heading south, and places (Florida, Myrtle Beach, Phoenix) with high Canadian retiree and vacationer counts.
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 31, 2017, 11:46:49 AM
Btw, each Walgreens location is within a half mile of a Rite Aid location. Three of the Walgreens are right directly across the street from a Rite Aid.
A few months ago Walgreens bought out like 1000+ Rite Aid locations. As part of the deal, Walgreen's is going to close a bunch of stores. I wish it meant more work for me, but the way things are going - which I am unable to disclose because of NDA's and all that - I'll be lucky to have a job by the end of August.
Huh. We still have Rite Aids amd Walgreen's kitty-corner to each other up here in upstate NY.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
Arthur Treachers. Miami Subs tried to bring them back, but folded.
Still surviving on the East Coast.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AMBojangles? I know they closed em all here in Orlando, but I have no idea if the overall chain is still operating stores in other markets.
All over the rest of the South, one as far north as the Washington DC suburbs.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AMThe Ground Round in NJ. They took over some of the former Howard Johnson Restaurants and were big in the mid 80's for a small regional chain. When I left in 1990 they had only a couple left and I think in 1993, during a visit to NJ, I saw only one then.
I ate at one in a mall in Frederick, MD in 2005 or so, but I think they're all gone now.
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 29, 2016, 07:52:32 AM
The last standalone Arthur Treacher's I saw was in Fairfax, Virginia, on US-29. It closed and was demolished within the last four years or so.
There was also one on Route 1 in Alexandria, though I don't know if/when it closed. It was pretty grim when I went there in 2001.
Another one opened in DC about a decade ago, but has since closed. They also sold Korean food, but decided to focus on the Korean food.
Quote from: Rothman on January 03, 2018, 02:16:23 PM
Huh. We still have Rite Aids amd Walgreen's kitty-corner to each other up here in upstate NY.
Wait. About half of those will disappear soon.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 03, 2018, 04:51:30 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AMThe Ground Round in NJ. They took over some of the former Howard Johnson Restaurants and were big in the mid 80's for a small regional chain. When I left in 1990 they had only a couple left and I think in 1993, during a visit to NJ, I saw only one then.
I ate at one in a mall in Frederick, MD in 2005 or so, but I think they're all gone now.
The Ground Round is still around.
http://www.groundround.com/Locations/
Quote from: Brandon on January 03, 2018, 05:04:03 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 03, 2018, 02:16:23 PM
Huh. We still have Rite Aids amd Walgreen's kitty-corner to each other up here in upstate NY.
Wait. About half of those will disappear soon.
I've known about the impending closures for at least a year. They will disappear, just like a ton of locations disappeared when Rite Aid bought Eckerd. Ironically, Rite Aid buying Eckerd is what provided an opening for Walgreens to enter this market in force. The pharmacy market is probably oversaturated, anyway, especially with Kinney Drugs starting to push into the area.
Quote from: Brandon on January 03, 2018, 05:07:57 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 03, 2018, 04:51:30 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AMThe Ground Round in NJ. They took over some of the former Howard Johnson Restaurants and were big in the mid 80's for a small regional chain. When I left in 1990 they had only a couple left and I think in 1993, during a visit to NJ, I saw only one then.
I ate at one in a mall in Frederick, MD in 2005 or so, but I think they're all gone now.
The Ground Round is still around.
http://www.groundround.com/Locations/
They are DEFINITELY still around. I ate at the Bangor one in August 2016. Was even one on Long Island as of October. They tend to be in smaller markets and places that haven't had a lot of successful competition open nearby. Mostly concentrated in northern New England and the upper Midwest at this point.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 03, 2018, 04:51:30 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
Arthur Treachers. Miami Subs tried to bring them back, but folded.
Still surviving on the East Coast.
I might be repeating myself (perhaps from earlier in this same thread), but are there any standalone Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips shops left?
It seems as if the only locations left are tiny food court operations where a stripped down Treacher's shares counter space with a Nathan's. I stopped at one of these operations at one of the NJ Turnpike for old times' sake, and it was quite a disappointment. The "chips" were just the same fries Nathan's served with its hot dogs. The hush puppies were quite bland and generic–like some kind of a nuke-and-serve appetizer you'd find in a discount grocery store's freezer section. Everything was served in Nathan's packaging.
So Arthur Treacher's slogan for 2018:
We're Nathan's! ...And there's some freezer-burnt fish sticks we can throw in the fryer
if you insist.
Quote from: US71 on September 30, 2016, 09:56:47 AM
Are there any Dillons stores left in Kansas?
What? Dillon's is THE grocery store chain in Wichita.
I miss Scotty's Lumber and Hardware here in FL. I might of said it before, but they went out back in 92 or 93. They were the place to go in Central Florida before Home Depot and Lowes dominated the market.
Thinking of them brings back memories of the pre sprawl days when moving around Orlando and Kissimmee was much easier than it is now.
Quote from: briantroutman on January 03, 2018, 05:50:51 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 03, 2018, 04:51:30 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
Arthur Treachers. Miami Subs tried to bring them back, but folded.
Still surviving on the East Coast.
I might be repeating myself (perhaps from earlier in this same thread), but are there any standalone Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips shops left?
It seems as if the only locations left are tiny food court operations where a stripped down Treacher's shares counter space with a Nathan's. I stopped at one of these operations at one of the NJ Turnpike for old times' sake, and it was quite a disappointment. The "chips" were just the same fries Nathan's served with its hot dogs. The hush puppies were quite bland and generic–like some kind of a nuke-and-serve appetizer you'd find in a discount grocery store's freezer section. Everything was served in Nathan's packaging.
So Arthur Treacher's slogan for 2018:
We're Nathan's! ...And there's some freezer-burnt fish sticks we can throw in the fryer if you insist.
It looks like there are a handful stand-alones remaining in Cleveland. All of the remaining locations are co-branded with Nathan's, Pudgies Fried Chicken (a small chain on Long Island), or Salvatore's Pizza (Rochester area): http://www.arthurtreachersfranchising.com/locations.php . Note that the Nathan's and Salvatore's locations are not on the website.
Quote from: briantroutman on January 03, 2018, 05:50:51 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 03, 2018, 04:51:30 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AM
Arthur Treachers. Miami Subs tried to bring them back, but folded.
Still surviving on the East Coast.
I might be repeating myself (perhaps from earlier in this same thread), but are there any standalone Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips shops left?
It seems as if the only locations left are tiny food court operations where a stripped down Treacher's shares counter space with a Nathan's. I stopped at one of these operations at one of the NJ Turnpike for old times' sake, and it was quite a disappointment. The "chips" were just the same fries Nathan's served with its hot dogs. The hush puppies were quite bland and generic–like some kind of a nuke-and-serve appetizer you'd find in a discount grocery store's freezer section. Everything was served in Nathan's packaging.
So Arthur Treacher's slogan for 2018:
We're Nathan's! ...And there's some freezer-burnt fish sticks we can throw in the fryer if you insist.
I haven't seen an Arthur Treacher's in about 20 years since the Miami Subs/Nathans/(Kenny Rogers) Roasters combo restaurant in Milford, CT closed (now a bank). Don't even think there is a Nathan's left in the state; only Nathan's merchandise you can get is in the supermarket (hot dogs, frozen fries, condiments). I remember a couple of Arthur Treacher's locations when I was really young (over 30 years ago); two standalones, and one in a mall. Never could tell the difference between them and Long John Silver's (we have 2 "Silver Bells" near me
I remember an Arthur Treachers in Northland Mall in Southfield which is also sitting vacant now.
Quote from: corco on December 29, 2017, 03:24:12 PM
Quote from: cl94 on December 29, 2017, 02:25:24 PM
I don't understand why Mattress Firm bought out Sleepy's. Sleepy's already had stores on every corner in the northeast. With Mattress Firm, there are even MORE locations in this area. It's ridiculous. There are a couple places in the Albany area where, yes, there was a Mattress Firm a block away from a Sleepy's and both are now Mattress Firm.
Of course, the northeast has 2 other similar chains with high density (PC Richard and Son and Bob's Discount Furniture), so virtually every shopping plaza of any size has something of the sort.
Mattress Firm is a money laundering operation. How many people do you know that have actually bought a mattress recently? And how many locations are there??
In Boise, we have one here:
https://goo.gl/maps/F11FsEtbAd42
And then they built one here, right across the street!
https://goo.gl/maps/Qr12iVyVdYu
Both are still in operation and have been for a couple years. There's no other explanation.
Well, there is one, that their margins are so stupidly high that they don't need to sell very many to make a profit. If you buy a mattress for $10 and sell it for $2500, you don't have to sell a whole lot of them to pay for the store being open.
I doubt their margin is
that high, but still.
Quote from: cl94 on January 03, 2018, 05:15:02 PMThey tend to be in smaller markets and places that haven't had a lot of successful competition open nearby.
Makes sense - I remember thinking the food was indistinguishable from Ruby Tuesday or TGI Friday's when I ate there over a decade ago.
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned Tony Roma's. My wife and I ate at one in Medellin two years ago. You won't find a Medellin location on their website, but it exists regardless. It's a revolving restaurant on top of a high-end hotel. The menu is fairly close to what was probably the original Tony Roma's menu. The food was good and they gave you plastic food service gloves to wear while you ate your ribs. It was one of the most bizarre eating experiences I've had.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 04, 2018, 09:11:09 AM
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned Tony Roma's. My wife and I ate at one in Medellin two years ago. You won't find a Medellin location on their website, but it exists regardless. It's a revolving restaurant on top of a high-end hotel. The menu is fairly close to what was probably the original Tony Roma's menu. The food was good and they gave you plastic food service gloves to wear while you ate your ribs. It was one of the most bizarre eating experiences I've had.
Medellin, Colombia?
Quote from: cl94 on January 03, 2018, 05:15:02 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 03, 2018, 05:04:03 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 03, 2018, 02:16:23 PM
Huh. We still have Rite Aids amd Walgreen's kitty-corner to each other up here in upstate NY.
Wait. About half of those will disappear soon.
I've known about the impending closures for at least a year. They will disappear, just like a ton of locations disappeared when Rite Aid bought Eckerd. Ironically, Rite Aid buying Eckerd is what provided an opening for Walgreens to enter this market in force. The pharmacy market is probably oversaturated, anyway, especially with Kinney Drugs starting to push into the area.
Quote from: Brandon on January 03, 2018, 05:07:57 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 03, 2018, 04:51:30 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 28, 2016, 09:28:24 AMThe Ground Round in NJ. They took over some of the former Howard Johnson Restaurants and were big in the mid 80's for a small regional chain. When I left in 1990 they had only a couple left and I think in 1993, during a visit to NJ, I saw only one then.
I ate at one in a mall in Frederick, MD in 2005 or so, but I think they're all gone now.
The Ground Round is still around.
http://www.groundround.com/Locations/
They are DEFINITELY still around. I ate at the Bangor one in August 2016. Was even one on Long Island as of October. They tend to be in smaller markets and places that haven't had a lot of successful competition open nearby. Mostly concentrated in northern New England and the upper Midwest at this point.
We had 3 of them within 20 minutes of me. One was torn down, and on the site now, funny enough, is a Walgreens (which has a Rite Aid 1/2 mile away; the Rite Aid would close in the merger case). Another is a local chain location, the third is an Asian restaurant. I remember hearing a story that the Hadley, MA location closed so suddenly that there were people eating dinner that were literally kicked out of the restaurant during their meal. I'll always remember the baskets of popcorn and the big screen with cartoons playing.
We had one Tony Roma's here about 30 years ago. It's now a credit union
Quote from: kkt on January 04, 2018, 10:19:12 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 04, 2018, 09:11:09 AM
Someone earlier in the thread mentioned Tony Roma's. My wife and I ate at one in Medellin two years ago. You won't find a Medellin location on their website, but it exists regardless. It's a revolving restaurant on top of a high-end hotel. The menu is fairly close to what was probably the original Tony Roma's menu. The food was good and they gave you plastic food service gloves to wear while you ate your ribs. It was one of the most bizarre eating experiences I've had.
Medellin, Colombia?
Yes, that one.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on January 04, 2018, 10:41:50 AMI'll always remember the baskets of popcorn and the big screen with cartoons playing.
Unfortunately the current incarnation has neither of these.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 04, 2018, 12:14:30 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on January 04, 2018, 10:41:50 AMI'll always remember the baskets of popcorn and the big screen with cartoons playing.
Unfortunately the current incarnation has neither of these.
I could have sworn the Bangor one had popcorn. That's actually a common thing at regional chains of that type in this area. The 99 (New England/Eastern NY) and Tully's (Central/Western NY) are both similar and do the popcorn.
Quote from: briantroutman on May 09, 2017, 01:56:04 PM
With the closure of Gander Mountain, the news just keeps getting worse for my hometown's mall (Lycoming). Though not inside the mall, a Gander Mountain store occupies a prominent outparcel. Next door looms a huge empty showroom that a woodworking tool company (Grizzly) vacated in 2015.
Since 2015, the mall has lost or will lose Macy's, JCPenney, Gap, Aéropostale, PacSun, Christopher & Banks, Radio Shack, and probably a half dozen other stores I'm not remembering offhand. I've also heard–but can't confirm–that Lycoming's Sears store is slated for closure. (Regardless, Sears surely isn't long for this world.) By the end of this year, the percentage of vacant square footage will surely be in excess of 50%.
Announced yesterday: The Gander Mountain near me that closed down several months ago is going to reopen as a Gander Outdoors (pending the deal to go through on the property).
A&P (grocery stores)
Builder's Square
Radio Shack
Waldenbooks
Quote from: kphoger on January 04, 2018, 01:48:21 PM
A&P (grocery stores)
Builder's Square
Radio Shack
Waldenbooks
Wow I remember all four of those stores.
Quote from: vdeane on September 26, 2016, 01:20:12 PM
Chase Pitkin - basically a Wegmans version of Home Depot (literally - it was owned/operated by Wegmans)
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 25, 2016, 10:56:15 PM
Howard Johnson's -drops mic-
One more left: https://goo.gl/maps/y2A2ptH5jN72
Wikipedia sez the last HoJo's closed in October 2017, so now the chain is officially defunct.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 04, 2018, 05:27:46 PM
Quote from: vdeane on September 26, 2016, 01:20:12 PM
Chase Pitkin - basically a Wegmans version of Home Depot (literally - it was owned/operated by Wegmans)
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 25, 2016, 10:56:15 PM
Howard Johnson's -drops mic-
One more left: https://goo.gl/maps/y2A2ptH5jN72
Wikipedia sez the last HoJo's closed in October 2017, so now the chain is officially defunct.
Can confirm, live nearby. Place was miserable anyway. And the owner was a pervert (his arrest was why the place closed).
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 04, 2018, 01:52:51 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 04, 2018, 01:48:21 PM
A&P (grocery stores)
Builder's Square
Radio Shack
Waldenbooks
Wow I remember all four of those stores.
I should hope so, because you're a couple of years older than me.
Quote from: kphoger on January 04, 2018, 05:55:41 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 04, 2018, 01:52:51 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 04, 2018, 01:48:21 PM
A&P (grocery stores)
Builder's Square
Radio Shack
Waldenbooks
Wow I remember all four of those stores.
I should hope so, because you're a couple of years older than me.
Builder's Square was quite awhile ago. I remember it was owned by Kmart and closed probably 20 years ago.
Quote from: cl94 on January 04, 2018, 05:28:55 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 04, 2018, 05:27:46 PM
Quote from: vdeane on September 26, 2016, 01:20:12 PM
Chase Pitkin - basically a Wegmans version of Home Depot (literally - it was owned/operated by Wegmans)
Quote from: noelbotevera on September 25, 2016, 10:56:15 PM
Howard Johnson's -drops mic-
One more left: https://goo.gl/maps/y2A2ptH5jN72
Wikipedia sez the last HoJo's closed in October 2017, so now the chain is officially defunct.
Can confirm, live nearby. Place was miserable anyway. And the owner was a pervert (his arrest was why the place closed).
I'm sure it was - I went to the Times Square location in 2002 or 2003 (it closed in 2005) and it was pretty run down. And the menu was a dog's breakfast - I had a Greek salad and some butter pecan ice cream, IIRC. Don't remember if they were still serving fried clam strips or hot dogs in the split-top bun.
The Howard Johnson's in Saginaw closed in April 1997, then they re-opened another Howard Johnson's in Bay City after the Saginaw one closed. The Bay City one closed around I want to say about 2005. The Saginaw one was closed because of Health Code Violations, demolished and has been the location of a Burger King ever since. The Bay City Howard Johnson's continues to rot, it still has Howard Johnson's signing up and the building looks exactly like a Howard Johnson's still with the orange roof but everything is pretty dated, the parking lot is in a million pieces and it's overgrown with weeds. I actually worked at this Howard Johnson's for a few months, I didn't like it.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 05, 2018, 11:05:42 AM
I'm sure it was - I went to the Times Square location in 2002 or 2003 (it closed in 2005) and it was pretty run down. And the menu was a dog's breakfast - I had a Greek salad and some butter pecan ice cream, IIRC. Don't remember if they were still serving fried clam strips or hot dogs in the split-top bun.
The irony is that Howard Johnson's motels / motor inns are still a thing, albeit owned by a different company, but even those are rare.
Add Benny's (a Rhode Island department store chain) to this list - their last store closed a couple of weeks ago.
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 04, 2018, 07:11:36 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 04, 2018, 05:55:41 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 04, 2018, 01:52:51 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 04, 2018, 01:48:21 PM
A&P (grocery stores)
Builder's Square
Radio Shack
Waldenbooks
Wow I remember all four of those stores.
I should hope so, because you're a couple of years older than me.
Builder's Square was quite awhile ago. I remember it was owned by Kmart and closed probably 20 years ago.
And Waldenbooks went down with Borders in 2011.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 04, 2018, 05:27:46 PM
Wikipedia sez the last HoJo's closed in October 2017, so now the chain is officially defunct.
To avoid repeating myself, I'll link a comment I made in another thread in 2016: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18660.msg2169612#msg2169612
But in short, the Howard Johnson Company ceased existing in 1985. Marriott bought the company to strip it of lucrative toll road contracts and prime real estate and throw the remains away. A ragtag co-op of franchisees–a mere shadow of the former company in all respects–formed in 1986 to keep the few remaining restaurant locations alive, but that organization finally winked out in 2005. Any locations that hung afterward were basically zombies.
So depending on how you want to slice it, the Howard Johnson's restaurant chain has been dead for either 12 or 32 years.
Quote from: inkyatari on January 05, 2018, 12:42:55 PM
The irony is that Howard Johnson's motels / motor inns are still a thing, albeit owned by a different company, but even those are rare.
Not
that rare–supposedly 393 locations as of the end of 2015. At the company's height in the '70s, it had a little over 500 motor lodges.
The difference is that back then, all 500+ locations were actually Howard Johnson's–built as HJ motor lodges with standardized architecture, room layouts, and decor packages designed by the Howard Johnson Company. Since 1985, as original orange-roofed lodges have gradually been abandoned, demolished, or converted to other brands–and as other unrelated hotels have been admitted to the Howard Johnson chain with little in the way of conversion–the number of purpose-built HJ locations left in the system has fallen to (I'd estimate) less than 5% of the total. And so there's nothing to distinguish a dumpy motel flying the HJ flag from one under the Days Inn, Ramada, or any other race-to-the-bottom banner.
Quote from: briantroutman on January 05, 2018, 03:58:12 PM
And so there's nothing to distinguish a dumpy motel flying the HJ flag from one under the Days Inn, Ramada, or any other race-to-the-bottom banner.
Ramada Inn used to be a good hotel chain as well back in the day. You can also add Travelodge, Knight's Inn and Red Roof Inns to that mix of lower end motels/hotels that used to be of good quality back in their heydays. Nowadays, the inconsistency between properties on those lower end chains is wider than it's ever been.
Another hotel chain I don't hear much of anymore, but is of much better quality, is Sheraton. It seemed there were a lot more of them back in the 70s than today. Perhaps they got rid of their smaller "motor inn" properties in favor of more larger, upscale airport and downtown properties?
Yeah, the Sheraton generally seems to be the most expensive per-night chain in whatever places I frequently visit.
Quote from: thenetwork on January 05, 2018, 09:57:37 PM
Sheraton...Perhaps they got rid of their smaller "motor inn" properties in favor of more larger, upscale airport and downtown properties?
Based on my observations, that seems to be the case. Sheraton's roots in the 1930s and '40s were in higher end city hotels, but beginning in the mid '50s, the company focused growth on mid-market Sheraton Motor Inns. These were generally highway-oriented locations, typically in suburbs and small towns, and they were roughly comparable to nicer Holiday Inns and Howard Johnson's Motor Lodges of the era.
Up through the '70s, the public's expectation was that any decent middle-class hotel would have an on-site restaurant, bell service, a lounge, and event rooms. But that perception began to change in the '80s when new limited service brands like Comfort and Hampton appeared, offering style and appointments that appealed to middle-class tastes but without restaurants and extra services that siphoned off profits. Hence a Hampton Inn was able to offer a nicer and newer room at a lower rate than an aging Sheraton Motor Inn across the street.
Unlike most other large hotel companies, Sheraton never really made a serious play for the limited service market. Through the '80s, 20-year-old Sheraton Motor Inns in places like Danville, PA and Tucumcari, NM were purged from the chain, not to be replaced. The company increased its focus on metropolitan locations and development outside the US. Now that Sheraton's parent company is under the ownership of Marriott, and given that Sheraton doesn't have a very strong identity vs. Marriott's own full-service brand, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sheraton name disappears or is reserved for a specific niche.
By the way, if any of you are interested in hotels...or gas stations or restaurants, I'd highly recommend a series of books by John Jakle and Keith Sculle:
The Motel in America (https://www.amazon.com/Motel-America-Road-American-Culture/dp/0801869188),
The Gas Station in America (https://www.amazon.com/Station-America-Creating-American-Landscape/dp/0801847230/ref=pd_sim_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0801847230&pd_rd_r=N0JN7TGAAAAGZ6Q1PT5S&pd_rd_w=w0a4G&pd_rd_wg=w0H2E&psc=1&refRID=N0JN7TGAAAAGZ6Q1PT5S), and
Fast Food (https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Food-Roadside-Restaurants-Automobile/dp/080186920X). (They actually refer to this set of three as their "gas/food/lodging" trilogy.) Each one takes a remarkably in-depth look at the development of the industry in question (particularly as it relates to the development of highways and auto travel), analyzes the changing forms of architecture for these businesses, and gives histories of many individual chains. Each volume is approachable and easy to read but scholarly in its level of detail and thoughtful analysis.
Quote from: thenetwork on January 05, 2018, 09:57:37 PM
Another hotel chain I don't hear much of anymore, but is of much better quality, is Sheraton. It seemed there were a lot more of them back in the 70s than today. Perhaps they got rid of their smaller "motor inn" properties in favor of more larger, upscale airport and downtown properties?
I remember, when I was a young'un back in the 70's, there was one in downtown Joliet, IL. Even as a youngster, I recall thinking "why is this here?"
Today it's the Louis Joliet Renaissance center building of Joliet Junior College.
^^ Today, that building is gone, torn down for a new City Center campus.
Quote from: thenetwork on January 05, 2018, 09:57:37 PM
Quote from: briantroutman on January 05, 2018, 03:58:12 PM
And so there's nothing to distinguish a dumpy motel flying the HJ flag from one under the Days Inn, Ramada, or any other race-to-the-bottom banner.
Ramada Inn used to be a good hotel chain as well back in the day. You can also add Travelodge, Knight's Inn and Red Roof Inns to that mix of lower end motels/hotels that used to be of good quality back in their heydays. Nowadays, the inconsistency between properties on those lower end chains is wider than it's ever been.
Another hotel chain I don't hear much of anymore, but is of much better quality, is Sheraton. It seemed there were a lot more of them back in the 70s than today. Perhaps they got rid of their smaller "motor inn" properties in favor of more larger, upscale airport and downtown properties?
Days Inn used to be good quality. Travelodge hotels in the UK are of much higher quality than those in the US, probably comparable to a Courtyard. Even Motel 6 had noble aspirations in the beginning, but the only reason I've set foot in a Motel 6 or a Red Roof Inn is because we own a dog and pets stay free at all locations.
Quote from: briantroutman on January 05, 2018, 03:58:12 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 04, 2018, 05:27:46 PM
Wikipedia sez the last HoJo's closed in October 2017, so now the chain is officially defunct.
To avoid repeating myself, I'll link a comment I made in another thread in 2016: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=18660.msg2169612#msg2169612
But in short, the Howard Johnson Company ceased existing in 1985. Marriott bought the company to strip it of lucrative toll road contracts and prime real estate and throw the remains away. A ragtag co-op of franchisees–a mere shadow of the former company in all respects–formed in 1986 to keep the few remaining restaurant locations alive, but that organization finally winked out in 2005. Any locations that hung afterward were basically zombies.
My dad, a former manager of Howard Johnson's restaurants, would probably argue that they ceased to exist when they stopped serving HoJo Cola.
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 10:12:50 AM
^^ Today, that building is gone, torn down for a new City Center campus.
That was within the last few years, wasn't it?
Quote from: inkyatari on January 05, 2018, 12:42:55 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 05, 2018, 11:05:42 AM
I'm sure it was - I went to the Times Square location in 2002 or 2003 (it closed in 2005) and it was pretty run down. And the menu was a dog's breakfast - I had a Greek salad and some butter pecan ice cream, IIRC. Don't remember if they were still serving fried clam strips or hot dogs in the split-top bun.
The irony is that Howard Johnson's motels / motor inns are still a thing, albeit owned by a different company, but even those are rare.
Stayed at a Howard Johnson's hotel in Staunton VA a few years back. Nothing at all remarkable, just one of countless budget hotels. No connection at all to the erstwhile restaurants.
Quote from: inkyatari on January 08, 2018, 12:48:22 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 10:12:50 AM
^^ Today, that building is gone, torn down for a new City Center campus.
That was within the last few years, wasn't it?
Yes. They also bought the Chicken N Spice building.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 08, 2018, 12:21:13 PM
Days Inn used to be good quality.
Let me apologize in advance for repeating myself–although new people sometimes jump in later in the conversation or new thread retreads the same ground as a different thread in the past, so I think it bears repeating here. This was my observation on the lifecycle of many lodging chains in the past half century:
Quote from: briantroutman on December 15, 2016, 04:02:17 PM
- One person (or a small group of people) has a clear vision of what a budget motel should be
- This visionary starts to assemble a chain of purpose-built motels with a consistent design and level of service
- The properties are all company owned or very closely supervised franchisees
- The chain becomes a remarkable success
THEN
- The founder is out of the picture
- A flock of Wall Street vultures swoop in to "extract untapped value from the brand"
- They begin (or accelerate) franchising, loosen standards, and perhaps even dispose of all company-owned properties
- The chain becomes a dumping ground for old properties dropped from better chains
This applies to Days Inn perfectly. The chain was founded by Cecil B. Day, an Atlanta real estate developer in 1970. This was about 15 years after chains like Holiday Inn set the standard for what were then known as "motor inns" , and he felt that these national brands had left Middle America behind–that their new hotels gotten too large, too luxurious, and were becoming increasingly focused on urban areas and high-dollar travelers. (Ironically, it was the lack of decent, inexpensive, family-oriented motels on cross-country road trip that inspired Kemmons Wilson to found Holiday Inn in the first place.)
So Day set out to build a chain of unabashedly family-focused motels, especially along rural Interstate exits in the South that other chains had neglected. Early Days Inns had a standardized design with outdoor-corridor rooms surrounding a small outdoor pool and playground. The only indoor public area was under a single steeply pitched roof–a building housing the chain's in-house Tasty World restaurant (a Denny's-like operation), a small gift shop, registration desk, and office. Being a devout Baptist, Day insisted that his inns serve no alcohol. Most locations had a few gas pumps on site. Rates were sometimes 25-50% less than a nearby Holiday Inn. Many inns were company-owned; others were operated under close supervision.
Day's timing was impeccable. He built motels along the Interstate corridors of the Southeast and in central Florida just as Walt Disney World opened its gates. As fuel crises and inflation cut into the working class's travel budgets, Days Inns' budget rates and the ability to reserve a tank of gasoline with your room were hard to resist. And Cecil Day's personal obsession with consistency and operational standards led to high customer satisfaction.
Cecil died of cancer in 1978, and his family lost interest in the business soon after. The chain was sold to a "private equity firm" in 1984, taken public, then private, into bankruptcy, and unbelievably, purchased out of bankruptcy in 1991 by the corporate raider who bought it from the Day family in 1984. By the end of it all, the company-owned properties had been sold off, quality standards were forgotten, and a Days Inn could be anything from a former Holiday Inn with a revolving rooftop restaurant (https://statispro1978replay.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/chicago-1993-days-inn.jpg) on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago to a 24-room truck stop motel (http://briantroutman.com/land/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/daystop_troutville_virginia.jpg) in rural Virginia.
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 01:14:39 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on January 08, 2018, 12:48:22 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 10:12:50 AM
^^ Today, that building is gone, torn down for a new City Center campus.
That was within the last few years, wasn't it?
Yes. They also bought the Chicken N Spice building.
Chicken N Spice is no more? :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:
Quote from: inkyatari on January 08, 2018, 01:58:48 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 01:14:39 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on January 08, 2018, 12:48:22 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 10:12:50 AM
^^ Today, that building is gone, torn down for a new City Center campus.
That was within the last few years, wasn't it?
Yes. They also bought the Chicken N Spice building.
Chicken N Spice is no more? :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:
They've bought the building. Chicken N Spice is still there, but will have to eventually move.
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 03:22:55 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on January 08, 2018, 01:58:48 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 01:14:39 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on January 08, 2018, 12:48:22 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 08, 2018, 10:12:50 AM
^^ Today, that building is gone, torn down for a new City Center campus.
That was within the last few years, wasn't it?
Yes. They also bought the Chicken N Spice building.
Chicken N Spice is no more? :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:
They've bought the building. Chicken N Spice is still there, but will have to eventually move.
I hope they get a spot in the new building. Place is a local.. Well.. maybe not legend, but it's very popular.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 08, 2018, 12:21:13 PM
Even Motel 6 had noble aspirations in the beginning, but the only reason I've set foot in a Motel 6 or a Red Roof Inn is because we own a dog and pets stay free at all locations.
There are/were some nicer Motel 6's. Back in the 90s, I stayed in a Motel 6 just off of N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. I think it was about 12 stories.
One interesting fact of the past about Motel 6. There was a LAW once in Palm Springs (may have been in the whole PS region -- at least into the early 90s) where lodging facilities in their town(s) could *NOT* be called "motels". You can call them Inns, Lodges or Hotels. Motels could give Palm Springs "negative" impressions
Motel 6 had to have all exterior signs in Palm Springs altered to say Hotel 6, while all Motel 6 paraphernalia inside the building was the normal logo.
I stayed there once in the Hotel 6 era, when Sonny Bono was Mayor in '89, and when I returned in 2003, I stayed there again, and by that time, the law was dropped and the Hotel officially "reverted" to a Motel 6.
Both times I stayed it was a better than average motel.
Quote from: thenetwork on January 08, 2018, 06:38:42 PM
There are/were some nicer Motel 6's.
I've stayed in clean Motel 6s, and newly-renovated Motel 6s, and clean AND newly-renovated Motel 6s, but none that I would call "nice" or even "nicer." In every case, I've wanted to get up and leave shortly after sunrise.
There has never been a Motel 6 that I stayed at for more than just the night. I'm pretty sure I checked out right after waking up.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 09, 2018, 09:39:56 AM
Quote from: thenetwork on January 08, 2018, 06:38:42 PM
There are/were some nicer Motel 6's.
I've stayed in clean Motel 6s, and newly-renovated Motel 6s, and clean AND newly-renovated Motel 6s, but none that I would call "nice" or even "nicer." In every case, I've wanted to get up and leave shortly after sunrise.
I spent the night recently in a Motel 6 in Hillsville, Va. It's a former Best Western. I can't imagine the Hampton across the road or the HI Express next door being any nicer.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 09, 2018, 03:50:32 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 09, 2018, 09:39:56 AM
Quote from: thenetwork on January 08, 2018, 06:38:42 PM
There are/were some nicer Motel 6's.
I've stayed in clean Motel 6s, and newly-renovated Motel 6s, and clean AND newly-renovated Motel 6s, but none that I would call "nice" or even "nicer." In every case, I've wanted to get up and leave shortly after sunrise.
I spent the night recently in a Motel 6 in Hillsville, Va. It's a former Best Western. I can't imagine the Hampton across the road or the HI Express next door being any nicer.
Some Hampton Inns, particularly the ones with rooms with interior entrances, are quite nice. Much nicer than the renovated Motel 6 rooms. But Hampton Inns tend to vary widely from location to location in terms of quality.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 09, 2018, 09:39:56 AM
Quote from: thenetwork on January 08, 2018, 06:38:42 PM
There are/were some nicer Motel 6's.
I've stayed in clean Motel 6s, and newly-renovated Motel 6s, and clean AND newly-renovated Motel 6s, but none that I would call "nice" or even "nicer." In every case, I've wanted to get up and leave shortly after sunrise.
Newer-construction Motel 6 is a fine place to stay. You can tell them by their design.
Older-construction Motel 6 is a crappy place to stay, with worn-out mattresses and hoodlums.
We just lost the South Bay's only Steak & Shake a couple of days ago. The franchise owner had two outlets, one in Campbell and one in Daly City; both closed their doors over the weekend. Here's the problem: Both locations opened for business back in August without any fanfare whatsoever -- nothing in the newspapers (including the free local "alternative" rag, the Metro, which tends to cover unusual food fare -- and nothing's as unusual as a Steak & Shake in CA!), no flyers -- and a location that couldn't be seen from the main street on which it was located. In other words, virtually nobody knew it was there!. Having been to & enjoyed Steak & Shake on my various trips east, I certainly would have been one of their patrons if I even knew it existed! There is a 3rd outlet, but it's a "mini"-site on the SJSU campus in downtown San Jose; apparently it's owned by a different franchisee. All that can be hoped is that Steak & Shake allows a more competent franchise holder to re-establish the chain locally -- I, for one, would be there opening day as long as that opening day was publicized.
If you're in CA, why go to Steak 'N' Shake when you could go to In-N-Out Burger?
He lives in California. Why would he go to the same place every time? You live in Chicago? How about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 09, 2018, 04:18:01 PM
Some Hampton Inns, particularly the ones with rooms with interior entrances, are quite nice. Much nicer than the renovated Motel 6 rooms. But Hampton Inns tend to vary widely from location to location in terms of quality.
Are there any Hamptons left with exterior entrances?
It's been my experience that Hamptons are remarkably consistent in their quality. They also tend to run $100 or more per night, which is why I don't stay at Hamptons anymore unless my employer is picking up the tab.
I've never seen a Hampton inn that had exterior entrances. Except for a few inner city locations, they all seem to built to variants of a standard design.
Exterior entrances have aged out of most national chains.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 10, 2018, 09:17:32 AMHow about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
I could easily do that, to be honest.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 10, 2018, 09:17:32 AM
How about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
That's the best idea I've heard all week, thanks!
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 10:08:02 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 09, 2018, 04:18:01 PM
Some Hampton Inns, particularly the ones with rooms with interior entrances, are quite nice. Much nicer than the renovated Motel 6 rooms. But Hampton Inns tend to vary widely from location to location in terms of quality.
Are there any Hamptons left with exterior entrances?
It's been my experience that Hamptons are remarkably consistent in their quality. They also tend to run $100 or more per night, which is why I don't stay at Hamptons anymore unless my employer is picking up the tab.
Actually, I don't think there are. There are two in Joliet, and I thought one had exterior entrance, but one is just newer (or looks newer) than the other.
About a year ago, we ate at what I thought was the last surviving Bonanza Steakhouse, in downstate IL. It was surprisingly good, although the cheeseburger I ordered was unseasoned and clearly cooked from frozen. Also, they came around and distributed rolls one at a time, instead of just putting them out in a basket at the buffet.
Anyway, I just looked at the Wikipedia page for Ponderosa/Bonanza (now one company similar to Hardee's/Carl's Jr. or Checkers/Rally's), and there are 88 total locations. That's far more than I thought there were.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 10:08:02 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 09, 2018, 04:18:01 PM
Some Hampton Inns, particularly the ones with rooms with interior entrances, are quite nice. Much nicer than the renovated Motel 6 rooms. But Hampton Inns tend to vary widely from location to location in terms of quality.
Are there any Hamptons left with exterior entrances?
It's been my experience that Hamptons are remarkably consistent in their quality. They also tend to run $100 or more per night, which is why I don't stay at Hamptons anymore unless my employer is picking up the tab.
In 2016, I booked a Hampton Inn in Tyler, Texas which had exterior doors. It was converted to a Days Inn later that year.
There was a similar one in Huntsville, but it became a Clarion Inn in the last year or so.
They're kind of our go-to option at my company (along with Holiday Inn Express and Fairfield Inn), but sometimes they strike some incredible deal at an upscale or downscale hotel, and booking your own hotel isn't permitted.
Of course, if they go downscale (or too far away) with a large enough group, a few heads complain, and then we wind up in some overpriced alternative.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 12:26:50 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 10:08:02 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 09, 2018, 04:18:01 PM
Some Hampton Inns, particularly the ones with rooms with interior entrances, are quite nice. Much nicer than the renovated Motel 6 rooms. But Hampton Inns tend to vary widely from location to location in terms of quality.
Are there any Hamptons left with exterior entrances?
It's been my experience that Hamptons are remarkably consistent in their quality. They also tend to run $100 or more per night, which is why I don't stay at Hamptons anymore unless my employer is picking up the tab.
Actually, I don't think there are. There are two in Joliet, and I thought one had exterior entrance, but one is just newer (or looks newer) than the other.
Nope, both are interior entrance only. They were also built about the same time (late 1990s - early 2000s).
Quote from: Brandon on January 10, 2018, 01:36:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 12:26:50 PM
Actually, I don't think there are. There are two in Joliet, and I thought one had exterior entrance, but one is just newer (or looks newer) than the other.
Nope, both are interior entrance only. They were also built about the same time (late 1990s - early 2000s).
And if I recall correctly at least one of them was renovated in the last 3 years...
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 12:31:42 PM
About a year ago, we ate at what I thought was the last surviving Bonanza Steakhouse, in downstate IL. It was surprisingly good, although the cheeseburger I ordered was unseasoned and clearly cooked from frozen. Also, they came around and distributed rolls one at a time, instead of just putting them out in a basket at the buffet.
Anyway, I just looked at the Wikipedia page for Ponderosa/Bonanza (now one company similar to Hardee's/Carl's Jr. or Checkers/Rally's), and there are 88 total locations. That's far more than I thought there were.
The night of the western Kentucky meet, I ate at the one at Draffenville, Ky. (at the interchange of the Purchase Parkway and US 68, near US 641) and it was very good. The buffet was fairly well-stocked, my steak was pretty tasty and done well (and also well-done, which is the way I prefer my meat; if I wanted to eat raw meat I'd just attack a cow in a field), and everything was clean and reasonably-priced. Certainly not as much variety as a Golden Corral buffet, but I had no complaints.
There's one in Hazard, Ky., and the quality has gone way downhill over the years, to the point where a work group I'm affiliated with will no longer have lunch meetings there.
Are there any Ryan's left? I used to like them pretty well but they've been closing left and right.
Quote from: inkyatari on January 10, 2018, 11:45:35 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 10, 2018, 09:17:32 AMHow about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
I could easily do that, to be honest.
It would be especially easy because, eating Chicago-style pizza every day, you wouldn't live too terribly long anyway.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 02:21:41 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 12:31:42 PM
About a year ago, we ate at what I thought was the last surviving Bonanza Steakhouse, in downstate IL. It was surprisingly good, although the cheeseburger I ordered was unseasoned and clearly cooked from frozen. Also, they came around and distributed rolls one at a time, instead of just putting them out in a basket at the buffet.
Anyway, I just looked at the Wikipedia page for Ponderosa/Bonanza (now one company similar to Hardee's/Carl's Jr. or Checkers/Rally's), and there are 88 total locations. That's far more than I thought there were.
The night of the western Kentucky meet, I ate at the one at Draffenville, Ky. (at the interchange of the Purchase Parkway and US 68, near US 641) and it was very good. The buffet was fairly well-stocked, my steak was pretty tasty and done well (and also well-done, which is the way I prefer my meat; if I wanted to eat raw meat I'd just attack a cow in a field), and everything was clean and reasonably-priced. Certainly not as much variety as a Golden Corral buffet, but I had no complaints.
There's one in Hazard, Ky., and the quality has gone way downhill over the years, to the point where a work group I'm affiliated with will no longer have lunch meetings there.
Are there any Ryan's left? I used to like them pretty well but they've been closing left and right.
Almost 30, according to this link: http://www.ryans.com/restaurants
Looks like they're affiliated with Old Country Buffet somehow. Which is down to one location in Illinois. One. They used to be all over Chicagoland.
Quote from: inkyatari on January 10, 2018, 02:14:30 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 10, 2018, 01:36:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 12:26:50 PM
Actually, I don't think there are. There are two in Joliet, and I thought one had exterior entrance, but one is just newer (or looks newer) than the other.
Nope, both are interior entrance only. They were also built about the same time (late 1990s - early 2000s).
And if I recall correctly at least one of them was renovated in the last 3 years...
Probably not the one near Louis Joliet Mall, which is the only one I've stayed at.
Quote from: kphoger on January 10, 2018, 02:42:55 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on January 10, 2018, 11:45:35 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 10, 2018, 09:17:32 AMHow about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
I could easily do that, to be honest.
It would be especially easy because, eating Chicago-style pizza every day, you wouldn't live too terribly long anyway.
You'd be fine if you ate it in moderation, and you wouldn't die any earlier if you ate nothing but any other style of pizza.
You'd want to die if you could eat nothing but St. Louis-style pizza, though.
I tried multiple days of Flint style coney dogs and I lasted a week.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 03:26:56 PM
You'd be fine if you ate it in moderation, and you wouldn't die any earlier if you ate nothing but any other style of pizza.
I'm not so sure about that. That's a LOT of cheese you'd be consuming.
Eating the same number of slices, you'd consume 73% more fat by eating Giordano's cheese pizza than by eating Domino's cheese pizza.
Eating the same number of Calories, you'd consume 25% more fat by eating Giordano's cheese pizza than by eating Domino's cheese pizza.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 09:13:22 AM
If you're in CA, why go to Steak 'N' Shake when you could go to In-N-Out Burger?
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 10, 2018, 09:17:32 AM
He lives in California. Why would he go to the same place every time? You live in Chicago? How about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
I like a lot of burger joints -- discovered In'n'Out when they were just in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire back in the '60's when I was attending UC Riverside -- and have been going there since. But I also like Fuddruckers (they're down to one Fremont store locally at this time); if it's really convenient, a Carl's Jr. (Super Star, no tomato!) works quite well -- most of the other national chains are avoided when possible. And I grew up on Bob's Big Boy -- which has all but disappeared in CA; when I'm back east, I'll stop at an Elby's for that particular cuisine if there's one around (their outlet on I-90 in Erie, PA -- at the PA 97 exit -- was one of my regular lunch/dinner treats!). I do like to spread my burger experience around a bit -- which is why I regret not having the opportunity to hit a local Steak & Shake -- I might hit the SJSU mini-site some time -- if I can park close enough!
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 09:13:22 AM
If you're in CA, why go to Steak 'N' Shake when you could go to In-N-Out Burger?
Maybe he likes Steak 'n' Shake better? (I personally don't see the great attraction many have for S'n'S, but that's just me, I suppose.)
We have Five Guys here, and a smattering of Smashburger locations, but I'll still usually choose Culver's over any of them.
(Unfortunately, no In-n-Out locations near Shreveport, although there are a bunch in the DFW area.)
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 04:33:38 PM
We have greasy burgers here, and a smattering of even greasier burger locations, but I'll still usually choose other greasy burgers over any of them.
FTFY.
For the record, I love all three of those chains. Greasy burgers are the best burgers. :thumbsup:
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 03:25:54 PM
Quote from: inkyatari on January 10, 2018, 02:14:30 PM
Quote from: Brandon on January 10, 2018, 01:36:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 12:26:50 PM
Actually, I don't think there are. There are two in Joliet, and I thought one had exterior entrance, but one is just newer (or looks newer) than the other.
Nope, both are interior entrance only. They were also built about the same time (late 1990s - early 2000s).
And if I recall correctly at least one of them was renovated in the last 3 years...
Probably not the one near Louis Joliet Mall, which is the only one I've stayed at.
That's the one I'm thinking of. It must have been longer ago, then.
Last time I went to a Steak N Shake was the one in Auburn Hills, Michigan on Christmas Day 2017. I waited forever to get waited on and it really wasn't even that busy. My usual Flint spot (Starlite Coney Island) was closed for the day.
In-N-Out is overrated.
Five Guys and Steak 'N Shake kick it in the tush.
Quote from: Rothman on January 10, 2018, 08:25:56 PM
In-N-Out is overrated.
Never had In-N-Out, but to me Whataburger is overrated.
I had Whataburger when I was in Texas. It was decent.
SAMSUNG-SM-J727A
Quote from: sparker on January 10, 2018, 04:24:02 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 09:13:22 AM
If you're in CA, why go to Steak 'N' Shake when you could go to In-N-Out Burger?
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 10, 2018, 09:17:32 AM
He lives in California. Why would he go to the same place every time? You live in Chicago? How about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
I like a lot of burger joints -- discovered In'n'Out when they were just in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire back in the '60's when I was attending UC Riverside -- and have been going there since. But I also like Fuddruckers (they're down to one Fremont store locally at this time); if it's really convenient, a Carl's Jr. (Super Star, no tomato!) works quite well -- most of the other national chains are avoided when possible. And I grew up on Bob's Big Boy -- which has all but disappeared in CA; when I'm back east, I'll stop at an Elby's for that particular cuisine if there's one around (their outlet on I-90 in Erie, PA -- at the PA 97 exit -- was one of my regular lunch/dinner treats!). I do like to spread my burger experience around a bit -- which is why I regret not having the opportunity to hit a local Steak & Shake -- I might hit the SJSU mini-site some time -- if I can park close enough!
Big Boy is thriving in Michigan, and the menu is very close to what it was in the past. I think they have various burgers on the menu styled after the burgers served at the various Big Boys (Marc's, Bob's, Frisch's, etc.) over the years.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 08:36:53 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 10, 2018, 08:25:56 PM
In-N-Out is overrated.
Never had In-N-Out, but to me Whataburger is overrated.
I can't remember if I've had Fatburger or Whataburger, but whichever it was, yes, it's overrated.
Circuit City is making a comeback.
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/09/circuit-city-to-relaunch-online-next-month-with-stores-on-the-horizon.html (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/09/circuit-city-to-relaunch-online-next-month-with-stores-on-the-horizon.html)
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 08:36:53 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 10, 2018, 08:25:56 PM
In-N-Out is overrated.
Never had In-N-Out, but to me Whataburger is overrated.
Absolutely!
I hate Whataburger fries.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 08:36:53 PM
...Whataburger is overrated.
Yeah, I don't get it. Other than seeming like the inspiration to Burger King's Whopper, it's just an average fast food burger with dry fries.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 11, 2018, 10:05:49 AM
Quote from: sparker on January 10, 2018, 04:24:02 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 09:13:22 AM
If you're in CA, why go to Steak 'N' Shake when you could go to In-N-Out Burger?
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 10, 2018, 09:17:32 AM
He lives in California. Why would he go to the same place every time? You live in Chicago? How about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
I like a lot of burger joints -- discovered In'n'Out when they were just in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire back in the '60's when I was attending UC Riverside -- and have been going there since. But I also like Fuddruckers (they're down to one Fremont store locally at this time); if it's really convenient, a Carl's Jr. (Super Star, no tomato!) works quite well -- most of the other national chains are avoided when possible. And I grew up on Bob's Big Boy -- which has all but disappeared in CA; when I'm back east, I'll stop at an Elby's for that particular cuisine if there's one around (their outlet on I-90 in Erie, PA -- at the PA 97 exit -- was one of my regular lunch/dinner treats!). I do like to spread my burger experience around a bit -- which is why I regret not having the opportunity to hit a local Steak & Shake -- I might hit the SJSU mini-site some time -- if I can park close enough!
Big Boy is thriving in Michigan, and the menu is very close to what it was in the past. I think they have various burgers on the menu styled after the burgers served at the various Big Boys (Marc's, Bob's, Frisch's, etc.) over the years.
Big Boy is diminished somewhat from its peak, but it's doing better than Kmart. BB seems to be doing best in smallish communities that don't have Bob Evans, Denny's, Cracker Barrel, or IHOP
Quote from: ftballfan on January 11, 2018, 11:52:39 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 11, 2018, 10:05:49 AM
Quote from: sparker on January 10, 2018, 04:24:02 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 10, 2018, 09:13:22 AM
If you're in CA, why go to Steak 'N' Shake when you could go to In-N-Out Burger?
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 10, 2018, 09:17:32 AM
He lives in California. Why would he go to the same place every time? You live in Chicago? How about you live on Chicago Pizza every day?
There are five Big Boy's within about 30 miles of me. Clio, Bay City, Essexville, Midland and Bridgeport. To me I'm kind of surprised that the Essexville and Bridgeport one's are still open. Bridgeport's though is at an exit off I-75 but Essexville's is in a part of Bay County that doesn't seem like it'd be doing too well. I forgot another one in Caro that one is still open.
I don't think any of them are open 24 hours which is probably handicapping them from going against Denny's or IHOP completely. I thought the one on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor was open 24 hours but they don't look to be anymore.
I like a lot of burger joints -- discovered In'n'Out when they were just in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire back in the '60's when I was attending UC Riverside -- and have been going there since. But I also like Fuddruckers (they're down to one Fremont store locally at this time); if it's really convenient, a Carl's Jr. (Super Star, no tomato!) works quite well -- most of the other national chains are avoided when possible. And I grew up on Bob's Big Boy -- which has all but disappeared in CA; when I'm back east, I'll stop at an Elby's for that particular cuisine if there's one around (their outlet on I-90 in Erie, PA -- at the PA 97 exit -- was one of my regular lunch/dinner treats!). I do like to spread my burger experience around a bit -- which is why I regret not having the opportunity to hit a local Steak & Shake -- I might hit the SJSU mini-site some time -- if I can park close enough!
Big Boy is thriving in Michigan, and the menu is very close to what it was in the past. I think they have various burgers on the menu styled after the burgers served at the various Big Boys (Marc's, Bob's, Frisch's, etc.) over the years.
Big Boy is diminished somewhat from its peak, but it's doing better than Kmart. BB seems to be doing best in smallish communities that don't have Bob Evans, Denny's, Cracker Barrel, or IHOP
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 01:11:34 PM
There are five Big Boy's within about 30 miles of me. Clio, Bay City, Essexville, Midland and Bridgeport. To me I'm kind of surprised that the Essexville and Bridgeport one's are still open. Bridgeport's though is at an exit off I-75 but Essexville's is in a part of Bay County that doesn't seem like it'd be doing too well. I forgot another one in Caro that one is still open.
I don't think any of them are open 24 hours which is probably handicapping them from going against Denny's or IHOP completely. I thought the one on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor was open 24 hours but they don't look to be anymore.
Based on my visits in recent years, I'd say their clientele is probably largely asleep by 8 pm.
Apropos of nothing, I'm suddenly remembering trips to Shoney's for the late-night breakfast buffet 25 years ago.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 12, 2018, 02:13:58 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 01:11:34 PM
There are five Big Boy's within about 30 miles of me. Clio, Bay City, Essexville, Midland and Bridgeport. To me I'm kind of surprised that the Essexville and Bridgeport one's are still open. Bridgeport's though is at an exit off I-75 but Essexville's is in a part of Bay County that doesn't seem like it'd be doing too well. I forgot another one in Caro that one is still open.
I don't think any of them are open 24 hours which is probably handicapping them from going against Denny's or IHOP completely. I thought the one on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor was open 24 hours but they don't look to be anymore.
Based on my visits in recent years, I'd say their clientele is probably largely asleep by 8 pm.
Apropos of nothing, I'm suddenly remembering trips to Shoney's for the late-night breakfast buffet 25 years ago.
Most Big Boy's stay open until 11 or midnight. And as for Shoney's I remember the one here it closed in the late 90's, became a Lone Star, and is now an IHOP. Pretty good place to eat especially if you were traveling. Big Boy could do fine being open 24/7 in the Detroit area competing with Denny's, Ram's Horn and IHOP mostly.
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 02:55:21 PM
Most Big Boy's stay open until 11 or midnight. And as for Shoney's I remember the one here it closed in the late 90's, became a Lone Star, and is now an IHOP. Pretty good place to eat especially if you were traveling. Big Boy could do fine being open 24/7 in the Detroit area competing with Denny's, Ram's Horn and IHOP mostly.
Ram's Horn? I'm curious now, is or was that a national chain or is that something local to Detroit? There used to be a diner called the Ram's Horn Diner at the corner of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 116 Street in Queens near the Rockaway Park subway station; I believe an HSBC now occupies the property. My grandmother lived in Far Rockaway and liked that diner for some reason (perhaps because it was easily accessible by public transit since she didn't drive?). I always thought it was just a local place.
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 12, 2018, 03:22:36 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 02:55:21 PM
Most Big Boy's stay open until 11 or midnight. And as for Shoney's I remember the one here it closed in the late 90's, became a Lone Star, and is now an IHOP. Pretty good place to eat especially if you were traveling. Big Boy could do fine being open 24/7 in the Detroit area competing with Denny's, Ram's Horn and IHOP mostly.
Ram's Horn? I'm curious now, is or was that a national chain or is that something local to Detroit? There used to be a diner called the Ram's Horn Diner at the corner of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 116 Street in Queens near the Rockaway Park subway station; I believe an HSBC now occupies the property. My grandmother lived in Far Rockaway and liked that diner for some reason (perhaps because it was easily accessible by public transit since she didn't drive?). I always thought it was just a local place.
It's a Detroit chain. They tried having locations in a couple of other parts of Michigan like Port Huron and Saginaw but they closed those one's years ago. This is their website http://www.ramshornrestaurants.com/
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 03:34:31 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 12, 2018, 03:22:36 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 02:55:21 PM
Most Big Boy's stay open until 11 or midnight. And as for Shoney's I remember the one here it closed in the late 90's, became a Lone Star, and is now an IHOP. Pretty good place to eat especially if you were traveling. Big Boy could do fine being open 24/7 in the Detroit area competing with Denny's, Ram's Horn and IHOP mostly.
Ram's Horn? I'm curious now, is or was that a national chain or is that something local to Detroit? There used to be a diner called the Ram's Horn Diner at the corner of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 116 Street in Queens near the Rockaway Park subway station; I believe an HSBC now occupies the property. My grandmother lived in Far Rockaway and liked that diner for some reason (perhaps because it was easily accessible by public transit since she didn't drive?). I always thought it was just a local place.
It's a Detroit chain. They tried having locations in a couple of other parts of Michigan like Port Huron and Saginaw but they closed those one's years ago. This is their website http://www.ramshornrestaurants.com/
Thanks for that. Unrelated, then.
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 12, 2018, 03:47:48 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 03:34:31 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 12, 2018, 03:22:36 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 12, 2018, 02:55:21 PM
Most Big Boy's stay open until 11 or midnight. And as for Shoney's I remember the one here it closed in the late 90's, became a Lone Star, and is now an IHOP. Pretty good place to eat especially if you were traveling. Big Boy could do fine being open 24/7 in the Detroit area competing with Denny's, Ram's Horn and IHOP mostly.
Ram's Horn? I'm curious now, is or was that a national chain or is that something local to Detroit? There used to be a diner called the Ram's Horn Diner at the corner of Beach Channel Drive and Beach 116 Street in Queens near the Rockaway Park subway station; I believe an HSBC now occupies the property. My grandmother lived in Far Rockaway and liked that diner for some reason (perhaps because it was easily accessible by public transit since she didn't drive?). I always thought it was just a local place.
It's a Detroit chain. They tried having locations in a couple of other parts of Michigan like Port Huron and Saginaw but they closed those one's years ago. This is their website http://www.ramshornrestaurants.com/
Thanks for that. Unrelated, then.
No problem. Yeah Ram's Horn is almost like a Denny's or IHOP really.
Quote from: ftballfan on December 17, 2017, 07:15:35 PMAmes went from 700 stores in 1998 to chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2002. One of the quickest falls in retail history
To clarify: Chapter
11 is bankruptcy (for businesses), Chapter 7 is
liquidation. I'm assuming you meant liquidation.
Quote from: PHLBOS on January 12, 2018, 04:09:05 PM
Quote from: ftballfan on December 17, 2017, 07:15:35 PMAmes went from 700 stores in 1998 to chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2002. One of the quickest falls in retail history
To clarify: Chapter 11 is bankruptcy (for businesses), Chapter 7 is liquidation. I'm assuming you meant liquidation.
That confusion is common thanks to poor media reporting.
You mean Ames Hardware?
No, we mean Ames the discount store.
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2018, 01:51:55 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 08:36:53 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 10, 2018, 08:25:56 PM
In-N-Out is overrated.
Never had In-N-Out, but to me Whataburger is overrated.
Absolutely!
I hate Whataburger fries.
Go to Red Robin, you get all u can eat with an entrée purchase! They are not bad for unlimited.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 13, 2018, 07:44:39 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2018, 01:51:55 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 08:36:53 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 10, 2018, 08:25:56 PM
In-N-Out is overrated.
Never had In-N-Out, but to me Whataburger is overrated.
Absolutely!
I hate Whataburger fries.
Go to Red Robin, you get all u can eat with an entrée purchase! They are not bad for unlimited.
Got a new burger chain out here called
Habit; recently tried them -- the portions and meat were OK, but there wasn't much in the way of taste (they simply use mustard/mayo but sparingly); and their fries were pretty soggy (I do like In-n-Out fries!). Think I'll stick with In-n-Out, which is currently embroiled in a controversy in Campbell; they want to put an outlet in (it would be the closest to my home), but the location (a defunct bar-and-grill that would be torn down), adjacent to CA 17, isn't looked upon too well by some locals who fear drive-through lines out onto the street. The chain likes the property because the location includes a
huge parking lot. We'll have to see who wins this fight; apparently the Campbell planning commission is split on the matter.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 13, 2018, 07:44:39 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2018, 01:51:55 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 10, 2018, 08:36:53 PM
Quote from: Rothman on January 10, 2018, 08:25:56 PM
In-N-Out is overrated.
Never had In-N-Out, but to me Whataburger is overrated.
Absolutely!
I hate Whataburger fries.
Go to Red Robin, you get all u can eat with an entrée purchase! They are not bad for unlimited.
After trying many of their pricier burgers, my favorites continue to be the $6.99 Tavern Doubles. Thinner meat patties, but still very tasty. And unlimited fries with their dry seasoning, which is what I really crave.
Yes, I will probably die before my time. But I'm not living a life of just salads (on which I sprinkle that Red Robin seasoning anyway! lol).
I tried Steak & Shake when I went out to Indy a couple of years ago. Cheap, but not very filling. If it weren't for the shake, I felt like I could have eaten 5 burgers. Closest ones to me are near Trenton and in the Lehigh Valley.
Never tried In & Out or Whataburger. My friend from Houston, the Texan that he is, swears by it. My CT friend went to one in San Antonio and almost gagged. He told my Houston friend how bad it was, and it might as well have been Al Chervic calling it dog food and the chef reacting.
Five Guys is a good burger, but can do a little less on the grease. I'm waiting for a Shake Shack to open near me in part of a closed down Sears location. There's one in downtown New Haven, but it's not worth the parking hassle. Hear good things, but I want to see if it's for real or just hype.
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2018, 01:51:55 PM
I hate Whataburger fries.
I'm not such a big fan of the Five Guys fries. I've never been to Whataburger, but I did see one along FL 40 in Ocala, and never got the chance to go there, because it closed.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on January 14, 2018, 06:09:04 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2018, 01:51:55 PM
I hate Whataburger fries.
I'm not such a big fan of the Five Guys fries. I've never been to Whataburger, but I did see one along FL 40 in Ocala, and never got the chance to go to it, because it closed.
The Five Guys cajun fries are where it's at. Perfection in a bag.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on January 14, 2018, 06:09:04 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2018, 01:51:55 PM
I hate Whataburger fries.
I'm not such a big fan of the Five Guys fries. I've never been to Whataburger, but I did see one along FL 40 in Ocala, and never got the chance to go to it, because it closed.
The best thing about Five Guys fries is the amount you get.
I'm told that you can ask for your fries to be cooked "well done" and they won't be quite as greasy/soggy/soft.
Five Guys does have them pour out of the cup, I must admit. Plus all the peanuts you can eat while waiting for your made to order food. On the subject of Whataburger, I believe they cook to order as I remember waiting ten minutes or more for the food.
Too bad the idiots who run Whataburger pulled the plug on the stores they opened in Orlando as it was great having them here. Them and Bojangles, for some reason opened up for a short time in Central Florida and both yanked their stores, but kept the ones in other Florida cities. The closest Whataburger for me is in Jacksonville over 150 miles away.
Braums, located in Oklahoma, Western AR, Northern TX, and Kansas has decent french fries.
I got talked out of In & Out while in Dallas, went to Whataburger instead. They were pretty good. In & Out will be expanding to Colorado in the next 2 years (with a confirmed distribution center in CO Springs.). And depending on how far the new DC will cover in the Springs, Kansas may get some In & Outs in addition to Colorado.
Currently, the closest In & Out is in St. George, UT (if Vegas Bound) or in the Salt Lake area -- either way an over 200+ mile trek.
Whataburger just seemed like an average fast food joint it wasn't anything special to me but I had never tried it before so I thought I'd give it a try. Only time I've ever eaten at one was in Austin it was off MoPac Expressway and William Cannon Drive.
Griffs is the best burger out there. drops the mic
http://www.griffshamburgers.com
Of all the burgers I have had, Steak n Shake is hands down the best.
Smashburger made me evacuate.
I remember going to the original Five Guys restaurants in northern Virginia and watching them measure out a cup of fries and then throw in a nonspecific amount of extra fries. When they started their massive franchising expansion, they started measuring the extra fries, too, and it just wasn't the same.
Quote from: inkyatari on January 16, 2018, 09:42:19 AM
Of all the burgers I have had, Steak n Shake is hands down the best.
Smashburger made me evacuate.
I miss Smashburger!
I used to order a burger with grilled onions, mayo and mustard, cheese... With all the grease involved there, it was about impossible to keep the thing together, but it was super yummy.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 16, 2018, 11:36:19 AM
I remember going to the original Five Guys restaurants in northern Virginia and watching them measure out a cup of fries and then throw in a nonspecific amount of extra fries. When they started their massive franchising expansion, they started measuring the extra fries, too, and it just wasn't the same.
Eh, I wouldn't say the extra fries are particularly "measured" at a lot of locations. I've seen different locations put the extra fries in by different means.
Quote from: cl94 on January 16, 2018, 01:16:19 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 16, 2018, 11:36:19 AM
I remember going to the original Five Guys restaurants in northern Virginia and watching them measure out a cup of fries and then throw in a nonspecific amount of extra fries. When they started their massive franchising expansion, they started measuring the extra fries, too, and it just wasn't the same.
Eh, I wouldn't say the extra fries are particularly "measured" at a lot of locations. I've seen different locations put the extra fries in by different means.
Around here, they scoop the fries into the cup till it overflows, and then they just dump a bunch of fries in the top of the bag after everything's inside. No measuring involved.
Quote from: cl94 on January 16, 2018, 01:16:19 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 16, 2018, 11:36:19 AM
I remember going to the original Five Guys restaurants in northern Virginia and watching them measure out a cup of fries and then throw in a nonspecific amount of extra fries. When they started their massive franchising expansion, they started measuring the extra fries, too, and it just wasn't the same.
Eh, I wouldn't say the extra fries are particularly "measured" at a lot of locations. I've seen different locations put the extra fries in by different means.
One fry clerk told me "we're supposed to double it". My local Five Guys varies between one-and-a-half large servings, and times where it's at least two. Usually it's the latter scenario.
It
seems like more if I order two or more burgers.
What is the deal with Shake Shack? I ate at one of their Manhattan locations and I didn't think it was that great.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on January 16, 2018, 11:01:32 PM
What is the deal with Shake Shack? I ate at one of their Manhattan locations and I didn't think it was that great.
Of all the "thin" burgers (i.e. McDonald's style), I like Shake Shack's by comparison.
However, nothing for me beats Five Guys, as they cook it from raw and make it nice and thick for you.
I like how Steak N Shake has their $4.99 menu.
Quote from: AlexandriaVA on January 16, 2018, 11:04:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on January 16, 2018, 11:01:32 PM
What is the deal with Shake Shack? I ate at one of their Manhattan locations and I didn't think it was that great.
Of all the "thin" burgers (i.e. McDonald's style), I like Shake Shack's by comparison.
However, nothing for me beats Five Guys, as they cook it from raw and make it nice and thick for you.
As far as thin burgers go, for me it's
1) In-N-Out
2) Shake Shack
3) M Burger
Quote from: Flint1979 on January 17, 2018, 12:58:44 AM
I like how Steak N Shake has their $4.99 menu.
I think I prefer the "old" menu, the one that had fewer specialty burgers and everything didn't automatically come with a side of fries. I used to love getting the cheese fries, with ketchup on top it's the best way to eat their fries, but the server is always confused when I try to order cheese fries with the burger.
Quote from: formulanone on January 16, 2018, 03:44:46 PM
Quote from: cl94 on January 16, 2018, 01:16:19 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 16, 2018, 11:36:19 AM
I remember going to the original Five Guys restaurants in northern Virginia and watching them measure out a cup of fries and then throw in a nonspecific amount of extra fries. When they started their massive franchising expansion, they started measuring the extra fries, too, and it just wasn't the same.
Eh, I wouldn't say the extra fries are particularly "measured" at a lot of locations. I've seen different locations put the extra fries in by different means.
One fry clerk told me "we're supposed to double it". My local Five Guys varies between one-and-a-half large servings, and times where it's at least two. Usually it's the latter scenario.
It seems like more if I order two or more burgers.
One day my wife and I stopped at Five Guys. While I got a burger and fries, she wasn't feeling that great, and decided to try their grilled cheese sandwich. It was, by far, the absolute worst grilled cheese ever. The main issue - they spread mayonnaise on the bread, and then grilled the bread before putting the cheese on. It was horrible! Yes, Five Guys aren't known for their grilled cheese sandwiches, but it is a menu option. Steer far, far away from it!!
One of the best cheap grilled cheeses I had is actually a hack job from...McDonalds! Get a cheeseburger or double cheeseburger (not the McDouble). Scrape the cheese off the burger. Set the burger aside, give it to the dog, throw it away, whatever. Eat just the cheese and the buns. Because the cheese has melted while on the burger, it's the perfect consistency for a grilled cheese.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 14, 2018, 07:57:37 PM
Quote from: D-Dey65 on January 14, 2018, 06:09:04 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2018, 01:51:55 PM
I hate Whataburger fries.
I'm not such a big fan of the Five Guys fries. I've never been to Whataburger, but I did see one along FL 40 in Ocala, and never got the chance to go to it, because it closed.
The best thing about Five Guys fries is the amount you get.
....
The fun thing about the amount is when someone who's never been to Five Guys before requests a large order of fries. Even more fun if it's a family and each family member requests a large order of fries. It's always entertaining to see their reactions to the enormous portion. Admittedly this is becoming less common as Five Guys have expanded so quickly.
I like Five Guys fries best after they've been sitting for a few minutes. They seem to firm up a bit. Eat them too soon after they come out of the fryer and the texture isn't quite right, IMO.
I have never known anyone to get a grilled cheese at either Five Guys or McDonald's. Good to know, though.
Although I don't think Shake Shack is bad, I'd still take Five Guys over it if I was hankering for a burger. I would take Shake Shack over Steak 'N Shake, too.
I was very unimpressed with In-N-Out, though. Better than McDonald's or Burger King, but I don't know what the brouhaha is about. Shoot, just offhand, I don't know if it or Sonic is better.
Five Guy's isn't bad, but I've become more a fan of Mooyah (https://www.mooyah.com/)'s burger and fries. I find the ingredients fresher, and the fries not anywhere as greasy as Five Guy's.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 17, 2018, 09:40:04 AM
One day my wife and I stopped at Five Guys. While I got a burger and fries, she wasn't feeling that great, and decided to try their grilled cheese sandwich. It was, by far, the absolute worst grilled cheese ever. The main issue - they spread mayonnaise on the bread, and then grilled the bread before putting the cheese on. It was horrible! Yes, Five Guys aren't known for their grilled cheese sandwiches, but it is a menu option. Steer far, far away from it!!
That's not been the case with my wife's Five Guys experiences. She's not a big meat eater, so whenever we've been to Five Guys, she's gotten the grilled cheese. No mayo in sight, and she thought the sandwich was tasty.
I've never heard of putting mayo on a grilled cheese before. Of course, I think mayo is the devil's semen and won't eat it at all, so to me, putting mayo on anything is disgusting.
Quote from: Rothman on January 17, 2018, 11:01:24 AM
I have never known anyone to get a grilled cheese at either Five Guys ...
Even kids??? That's what at least one of my sons gets every time we go there.
Mayo on a grilled cheese? As the Mythbusters would say "Well, there's your problem."
Quote from: kphoger on January 17, 2018, 11:15:41 AM
Quote from: Rothman on January 17, 2018, 11:01:24 AM
I have never known anyone to get a grilled cheese at either Five Guys ...
Even kids??? That's what at least one of my sons gets every time we go there.
I mean, at least one of my siblings will ONLY eat that at Five Guys, and the one that I'm certain does is 18.
And a grilled cheese is on the McDonald's secret menu. If the cashier looks at you like you're crazy when you ask for it, order a "cheeseburger, plain, no meat".
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on January 16, 2018, 11:01:32 PM
What is the deal with Shake Shack? I ate at one of their Manhattan locations and I didn't think it was that great.
Well I was only at a Shake Shack once, and it was the one at Grand Central Terminal. I ordered one, and I was so impressed I went in line to get a second one. One vanilla and one chocolate, though I forget which I ordered first.
This was the one that replaced Junior's, BTW. Junior's was good too.
I'd rather have Junior's than Shake Shack.
I very much miss Junior's at the terminal. At least they're still on 45th and 49th, insofar as I am aware.
The GCT location was a great alternative to the Times Square location because it wasn't clogged with tourists, but I suspect that's the reason why it's no longer around.
Quote from: Rothman on January 17, 2018, 11:01:24 AM
I have never known anyone to get a grilled cheese at either Five Guys or McDonald's. Good to know, though.
No doubt it's not very high on the list of things people eat there. But as a few others mentioned, it's there for those that don't eat meat.
I remember a story about Burger King and their Veggie Whopper. One manager said he may sell several hundred regular Whoppers in a day, but may only sell 3 Veggie Whoppers a day (and that's probably a high number). It's there to make the restaurant 'Veto-Proof'. If a family wants to stop someplace to eat and one member doesn't eat meat or chicken, the Veggie Whopper allows them to still get something at the restaurant. Also why these restaurants have salads - that one family member that doesn't want any greasy goodness can still eat.
Being a vegetarian, I have ordered many a grilled cheese or "cheeseburger, no meat" at fast food joints. At least In-N-Out and Five Guys have it on the menu...for a lower price that reflects the fact that I'm not getting the most expensive part of the burger.
I'm rather tired of going into other fast food chains and being forced to order a more deluxe $5-6-7 burger (hold the beef) just so that I can walk out with more than a bun and one slice of American cheese. If you want to argue that the number of vegetarians doesn't warrant keeping a pack of frozen veggie burgers on hand, fine. But at least program a "cheese sandwich" button in the register that will allow me to load up on toppings without having to pay for a 1/3-lb. slab of cow.
Personally, I'm in the opinion that nothing hyped is as good as its devotees claim–and nothing slammed is as bad as its detractors claim.
In-N-Out is overhyped, but it is good. I can't speak about the beef, but my grilled cheeses have always been perfectly assembled and of very fresh ingredients. Really, I think the big achievement of In-N-Out is not the food as much as it is cleanliness, consistency, and service. Every location I've visited has been absolutely clean and employees always have positive, friendly attitudes. Particularly in California, where the typical Jack in the Box employee can't be bothered to acknowledge your presence at the counter or enunciate two words in row clearly, this is a particularly remarkable achievement.
Whataburger, on the other hand, is just an OK middle-of-the-road fast food joint. To me, Whataburger almost looks like something an art director for a fast food commercial would come up with in a hurry to play the "other" burger chain across the street. I will give Whataburger credit for this, though: I can order a kid's grilled cheese, swap the small white bread for a large Whataburger bun, and option it with every topping they have–at no extra charge.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 18, 2018, 09:49:29 AM
I remember a story about Burger King and their Veggie Whopper. One manager said he may sell several hundred regular Whoppers in a day, but may only sell 3 Veggie Whoppers a day (and that's probably a high number). It's there to make the restaurant 'Veto-Proof'. If a family wants to stop someplace to eat and one member doesn't eat meat or chicken, the Veggie Whopper allows them to still get something at the restaurant. Also why these restaurants have salads - that one family member that doesn't want any greasy goodness can still eat.
It might also be there to provide shareholders proof of corporate responsibility. Shareholders want healthier food, offer salads. Shareholders want vegetarian options, put a veggie burger on the menu.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 18, 2018, 09:11:49 AM
I'd rather have Junior's than Shake Shack.
We used to have two juniors in NJ back in the 70's. One in Hillside and the other in Scotch Plains. Both became Roy Rogers later on.
Wonder if this is the same that once was in NJ. Just like Jack In The Box was all over the Mid Atlantic but closed and then several years later i discovered them in California. So wondering if that chain just cut back and not go under completely.
Quote from: briantroutman on January 18, 2018, 10:55:17 AM
I'm rather tired of going into other fast food chains and being forced to order a more deluxe $5-6-7 burger (hold the beef) just so that I can walk out with more than a bun and one slice of American cheese. If you want to argue that the number of vegetarians doesn't warrant keeping a pack of frozen veggie burgers on hand, fine. But at least program a "cheese sandwich" button in the register that will allow me to load up on toppings without having to pay for a 1/3-lb. slab of cow.
That's the unfortunate downside to everything being computerized these days. I went to a McDonalds last weekend in search of a cup of soft serve, but that wasn't an option on the kiosk. So I went to the counter to order it, and even the human in front of the register had to ring me up for a cone, hit the "special instructions" button on the register, and tell the girl preparing the order what I wanted.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 18, 2018, 01:22:26 PM
Just like Jack In The Box was all over the Mid Atlantic but closed and then several years later i discovered them in California. So wondering if that chain just cut back and not go under completely.
I think I've seen some Jack in the Boxes returning to the east coast, but not that many Just like a lot of Hardee's restaurants, and Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips restaurants, although the Hardee's restaurants are a lot more common.
I still remember that Pizza Hut came and went in the 1970's, and then returned in the 1980's.
I had a lot of great memories at Old Country Buffett. I just learned they closed a lot of locations these last couple years and there aren't many left. There is one left in my area I am planning on going there in the coming weeks while I have the chance. Will probably be my last ever visit to one as they are not likely going to be around much longer.
Quote from: roadman65 on January 14, 2018, 08:09:55 PM
Five Guys does have them pour out of the cup, I must admit. Plus all the peanuts you can eat while waiting for your made to order food. On the subject of Whataburger, I believe they cook to order as I remember waiting ten minutes or more for the food.
Too bad the idiots who run Whataburger pulled the plug on the stores they opened in Orlando as it was great having them here. Them and Bojangles, for some reason opened up for a short time in Central Florida and both yanked their stores, but kept the ones in other Florida cities. The closest Whataburger for me is in Jacksonville over 150 miles away.
Braums, located in Oklahoma, Western AR, Northern TX, and Kansas has decent french fries.
The Jacksonville Whataburgers have cut back on locations.. the North Florida franchise was owned by former Jacksonville Jaguars QB Mark Brunell and partners...they had some financial trouble. I think they may have owned Central Florida as well
Z981
Quote from: AlexandriaVA on January 16, 2018, 11:04:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on January 16, 2018, 11:01:32 PM
What is the deal with Shake Shack? I ate at one of their Manhattan locations and I didn't think it was that great.
Of all the "thin" burgers (i.e. McDonald's style), I like Shake Shack's by comparison.
However, nothing for me beats Five Guys, as they cook it from raw and make it nice and thick for you.
I like Five Guys.. I couldn't eat there for years.. I got food poisoning from I think the mushrooms, I ordered a mushroom Swiss burger and spent the next day puking
Z981
Quote from: dvferyance on January 24, 2018, 06:18:33 PM
I had a lot of great memories at Old Country Buffett. I just learned they closed a lot of locations these last couple years and there aren't many left. There is one left in my area I am planning on going there in the coming weeks while I have the chance. Will probably be my last ever visit to one as they are not likely going to be around much longer.
Only two left in Michigan. Saginaw and Burton.
Another day, another set of store closures for a major chain. This time, it's Bon-Ton (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/31/heres-a-map-of-where-bon-ton-is-closing-stores.html). 42 stores closing (in addition to 5 announced previously), including the one in my hometown of Queensbury. Before that location opened around 2000, it was a Caldor.
I always got that place confused with Boscov's. Until recently, the only one in all of New England was in the Westfield Shoppingtown (mall) of Meriden, CT. It took over the space which was JC Penney.
Quote from: dvferyance on January 24, 2018, 06:18:33 PM
I had a lot of great memories at Old Country Buffett. I just learned they closed a lot of locations these last couple years and there aren't many left. There is one left in my area I am planning on going there in the coming weeks while I have the chance. Will probably be my last ever visit to one as they are not likely going to be around much longer.
Judging from the number of locations that have closed, Ponderosa may disappear as well.
Quote from: Revive 755 on February 03, 2018, 09:44:13 PM
Quote from: dvferyance on January 24, 2018, 06:18:33 PM
I had a lot of great memories at Old Country Buffett. I just learned they closed a lot of locations these last couple years and there aren't many left. There is one left in my area I am planning on going there in the coming weeks while I have the chance. Will probably be my last ever visit to one as they are not likely going to be around much longer.
Judging from the number of locations that have closed, Ponderosa may disappear as well.
There are still Ponderosas in Ludington and Coldwater in Michigan as far as I know. Then again, they are the only non-Chinese buffets (full time; both also still have Big Boy which has breakfast and Friday/Saturday night buffets) in either community
Quote from: ftballfan on February 03, 2018, 11:14:57 PM
Quote from: Revive 755 on February 03, 2018, 09:44:13 PM
Quote from: dvferyance on January 24, 2018, 06:18:33 PM
I had a lot of great memories at Old Country Buffett. I just learned they closed a lot of locations these last couple years and there aren't many left. There is one left in my area I am planning on going there in the coming weeks while I have the chance. Will probably be my last ever visit to one as they are not likely going to be around much longer.
Judging from the number of locations that have closed, Ponderosa may disappear as well.
There are still Ponderosas in Ludington and Coldwater in Michigan as far as I know. Then again, they are the only non-Chinese buffets (full time; both also still have Big Boy which has breakfast and Friday/Saturday night buffets) in either community
Bay City still has a Ponderosa, but the Ponderosa's in Midland and Saginaw are closed.
Bay City, MI
Gaylord, MI
Cadillac, MI
Coldwater, MI
West Branch, MI
Owosso, MI
Dearborn Heights, MI
Mount Pleasant, MI
Clare, MI
Ludington, MI
Those are the listed Michigan locations.
Speaking of buffet restaurants I tried out the new Golden Corral in Saginaw yesterday and it was just as I expected, the food selection was pretty good but the food was average at best and that was the review of another Golden Corral I ate at several years ago in Sterling Heights.
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 05, 2018, 02:27:32 PM
Speaking of buffet restaurants I tried out the new Golden Corral in Saginaw yesterday and it was just as I expected, the food selection was pretty good but the food was average at best and that was the review of another Golden Corral I ate at several years ago in Sterling Heights.
There was a relatively new one in Holland that has already closed.
Quote from: cl94 on January 17, 2018, 12:29:37 PM
And a grilled cheese is on the McDonald's secret menu. If the cashier looks at you like you're crazy when you ask for it, order a "cheeseburger, plain, no meat".
Cheeseburger, plain, no meat, is just cheese plopped on a bun. Which is NOT the same as a true grilled cheese.
Quote from: abefroman329 on February 06, 2018, 09:32:15 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 05, 2018, 02:27:32 PM
Speaking of buffet restaurants I tried out the new Golden Corral in Saginaw yesterday and it was just as I expected, the food selection was pretty good but the food was average at best and that was the review of another Golden Corral I ate at several years ago in Sterling Heights.
There was a relatively new one in Holland that has already closed.
Looks like it closed very recently as it's still on Google. It only lasted about a year and the reviews were mostly awful
There was a buffet restaurant in Springfield, IL called Maverick. Last time I ate there was in '99. I think it has since closed down. Was on Dirksen Pkwy.
Quote from: ftballfan on February 06, 2018, 12:07:21 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on February 06, 2018, 09:32:15 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 05, 2018, 02:27:32 PM
Speaking of buffet restaurants I tried out the new Golden Corral in Saginaw yesterday and it was just as I expected, the food selection was pretty good but the food was average at best and that was the review of another Golden Corral I ate at several years ago in Sterling Heights.
There was a relatively new one in Holland that has already closed.
Looks like it closed very recently as it's still on Google. It only lasted about a year and the reviews were mostly awful
It was very recent, probably within the last week or two.
Golden Corral here is horrible. I have no idea why the one in Colonie, NY is so popular (besides the fact tour buses force feed seniors there).
Oh wait, yes I do: There is a hefty population here that will choose chains over better and equally-priced local places because they know what they are getting and are scared of taking the risk to go elsewhere. Fools.
Quote from: Rothman on February 06, 2018, 02:23:55 PM
Oh wait, yes I do: There is a hefty population here that will choose chains over better and equally-priced local places because they know what they are getting and are scared of taking the risk to go elsewhere. Fools.
Is there a certain "freeway" you're referencing here? :-D
I try and eat local whenever possible. That's what Yelp and TripAdvisor are for.
Quote from: Rothman on February 06, 2018, 02:23:55 PM
Golden Corral here is horrible. I have no idea why the one in Colonie, NY is so popular (besides the fact tour buses force feed seniors there).
Oh wait, yes I do: There is a hefty population here that will choose chains over better and equally-priced local places because they know what they are getting and are scared of taking the risk to go elsewhere. Fools.
There is the "you always know what you're gonna get" factor, but buffets are popular with families and large groups because a) they cater to a group whose tastes are diverse and b) it's possible to eat a sit-down meal faster than it is in a restaurant.
Quote from: ftballfan on February 06, 2018, 12:07:21 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on February 06, 2018, 09:32:15 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 05, 2018, 02:27:32 PM
Speaking of buffet restaurants I tried out the new Golden Corral in Saginaw yesterday and it was just as I expected, the food selection was pretty good but the food was average at best and that was the review of another Golden Corral I ate at several years ago in Sterling Heights.
There was a relatively new one in Holland that has already closed.
Looks like it closed very recently as it's still on Google. It only lasted about a year and the reviews were mostly awful
It closed January 23rd but will be reopening. Golden Corral is looking for a new owner to take it over. It opened in December 2016.
I try to eat local as much as possible and I think it's easy to tell if a place is good or not. This is why I choose to dine at Starlite Coney Island in Burton, Michigan. It's a classic 1960's American Diner open 24 hours a day and serves some of the best food in the state of Michigan and I have been all over the state and Starlite is tops. I actually prefer Flint style coneys over Detroit style coneys.
Quote from: abefroman329 on February 06, 2018, 03:16:47 PM
Quote from: Rothman on February 06, 2018, 02:23:55 PM
Golden Corral here is horrible. I have no idea why the one in Colonie, NY is so popular (besides the fact tour buses force feed seniors there).
Oh wait, yes I do: There is a hefty population here that will choose chains over better and equally-priced local places because they know what they are getting and are scared of taking the risk to go elsewhere. Fools.
There is the "you always know what you're gonna get" factor, but buffets are popular with families and large groups because a) they cater to a group whose tastes are diverse and b) it's possible to eat a sit-down meal faster than it is in a restaurant.
When my kids were small we went to buffets, just because it was instant gratification for the kids, and the parents could eat with some resemblance of decency. Since that time, I rarely go into one with the exception of The Fresh Tomato, of which the closest outlet is now about 400 miles away from me.
Quote from: Rothman on February 06, 2018, 02:23:55 PM
Golden Corral here is horrible. I have no idea why the one in Colonie, NY is so popular (besides the fact tour buses force feed seniors there).
Oh wait, yes I do: There is a hefty population here that will choose chains over better and equally-priced local places because they know what they are getting and are scared of taking the risk to go elsewhere. Fools.
GC is better than Furr's or Western Sizzlin, at least around here.
Phar More and Drug Emporium both were great stores to shop in for sundries here in Orlando. Now both long gone.
Then Uptons who took over another department store called J Byrons later just plain Byrons (they made a big advertising campaign to remove the J for some sill reason) were mid priced clothing stores that were good.
Add Gayfers and Mason Blanche to the list as they were two top department stores in Florida.
Oh, yes Burdines who are now part of Macy's.
Quote from: US71 on February 23, 2018, 11:37:34 AM
Quote from: Rothman on February 06, 2018, 02:23:55 PM
Golden Corral here is horrible. I have no idea why the one in Colonie, NY is so popular (besides the fact tour buses force feed seniors there).
Oh wait, yes I do: There is a hefty population here that will choose chains over better and equally-priced local places because they know what they are getting and are scared of taking the risk to go elsewhere. Fools.
GC is better than Furr's or Western Sizzlin, at least around here.
Western Sizzlin' is still around? We used to have one in my area, and I loved the place.
This is of course like 30 years ago
Valles Steakhouse in VA and CT/MA. I miss their restaurants as my folks use to take us there a lot as kids when we visited Washington, DC or passed through New Haven, CT.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 23, 2018, 12:11:42 PM
Add Gayfers and Mason Blanche to the list as they were two top department stores in Florida.
Maison Blanche only existed in Florida for 9 years.
Maison Blanche was one of several unique New Orleans department stores that had its only location downtown on Canal Street from 1897 to the 1960s. As malls opened in the suburbs, they opened a few locations in the malls.
In the late 80s the stores were sold to a Baton Rouge based chain and they opened a couple of locations in Florida. They then bought out a Florida chain (Robinson's?) and branded them as Maison Blanche, giving them 12 stores throughout Florida.
Eventually the oil recession in Louisiana put the hurt on the company, and Dillard's bought them out in the early 90s (along with D.H. Holmes, another local dept store with a similar story) rebranding all of the Holmes locations as Dillard's, and keeping Maison Blanche. The mall locations in the New Orleans area were typically anchored by Maison Blanche, Sears, JC Penney, and DH Holmes (which all became Dillard's), so they had two anchor stores in each mall that were owned by Dillard's. By 1998, they shut down the Maison Blanche locations. I believe they pulled the plug or rebranded the Florida locations when they shut down the New Orleans stores.
iPhone
Saw today that the parent company of IHOP and Applebee's is closing a number of locations of both brands.
Quote from: jasonh300 on February 24, 2018, 05:09:05 PM
In the late 80s the stores were sold to a Baton Rouge based chain and they opened a couple of locations in Florida. They then bought out a Florida chain (Robinson's?) and branded them as Maison Blanche, giving them 12 stores throughout Florida.
The Baton Rouge chain was Goudchaux's. Goudchaux's had two locations (that I know of) in Baton Rouge, one downtown, a very long store at that, and one at Cortana (which later became Dillard's - the original Dillard's was sold & became a Foley's).
Quote from: hbelkins on February 24, 2018, 08:50:16 PM
Saw today that the parent company of IHOP and Applebee's is closing a number of locations of both brands.
The chains are still doing well overall. More like closing the bottom of the barrel locations while possibly opening in growing markets.
Quote from: Brandon on February 24, 2018, 09:20:10 PM
Quote from: jasonh300 on February 24, 2018, 05:09:05 PM
In the late 80s the stores were sold to a Baton Rouge based chain and they opened a couple of locations in Florida. They then bought out a Florida chain (Robinson's?) and branded them as Maison Blanche, giving them 12 stores throughout Florida.
The Baton Rouge chain was Goudchaux's. Goudchaux's had two locations (that I know of) in Baton Rouge, one downtown, a very long store at that, and one at Cortana (which later became Dillard's - the original Dillard's was sold & became a Foley's).
I remember reading about that. It created a lot of confusion with a very old New Orleans department store called Godchaux's, which was not related to Goudchaux's of Baton Rouge.
Orbachs and Sterns I remember. Woodbridge Center in NJ had those two along with A & S as the original anchors before the mall doubled in size in 1981.
Sadly all three are belly up, although Sterns became part of Macy's and am surprised that Macy's has two stores so close to each other as Menlo Park Mall is less than three miles away on US 1. That is why JC Penney closed in Menlo Park Mall when Woodbridge Center expanded and included JC Penney in the expansion as they just moved from one mall to the other to avoid to stores in the same locality.
Woodbridge Center currently has only one original tenant anchor and that being JC Penney. All the others were renamed or have a new store in it.
Fortunoff, Hahnes, and S. Klein were big in the NYC market that closed.
Is Huffman Koos furniture still in business? I know the Rahway store was leveled in the late 90's, but I think the one on US 22 in Somerville remained. Plus the warehouse store in Linden on Lower Road still remained selling damaged furniture for cut prices for a while after as well.
Oh and Levitz is another furniture store and Seamens Furniture where big with the former being even in Tampa at the Lee Roy Selmon's west terminus on US 92.
K-mart is going through yet another round of closures. We've spent about $1000 at the store located at 750 W Deuce of Clubs in Show Low, AZ. It's scheduled to close April 8.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wayne-huizenga-dead-builder-blockbuster-video-chain-dies-at-80-1096903 (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wayne-huizenga-dead-builder-blockbuster-video-chain-dies-at-80-1096903)
Update the former leader of the company formerly known as Blockbuster has died. Note Blockbuster is currently a Division of Dish Network on demand.
http://www.blockbuster.com/ (http://www.blockbuster.com/)
Quote from: bing101 on March 23, 2018, 05:43:41 PM
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wayne-huizenga-dead-builder-blockbuster-video-chain-dies-at-80-1096903 (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wayne-huizenga-dead-builder-blockbuster-video-chain-dies-at-80-1096903)
Update the former leader of the company formerly known as Blockbuster has died. Note Blockbuster is currently a Division of Dish Network on demand.
http://www.blockbuster.com/ (http://www.blockbuster.com/)
I went to college in a town that could only support a Blockbuster, and with their insistence on only stocking multiple copies of mainstream fare, Netflix (which, I'll remind our younger forum members, got its start in renting DVDs by mail) couldn't come soon enough.
Quote from: bing101 on March 23, 2018, 05:43:41 PM
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wayne-huizenga-dead-builder-blockbuster-video-chain-dies-at-80-1096903 (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wayne-huizenga-dead-builder-blockbuster-video-chain-dies-at-80-1096903)
Update the former leader of the company formerly known as Blockbuster has died. Note Blockbuster is currently a Division of Dish Network on demand.
http://www.blockbuster.com/ (http://www.blockbuster.com/)
He was a bit of a mixed legend in South Florida, by virtue of garbage hauling, and later, massive acquisitions of auto dealerships. His dismantling of the 1997 Florida Marlins was also famous for the wrong reasons (though ran like any other big business, when it's all said and done).
The Record Shops in TSS in the NY Metro area. I used to like their commercials with their Jingle "We have your kind of music (then echoed) Music and More, the Record World and Record Shops at TSS" followed by a guitar echo.
Of course they joined Sam Goody, as internet killed the need to buy music.
Bertucci's is in trouble, filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy today, and closing some locations immediately, including the one in my town. Reports say winding down business may happen.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/bertuccis-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-pizza-chain-may-close-restaurants/ar-AAvWakP?OCID=ansmsnnews11
Years ago some business in Pendell, PA along US 1 Business had an airplane out in front. I do not know if its still there (I looked on Google Satellite and saw nothing) or not, but if its not then its a defunct business.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 16, 2018, 11:30:35 PM
Bertucci's is in trouble, filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy today, and closing some locations immediately, including the one in my town. Reports say winding down business may happen.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/bertuccis-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-pizza-chain-may-close-restaurants/ar-AAvWakP?OCID=ansmsnnews11
The classic "capital firm sees no light at the end of the tunnel so it dumps the brand's assets to a private company". Kinda like what Bain Capital did to Burger King in the late 90s. BK doesn't exist as a physical company, more like a heavily controlled set of intellectual properties owned by by people with lots of money. Bk is now owned by Restaurant Brands, International with also owns Tim Hortons. The brand itself is not directly owned by the public but the holding company is.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on April 16, 2018, 11:30:35 PM
Bertucci's is in trouble, filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy today, and closing some locations immediately, including the one in my town. Reports say winding down business may happen.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/bertuccis-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-pizza-chain-may-close-restaurants/ar-AAvWakP?OCID=ansmsnnews11
That's a shame. Can't say I've eaten at one since moving away from DC, though.
Dawahares-This was a regional store, headquartered in Lexington, KY.
Mr. Steak-This was a restaurant chain that went extinct in the 1990's. This is an abandoned location in St. Charles, MO:https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7820374,-90.520574,3a,90y,207.13h,93.77t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sXra2lnu9Yi2H_dYQ-9hJgg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DXra2lnu9Yi2H_dYQ-9hJgg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D250.52367%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
The Bon-Ton just fell victim to the retail apocalypse.
Yep, which means that the Carson Pirie Scott chain is also going under. I don't think I helped by not shopping there in decades, though.
I'm not sure if this was already mentioned in the Kmart thread, but the last remaining Sears store in the city of Chicago is closing.
Whatever happened to Morrisons and Piccadili Cafeteria's? They both were big down south in the 90's with the former being in existence since the 60's I believe.
Also Davis Brothers also had a cafeteria set up. They had one in Orlando on I Drive while the rest of the chain was mostly in Tennessee and also there were some in Kentucky.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 12, 2018, 04:28:42 PM
Whatever happened to Morrisons and Piccadili Cafeteria's? They both were big down south in the 90's with the former being in existence since the 60's I believe.
I went to a Morrison's
once around 1997–when a charter bus made a lunch stop around Annapolis. The following year (1998), Morrison's, which was suffering due to the declining popularity of cafeterias in general, was acquired by its chief competitor (https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/24/business/company-news-piccadilly-cafeterias-to-buy-morrison-restaurants.html), Piccadilly.
Since then, Piccadilly has continued to close locations due to declining sales and profitability–both of its own brand and of the Morrison's locations that it had acquired–and both chains are down to a total of 41 locations (https://www.piccadilly.com/locations/) (down from 273 locations total in 1998). Apparently one Morrison's branded location is still open: Springdale Plaza in Mobile.
My mind was jogged yesterday about a former fast-food chain called Scottie's. I'm 95 percent sure that was the spelling vs. Scotty's. Anyway, this was sort of a poor man's White Castle before Krystal came to this area. They served small hamburgers and the prevailing price, as I remember was 22 cents. There was a location near me in Irvine, Ky., and I also remember one in downtown Danville, near Centre College, back in the mid-1970s.
There was a popular rumor back in the day that the burgers were actually made of dog food and that someone had found a bunch of empty dog food cans in the garbage at one of their locations.
I understand there may be two or three of these left in Tennessee, but the spelling may vary. It may be Scotty's instead of Scottie's. If anyone has run across one of these places, please post the location. A short day trip may be in order.
(Crossposted in the "regional fast food chains" thread.)
Quote from: hbelkins on May 30, 2018, 12:17:38 PM
My mind was jogged yesterday about a former fast-food chain called Scottie's. I'm 95 percent sure that was the spelling vs. Scotty's. Anyway, this was sort of a poor man's White Castle before Krystal came to this area. They served small hamburgers and the prevailing price, as I remember was 22 cents. There was a location near me in Irvine, Ky., and I also remember one in downtown Danville, near Centre College, back in the mid-1970s.
There was a popular rumor back in the day that the burgers were actually made of dog food and that someone had found a bunch of empty dog food cans in the garbage at one of their locations.
I understand there may be two or three of these left in Tennessee, but the spelling may vary. It may be Scotty's instead of Scottie's. If anyone has run across one of these places, please post the location. A short day trip may be in order.
(Crossposted in the "regional fast food chains" thread.)
This the place?
Caryville, TN
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2999416,-84.2209283,3a,75y,226.44h,83.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3JN7EBnGOvqcYaCU8PJuBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
EDIT: The one in Danville wasn't a Scottie's, but an Ollie's Trolley -- another now-defunct regional chain.
Quote from: inkyatari on May 30, 2018, 12:36:22 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 30, 2018, 12:17:38 PM
My mind was jogged yesterday about a former fast-food chain called Scottie's. I'm 95 percent sure that was the spelling vs. Scotty's. Anyway, this was sort of a poor man's White Castle before Krystal came to this area. They served small hamburgers and the prevailing price, as I remember was 22 cents. There was a location near me in Irvine, Ky., and I also remember one in downtown Danville, near Centre College, back in the mid-1970s.
There was a popular rumor back in the day that the burgers were actually made of dog food and that someone had found a bunch of empty dog food cans in the garbage at one of their locations.
I understand there may be two or three of these left in Tennessee, but the spelling may vary. It may be Scotty's instead of Scottie's. If anyone has run across one of these places, please post the location. A short day trip may be in order.
(Crossposted in the "regional fast food chains" thread.)
This the place?
Caryville, TN
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2999416,-84.2209283,3a,75y,226.44h,83.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s3JN7EBnGOvqcYaCU8PJuBA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Not sure. The restaurants I remember were in prefab-type buildings with yellow and orange panels on the walls. The one in Tennessee appears to be a more permanent structure.
This is how the one in Irvine looks now.
https://goo.gl/maps/GpTbqUB8a3t
Amoco was one and now I heard the name BP will become defunct as on AA Roads FB page it shared an article about BP being rebranded back to Amoco.
I hope that they bring back the logo below.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ebayimg.com%2Fimages%2Fi%2F220984205972-0-1%2Fs-l1000.jpg&hash=66b428bb9166f880ef87a857e999ac561d6ee811)
^^ Not quite.
(https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/amoco_logo.jpg)
Quote from: Big John on May 30, 2018, 04:09:17 PM
^^ Not quite.
(https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/amoco_logo.jpg)
That just makes me picture an oil rig on fire.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 30, 2018, 03:53:12 PM
Amoco was one and now I heard the name BP will become defunct as on AA Roads FB page it shared an article about BP being rebranded back to Amoco.
From what I read, the BP brand isn't going away by any means. From BP's official press release (https://www.bp.com/en_us/bp-us/media-room/press-releases/bp-brings-back-amoco-brand-for-us-fuel-network.html):
Quote...the Amoco brand will be available to BP marketers as a complementary retail offering in cities where there could be additional growth opportunities. It also will help resolve local, competitive station conflicts in markets where there may already be one or more BP stations in close proximity.
So I read this as follows: Let's say you own a BP station in Camden and someone else owns a franchise in Cherry Hill. And you'd like to open a BP station in Cherry Hill, but the guy who already owns the BP franchise in Cherry Hill has a contract stating that he has exclusive rights to operate stations under the BP trademark in Cherry Hill. So to get around this limitation, BP sells you the right to open an Amoco-branded station in Cherry Hill–still selling the same BP fuel. Basically, it's a loophole that makes their new contract with you technically consistent with their old contract their with the other guy, even if it is a violation of it in spirit.
Boo to that logo.
Quote from: jon daly on May 30, 2018, 04:28:24 PM
Boo to that logo.
It looks almost exactly like the old one. What's wrong with it?
The color scheme. Plus, as abe points out, it looks too Deeply Horizon.
Quote from: jon daly on May 30, 2018, 04:35:23 PM
The color scheme.
Yeah, it's a little too 1970s. The colors remind me of the old Continental Airlines logo.
I cant think of its name but in Bucks County, PA there was a store called Clover (not the defunct Strawbridge and Clover) but a small five and dime that used the name clover. There was one at the former end of the Trenton Freeway near Morrisville where US 1 Business now ends at its parent since the Oxford Valley Bypass was extended.
I believe some existed in NJ (primarily way South Jersey) but cannot be sure.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 30, 2018, 04:29:25 PM
It looks almost exactly like the old one. What's wrong with it?
This old vs. new Amoco logo is a good object lesson in how details matter. In this case, yes, they basically started out with the old logo and kept adding gratuitous swooshes and gradients until they got to a point where some guy in a suit said "Yeah...that looks "˜now'" .
For what it's worth, the audience (mostly professional graphic designers) over at Under Consideration (https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_for_amoco.php) gave this logo redesign a decisive thumbs down: 58% rating it as "Bad" , 29% as a mediocre "Fine" , and only 13% as "Great" , which is about as low as ratings on that site ever get.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 30, 2018, 04:54:56 PM
I cant think of its name but in Bucks County, PA there was a store called Clover (not the defunct Strawbridge and Clover)...
Did you mean Strawbridge and Clothier?
(https://labelscar.files.wordpress.com/2006/05/Echelon-Mall-08.jpg)
Quote from: briantroutman on May 30, 2018, 05:03:49 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 30, 2018, 04:29:25 PM
It looks almost exactly like the old one. What's wrong with it?
This old vs. new Amoco logo is a good object lesson in how details matter. In this case, yes, they basically started out with the old logo and kept adding gratuitous swooshes and gradients until they got to a point where some guy in a suit said “Yeah...that looks ‘now’”.
For what it’s worth, the audience (mostly professional graphic designers) over at Under Consideration (https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_for_amoco.php) gave this logo redesign a decisive thumbs down: 58% rating it as “Bad”, 29% as a mediocre “Fine”, and only 13% as “Great”, which is about as low as ratings on that site ever get.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 30, 2018, 04:54:56 PM
I cant think of its name but in Bucks County, PA there was a store called Clover (not the defunct Strawbridge and Clover)...
Did you mean Strawbridge and Clothier?
(https://labelscar.files.wordpress.com/2006/05/Echelon-Mall-08.jpg)
No it was called Clover. Not the famous one you mention here, it was like a Kmart or Caldor (if you are from the North Jersey or SE New York you would have known that one) and it usually was in a typical outdoor strip.
This old vs. new Amoco logo is a good object lesson in how details matter. In this case, yes, they basically started out with the old logo and kept adding gratuitous swooshes and gradients until they got to a point where some guy in a suit said "Yeah...that looks "˜now'" .
For what it's worth, the audience (mostly professional graphic designers) over at Under Consideration gave this logo redesign a decisive thumbs down: 58% rating it as "Bad" , 29% as a mediocre "Fine" , and only 13% as "Great" , which is about as low as ratings on that site ever get.
Yeah, what he said. At the risk of digressing even further, I don't like Pepsi (or soda generally, like malls these are childish things that I've mainly discarded) but I applaud them for bringing back the old logo.
I forgot that Amoco descended from Standard and that their logo has a similar oval shape to the old Esso oval.
Quote from: jon daly on May 31, 2018, 12:45:25 PM
I forgot that Amoco descended from Standard and that their logo has a similar oval shape to the old Esso oval.
Actually, Amoco is Standard Oil Of Indiana and has little to so with Standard Oil of New Jersey (Esso/Exxon) after 1911.
Indiana Standard history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoco https://web.archive.org/web/19980212074422/http://www.amoco.com/what_we_do/ss/library/t_and_o.html
1961-70 Logo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoco#/media/File:1961%E2%80%931970_Standard_Oil_of_Indiana_logo.jpg
Maintaining the trademark: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoco#/media/File:Bpstandarddurand.jpg
Amoco in NJ was called American brand before the late 70's.
Quote from: Brandon on May 31, 2018, 01:33:38 PM
Actually, Amoco is Standard Oil Of Indiana and has little to so with Standard Oil of New Jersey (Esso/Exxon) after 1911.
Indiana Standard history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoco
So,
they're the ones who bought the Patchogue Lace Mill.
http://digitalpml.pmlib.org/search.php?search=item&item=61
Quote from: roadman65 on June 01, 2018, 10:31:04 PM
Amoco in NJ was called American brand before the late 70’s.
New York too, and a lot of other places in the country. None of which I have a complete list of, BTW.
My first time seeing Amoco gas was in Missouri. That was the best gas my old car ever burned. Sipped on it like a fine wine.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 30, 2018, 04:54:56 PM
I cant think of its name but in Bucks County, PA there was a store called Clover (not the defunct Strawbridge and Clover) but a small five and dime that used the name clover. There was one at the former end of the Trenton Freeway near Morrisville where US 1 Business now ends at its parent since the Oxford Valley Bypass was extended.
I believe some existed in NJ (primarily way South Jersey) but cannot be sure.
We used to shop at Clover quite a bit. It was similar to a Caldor or Bradlees. There was one just of NJ 42 on NJ 168 in the Blackwood area and another on Cuthbert Blvd in Haddon Twp. It was owned by Strawbridge and Clothier - Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clover_(store) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clover_(store))
Sports Authority shut down sometime in the last few years. Since it was the only large scale sports store on Cape Cod, everyone drives a half hour to Plymouth to get some decent sneaks and equipment.
Quote from: WR of USA on June 07, 2018, 08:43:36 PM
Sports Authority shut down sometime in the last few years. Since it was the only large scale sports store on Cape Cod, everyone drives a half hour to Plymouth to get some decent sneaks and equipment.
Plymouth isn't on Cape Cod. Was this location in Plymouth or on Cape Cod?
It was in Hyannis, but since that was the only sports store on the Cape, everyone goes to Dicks now by Route 44 in Plymouth in the Colony Place. It's harder in the summer because all the tourist traffic by the canal.
Just get a permit for the tunnel.
The Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon near Disney is now defunct. A new steak place is being built in its place. Don't know if its a big thing or just that one (or many other regional stores (as their website still is saying they are open). However, its been there for decades and sits right at I-4 and SR 535 next to Landry's Restaurant.
And the latest retailer to go under is Magic Mart, which plied the very narrow market of being slightly below Wal-Mart (and in the old days, the general mid-market discount stores WM mostly replaced) but above seconds and rejects stores like Big Lot; also tended towards smaller towns and cheap rent locations where other retailers had left.
About 100 stores at it peak, down to 17 at the end, southern WV, southwestern VA, eastern KY, at one time upper east TN and northwest NC.
Closing by September.
Are there any Shoney's left? It seems that they all have gone from Central Florida. They closed em one by one so it was hard to not see them go as a whole, but wondered if any exist in other states still.
^^ Looks like there are some left: https://www.shoneys.com/
Shoney's was attempting some sort of fast-casual version of the restaurant in Buford, GA, but it looks like it's no longer in operation.
If there's no midnight breakfast buffet, it's not a Shoney's.
Quote from: SP Cook on July 02, 2018, 03:06:24 PM
And the latest retailer to go under is Magic Mart, which plied the very narrow market of being slightly below Wal-Mart (and in the old days, the general mid-market discount stores WM mostly replaced) but above seconds and rejects stores like Big Lot; also tended towards smaller towns and cheap rent locations where other retailers had left.
About 100 stores at it peak, down to 17 at the end, southern WV, southwestern VA, eastern KY, at one time upper east TN and northwest NC.
Closing by September.
Two in Kentucky that I know of, Hazard (in a very awkward location) and Pikeville/Coal Run Village (the US 23 strip.) I've never been in either.
The town this is really going to hurt is Welch. Their Kmart closed many years ago, but a new Walmart was built. It closed a couple of years ago. Magic Mart was left, and from all indications, it was doing a good business in Welch. McDowell County has enough issues as it is, and Magic Mart closing won't help from either a shopping or employment perspective.
I can't remember if Tazewell had a Kmart or not. Magic Mart closing will leave them without a major retailer, but it's an easy drive to either Pounding Mill/Claypool Hill/Richlands or Bluefield. Welch, not so much.
Sad to say, but anybody who cares about themselves or, yet more tragic, their children, has GTFO of Welch. Which is exactly what four out of five have had the human decency to do.
Decades ago you could say "well, it does not have this or that, but it is where my work is". Now there is no work. What is left are people who simply do not care.
As to Shoney's it is slowly dying. It has been in and out of bankruptcy at least twice. Maybe three times. And has spun off both its hotel business and Captain D's to raise cash. Also used to own a small quasi chain of nicer restaurants, somewhat similar to Steak and Ale or such (I call it a quasi chain because while the restaurants were the same, the names were local. I think there were about 12 or so. In Charleston is was called "Fifth Quarter" becasue it was next to the arena.) The places that remain, I think, are building they actually own or have long term favorable leases on. The places are filthy and the food is the poorest quality available.
Amazingly, the Shoney's in Clanton, Alabama had decent food, was neat/clean, didn't look disheveled, and had good service. The interior was right out of the late-1980s but was surprisingly kept up. For really low expectations, it thankfully punched above its weight.
Usually, I steer clear of them, but there isn't much open at a late hour around there.
Quote from: SP Cook on July 03, 2018, 10:16:50 AM
Sad to say, but anybody who cares about themselves or, yet more tragic, their children, has GTFO of Welch. Which is exactly what four out of five have had the human decency to do.
Decades ago you could say "well, it does not have this or that, but it is where my work is". Now there is no work. What is left are people who simply do not care.
As to Shoney's it is slowly dying. It has been in and out of bankruptcy at least twice. Maybe three times. And has spun off both its hotel business and Captain D's to raise cash. Also used to own a small quasi chain of nicer restaurants, somewhat similar to Steak and Ale or such (I call it a quasi chain because while the restaurants were the same, the names were local. I think there were about 12 or so. In Charleston is was called "Fifth Quarter" becasue it was next to the arena.) The places that remain, I think, are building they actually own or have long term favorable leases on. The places are filthy and the food is the poorest quality available.
Shoneys used to rule the south! It used to have the Big Boy Franchise for years until it started to open stores in states that had the Big Boy Franchise to other vendors like Frisks in Florida and Bobs in Maryland.
I do not know why they objected as in Virginia both Bobs Big Boy (former Marriot company) and Shoneys operated under the Big Boy Banner.
Then in 1997 their stock on the NASDAQ was doing more than well, and then all of a sudden they fell and fell fast. I used to like their buffet in the morn and loved their corn beef hash.
Quote from: roadman65 on July 02, 2018, 07:28:05 PM
Are there any Shoney's left? It seems that they all have gone from Central Florida. They closed em one by one so it was hard to not see them go as a whole, but wondered if any exist in other states still.
According to Shoney's official website, there is one left in Central Florida, on Apopka-Vineland Road by Disney World
There used to be a pretty decent Shoney's off of I-95 (Exit 145) in NC just north of Rocky Mount in the Gold Rock area. We were stopped by there once in January 2002 on our way to a funeral in Orange, VA. It closed a long time ago and the rest of Gold Rock went to shit. The building is still there.
There was also one in Farmville, VA when we lived there from 2009-2011. No complaints there, either. It closed not long after we left. The building is now La Parota Grill.
Quote from: ftballfan on July 03, 2018, 04:17:38 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 02, 2018, 07:28:05 PM
Are there any Shoney's left? It seems that they all have gone from Central Florida. They closed em one by one so it was hard to not see them go as a whole, but wondered if any exist in other states still.
According to Shoney's official website, there is one left in Central Florida, on Apopka-Vineland Road by Disney World
I thought that one closed.
Quote from: ftballfan on July 03, 2018, 04:17:38 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on July 02, 2018, 07:28:05 PM
Are there any Shoney's left? It seems that they all have gone from Central Florida. They closed em one by one so it was hard to not see them go as a whole, but wondered if any exist in other states still.
According to Shoney's official website, there is one left in Central Florida, on Apopka-Vineland Road by Disney World
We last went to that one in 2013. Food was unremarkable, the A/C was broken, service was okay, but hey...the kids were happy. Can't get them to eat vegetables on their own, but somehow when they can choose it themselves, they fill right up.
I haven't been to a Shoney's in years. In fact I didn't even know they still had locations open. They had one in Saginaw and one in Birch Run but those have been gone for several years. The one in Saginaw was a Lone Star and is now an IHOP and the one in Birch Run was a Big Boy and is now a Leo's Coney Island. I know they had some locations in Ohio too but never saw them much elsewhere.
Shoney's is still showing about 150 locations on their website.
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 06, 2018, 09:37:51 PM
Shoney's is still showing about 150 locations on their website.
And a new one opening north of me in Fultondale later this summer.
Quote from: jdb1234 on July 07, 2018, 02:57:02 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on July 06, 2018, 09:37:51 PM
Shoney's is still showing about 150 locations on their website.
And a new one opening north of me in Fultondale later this summer.
I saw on there where they have one opening in October 2018 in Defiance, Ohio too.
Not defunct (by any means with 3 flipping stores on every flipping street corner), Mattress Firm is apparently headed to bankruptcy.
Mattress Firm explores U.S. bankruptcy to close stores (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mattressfirm-restructuring-exclusive/exclusive-mattress-firm-explores-us-bankruptcy-to-close-stores-sources-idUSKBN1KR21K)
QuoteMattress Firm's deliberations offer the latest example of a U.S. brick-and-mortar retailer struggling financially amid competition from e-commerce firms such as Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O).
I take issue with this as who the hell buys a mattress online? The real issues are quoted below in the story.
QuoteMattress Firm lost Tempur Sealy International Inc (TPX.N), the maker of popular mattress brand Tempur-Pedic, as a supplier last year, limiting its offerings.
When you lose a big supplier like that, you get really screwed, and...
QuoteMattress Firm acquired HMK Mattress Holdings LLC, the parent company of competitor Sleepy's, in 2016 for $780 million and then rebranded the shops. Sleepy's had over 1,050 stores on the U.S. East Coast and Illinois.
Now we get to the real reason Mattress Firm is in trouble. When you over-acquire competitors and have two or three stores on a corner, you've over-saturated the market for your own stores.
Good riddance to Mattress Firm. What a stupidly run company.
I've seen cases where there are two Mattress Firms within 2 miles of each other; it's a running joke in my area that there is a Mattress Firm and a Dunkin Donuts every mile. In my town, the old Sleepy's acquired the assets of a locally owned store when one of the brothers passed away, and rebranded it Sleepy's, despite having a store about 3/4 of a mile away the other side of a highway interchange. Eventually, they closed the location, and the surviving brother reopened a new store, which remains to this day. Meanwhile, here's an example of why Mattress Firm is closing:
https://goo.gl/maps/BHzvoBVjAuG2
For another cautionary tale, look at Ames.
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2018, 10:21:51 AM
Not defunct (by any means with 3 flipping stores on every flipping street corner), Mattress Firm is apparently headed to bankruptcy.
Mattress Firm explores U.S. bankruptcy to close stores (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mattressfirm-restructuring-exclusive/exclusive-mattress-firm-explores-us-bankruptcy-to-close-stores-sources-idUSKBN1KR21K)
QuoteMattress Firm's deliberations offer the latest example of a U.S. brick-and-mortar retailer struggling financially amid competition from e-commerce firms such as Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O).
I take issue with this as who the hell buys a mattress online? The real issues are quoted below in the story.
QuoteMattress Firm lost Tempur Sealy International Inc (TPX.N), the maker of popular mattress brand Tempur-Pedic, as a supplier last year, limiting its offerings.
When you lose a big supplier like that, you get really screwed, and...
QuoteMattress Firm acquired HMK Mattress Holdings LLC, the parent company of competitor Sleepy's, in 2016 for $780 million and then rebranded the shops. Sleepy's had over 1,050 stores on the U.S. East Coast and Illinois.
Now we get to the real reason Mattress Firm is in trouble. When you over-acquire competitors and have two or three stores on a corner, you've over-saturated the market for your own stores.
I'm shocked. :rolleyes:
Hell, I know of two in Goldsboro, NC that are right across the street from each other on Berkeley Boulevard. One of them is part of a new strip mall that was built recently, so I figured it was a relocation. Alas, nope.
https://goo.gl/maps/hSMAdJaFS9N2 (https://goo.gl/maps/hSMAdJaFS9N2)
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on August 07, 2018, 10:41:24 AM
I've seen cases where there are two Mattress Firms within a mile of each other; it's a running joke in my area that there is a Mattress Firm and a Dunkin Donuts every mile. In my town, the old Sleepy's acquired the assets of a locally owned store when one of the brothers passed away, and rebranded it Sleepy's, despite having a store about 3/4 of a mile away the other side of a highway interchange. Eventually, they closed the location, and the surviving brother reopened a new store, which remains to this day. Meanwhile, here's an example of why Mattress Firm is closing:
https://goo.gl/maps/BHzvoBVjAuG2
For another cautionary tale, look at Ames.
I've got an even better one:
https://goo.gl/maps/L6pT43NkyWk
And...
https://goo.gl/maps/EsQMbakrKXx
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2018, 10:21:51 AMwho the hell buys a mattress online?
We did. Granted, it was for the bed in our in-law suite, which will be slept on one night a week, but we did. In part because we tried to buy a bed from Mattress Firm, but we kept telling the salesman we wanted the cheapest bed they sold because it wasn't going to be used frequently, he kept trying to upsell us, and we left in disgust.
Apparently there's a solid theory that Mattress Firm is a money-laundering front. I personally think they can support so many stores because margins on mattresses are so high, they only need to sell like one per week to stay solvent. But I don't think it helped that they didn't appear to close a single store after they bought Sleepy's.
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2018, 10:21:51 AM
I take issue with this as who the hell buys a mattress online?
I probably would if they had free shipping. Otherwise, any money you might save would be eaten up in shipping costs.
Quote from: hbelkins on August 07, 2018, 04:06:38 PM
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2018, 10:21:51 AM
I take issue with this as who the hell buys a mattress online?
I probably would if they had free shipping. Otherwise, any money you might save would be eaten up in shipping costs.
We bought our mattress through Amazon and got free shipping because we are Prime members. I'm sure other companies provide free shipping as well. They also have a pretty generous return/try-it-at-home policy to make up for the fact that you can't go try it out in a store.
Quote from: Rothman on August 07, 2018, 10:39:37 AM
Good riddance to Mattress Firm. What a stupidly run company.
With an even stupider name.
Quote from: roadman on August 08, 2018, 09:36:04 AM
Quote from: Rothman on August 07, 2018, 10:39:37 AM
Good riddance to Mattress Firm. What a stupidly run company.
With an even stupider name.
Actually, I prefer a firm mattress vs. one that's so squishy soft that you feel like you're falling into quicksand.
What do you expect when you put multiple locations within a short drive of each other?
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 08, 2018, 10:27:26 PM
What do you expect when you put multiple locations within a short drive of each other?
The question is actually "What do you expect when you buy one of your competitors and don't close any redundant locations?"
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2018, 10:21:51 AM
I take issue with this as who the hell buys a mattress online?
I did. I think what the article is referring to is the new type such as Casper, which is what I bought. Heavily advertised on talk radio. Other brands I have heard of are Leesa, Purple, and Saatva. These items come in a box about the size of a kitchen trash can in an ultra compressed state. The box is easily handled by one person, so it can be delivered easily by UPS and easily set up by one person. You remove the plastic bag it is in and over about an hour it puffs up to regular size.
I found the whole process easy and find the mattress to be as good as any. Much better than trying to find three guys, including one with a truck; or sitting around waiting for some delivery guys who show up whenever. I have also seen similar products in retail stores, which one person with a standard car could easily purchase and take home without help.
I believe mattress stores were well known for their price guarantees if you found the same mattress at another store for cheaper. However, all the chains had mattresses with labels exclusive to their store, so you could never find the same mattress cheaper!
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 08, 2018, 10:27:26 PM
What do you expect when you put multiple locations within a short drive of each other?
Or walking distance.
Quote from: LM117 on August 09, 2018, 09:25:10 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 08, 2018, 10:27:26 PM
What do you expect when you put multiple locations within a short drive of each other?
Or walking distance.
North Station in Boston has two Dunkin Donuts within 300 feet. Their prices are slightly different.
There is demand for Dunkin. There are also two locations practically on top of each other at the Downtown Crossing T station: One in the station and one above. Lots of people want their daily coffee and/or donut.
Mattresses? Not so much.
Quote from: SP Cook on August 09, 2018, 09:05:49 AM
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2018, 10:21:51 AM
I take issue with this as who the hell buys a mattress online?
I did. I think what the article is referring to is the new type such as Casper, which is what I bought. Heavily advertised on talk radio. Other brands I have heard of are Leesa, Purple, and Saatva. These items come in a box about the size of a kitchen trash can in an ultra compressed state. The box is easily handled by one person, so it can be delivered easily by UPS and easily set up by one person. You remove the plastic bag it is in and over about an hour it puffs up to regular size.
I found the whole process easy and find the mattress to be as good as any. Much better than trying to find three guys, including one with a truck; or sitting around waiting for some delivery guys who show up whenever. I have also seen similar products in retail stores, which one person with a standard car could easily purchase and take home without help.
Two potential drawbacks to online mattresses are:
1) You're limited to memory foam (like H. Belkins, I prefer something firmer)
2) Online companies don't offer removal of the old mattress(es)
As for delivery windows, I've never had issues with that. We even timed delivery of our most recent bed to coincide with our arrival in Chicago in the moving truck from DC, and the delivery men arrived bang on time.
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 09, 2018, 09:38:47 AM
1) You're limited to memory foam (like H. Belkins, I prefer something firmer)
2) Online companies don't offer removal of the old mattress(es)
As for delivery windows, I've never had issues with that. We even timed delivery of our most recent bed to coincide with our arrival in Chicago in the moving truck from DC, and the delivery men arrived bang on time.
1.) I don't know about this H. Belkins character, but I haven't found memory foam mattresses to be too soft at all.
2.) Put the old mattress out with the garbage, call for special disposal from the garbage service (many cities provide this service at no extra charge, take it out in the back yard and set it on fire, or haul it up into the woods behind your house and turn it into a bed for wild animals. :-D
Quote from: 1 on August 09, 2018, 09:30:37 AM
Quote from: LM117 on August 09, 2018, 09:25:10 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 08, 2018, 10:27:26 PM
What do you expect when you put multiple locations within a short drive of each other?
Or walking distance.
North Station in Boston has two Dunkin Donuts within 300 feet. Their prices are slightly different.
I can understand that type of thing. It's like Starbucks in Seattle.
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 09, 2018, 01:19:40 PM
Quote from: 1 on August 09, 2018, 09:30:37 AM
Quote from: LM117 on August 09, 2018, 09:25:10 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 08, 2018, 10:27:26 PM
What do you expect when you put multiple locations within a short drive of each other?
Or walking distance.
North Station in Boston has two Dunkin Donuts within 300 feet. Their prices are slightly different.
I can understand that type of thing. It's like Starbucks in Seattle.
Or Starbucks everywhere.
ETA: At least when you have two Starbucks at the same corner, both will have a line out the door at 7 am on a weekday.
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 09, 2018, 02:49:12 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 09, 2018, 01:19:40 PM
Quote from: 1 on August 09, 2018, 09:30:37 AM
Quote from: LM117 on August 09, 2018, 09:25:10 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 08, 2018, 10:27:26 PM
What do you expect when you put multiple locations within a short drive of each other?
Or walking distance.
North Station in Boston has two Dunkin Donuts within 300 feet. Their prices are slightly different.
I can understand that type of thing. It's like Starbucks in Seattle.
Or Starbucks everywhere.
ETA: At least when you have two Starbucks at the same corner, both will have a line out the door at 7 am on a weekday.
Pretty much but Seattle being it's Headquarters is probably the reasoning there. There are at least 7 Starbucks in a mile radius in downtown Seattle, possibly even more. Another business that has a lot of locations in a single metro area is Waffle House in Atlanta. It must be something about over saturating the market in the city that your Headquarters is located in.
Just a straight up business that has a ton of locations around the Detroit area is coney island restaurants. There is a coney island on just about every major intersection in the Detroit area it seems like.
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 09, 2018, 04:58:36 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 09, 2018, 02:49:12 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 09, 2018, 01:19:40 PM
Quote from: 1 on August 09, 2018, 09:30:37 AM
Quote from: LM117 on August 09, 2018, 09:25:10 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on August 08, 2018, 10:27:26 PM
What do you expect when you put multiple locations within a short drive of each other?
Or walking distance.
North Station in Boston has two Dunkin Donuts within 300 feet. Their prices are slightly different.
I can understand that type of thing. It's like Starbucks in Seattle.
Or Starbucks everywhere.
ETA: At least when you have two Starbucks at the same corner, both will have a line out the door at 7 am on a weekday.
Pretty much but Seattle being it's Headquarters is probably the reasoning there. There are at least 7 Starbucks in a mile radius in downtown Seattle, possibly even more. Another business that has a lot of locations in a single metro area is Waffle House in Atlanta. It must be something about over saturating the market in the city that your Headquarters is located in.
Just a straight up business that has a ton of locations around the Detroit area is coney island restaurants. There is a coney island on just about every major intersection in the Detroit area it seems like.
I don't think it counts as oversaturation if you have numerous locations in a small geographic area and they're all packed.
Late last year Mattress Firm bought Sleep Train, a CA-centered retailer. At the time I thought "good riddance" to the local chain with the weirdest TV/radio ads around -- featuring a cartoon "old-fashioned" steam locomotive -- but with a diesel-type air horn heard at the end of each ad. But there were too damn many Sleep Train outlets; looks like that questionable corporate policy fit right into Mattress Firm's similar "saturation" strategy -- with predictable results.
Quote from: cl94 on January 31, 2018, 06:08:20 PM
Another day, another set of store closures for a major chain. This time, it's Bon-Ton (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/31/heres-a-map-of-where-bon-ton-is-closing-stores.html). 42 stores closing (in addition to 5 announced previously), including the one in my hometown of Queensbury. Before that location opened around 2000, it was a Caldor.
Speaking of Caldor, I've seen Caldor sign in Flushing, Queens as recently as the 2000's.
Beyond this, I have post (or re-post) this link:
http://definition.org/remember-defunct-restaurant-chains/
The link turned up in a Microsoft News Article, and showed an old Cracker Barrel as clickbait, despite the fact that Cracker Barrel shows no signs of doing anything else but expanding as far as I can tell.
Quote from: cjk374 on October 20, 2016, 06:03:50 PM
A & P Grocery Stores: at least here in the South
A & P is dead in the North too. The nearest one to my hometown has actually been a Chuck-e-Cheeses restaurant since the 1980's. A few years back, my brother brought his kids to that one, and I told him that it used to be an A & P Supermarket, but he didn't believe me.
Quote from: cjk374 on October 20, 2016, 06:03:50 PM
Western Auto: at least 1 store in downtown Minden, LA still has the iconic sign and is open.
Being a Long Islander, I never saw one anywhere else but in the movies and on TV until I wound up in Florida, and the only two I knew of were in Brooksville and Bayonet Point. The one in Brooksville is an Ace Hardware store now, and I didn't even notice the change in franchise until recently.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on September 30, 2018, 09:01:49 AM
Quote from: cjk374 on October 20, 2016, 06:03:50 PM
Western Auto: at least 1 store in downtown Minden, LA still has the iconic sign and is open.
Being a Long Islander, I never saw one anywhere else but in the movies and on TV until I wound up in Florida, and the only two I knew of were in Brooksville and Bayonet Point. The one in Brooksville is an Ace Hardware store now, and I didn't even notice the change in franchise until recently.
Western Auto is completely out of business. Sears, which owned Western Auto beginning in 1988, sold the company to Advance Auto Parts ten years later. The remaining company-owned stores that Advance executives thought were worth keeping were converted to the Advance Auto Parts brand. Most of these had already been converted to the Parts America brand under Sears ownership.
In addition to the company-owned stores, the Western Auto network included many independently owned and operated storefronts that had been licensing the Western Auto name and getting a sizable portion of their inventory from Western Auto warehouses. These independents were given permission by Advance to continue using the Western Auto brand for a limited period after the acquisition was completed, but the Western Auto distribution network was shut down in 2003 and any remaining contracts for continued use of the name by independents ran out in 2006. So any shop advertising itself as "Western Auto" today is doing so illegally and is merely an independent local business getting its inventory from unrelated third party suppliers.
Soon to be defunct, a smaller Chicago grocer.
At Treasure Island grocery stores, 'everything must go' as they prepare to close soon (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-treasure-island-foods-20180930-story.html)
QuoteTreasure Island is the latest victim of Chicago's intensely competitive grocery industry. It likely won't be the last. After Dominick's closed in 2014, a slew of newcomers flooded into the city to compete for market share – a proliferation that only recently has reached a tipping point.
Quote from: Brandon on October 01, 2018, 09:46:11 AM
Soon to be defunct, a smaller Chicago grocer.
At Treasure Island grocery stores, 'everything must go' as they prepare to close soon (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-treasure-island-foods-20180930-story.html)
QuoteTreasure Island is the latest victim of Chicago's intensely competitive grocery industry. It likely won't be the last. After Dominick's closed in 2014, a slew of newcomers flooded into the city to compete for market share – a proliferation that only recently has reached a tipping point.
They have/had more locations than I thought - I was only aware of the two in the city.
R & S Auto in NJ. They were a store similar to Pep Boys but on a regional basis. They had stores in North Jersey and in New York they had sister stores named Strauss Auto.
Over the weekend, I drove past a Rexall Drugs. According to my Internet research, there were "thousands" left as of 2007. I don't know how many remain today.
We had a Western Auto in my town until about the mid to late 80's. Ace is probably the closest thing out there to it. It even had a toy section in it, so it was more than just auto parts. A few years after the store downtown closed, Sears opened a Parts America store in a strip mall closer to the interstate. It does survive as an Advance store to this day.
We had A&P in CT until about 2010-11 or so. All of the Waldbaum's Food Marts save 1 took on the A&P moniker in their later years as A&P Super Foodmart. The A&P name did remain on a couple of liquor stores until their demise. Most A&P's either became another supermarket, or were repurposed into a store like Ocean State Job Lot. The one in my town, which closed around 1996, is now a subdivided liquor store, fitness center, and a relocated Namco.
I was just in an old A&P that became a Big Y yesterday. It's in Stonington on the outskirts of the Mystic section of town. I had to go to the restroom and I noticed a stick above the door that had the A&P logo. It looked like a security or postal tour point (it had a barcode,) but I'm not sure what it was doing there unless someone had to use a tour wand to indicate that they cleaned that restroom.
Apparently, once upon a time, A&P had a presence in Chicago. There were some in GA when we moved there in the early 1990s, but we never shopped there.
A&P was in the Chicago area until 1981-82.
Quote from: Brandon on August 07, 2018, 10:21:51 AM
I take issue with this as who the hell buys a mattress online?
My best friend just did. He recently moved to northern Mexico as a full-time missionary to a children's home. He's originally from Michigan and LOVES cold weather, can't sleep when it's hot. So..... sleeping with no A/C in the desert in the hottest months of the year isn't exactly doing wonders for him. He found a mattress that is reported to keep cooler than other mattresses, so he ordered it online, had it shipped to our pastor here in Wichita, then picked it up when he was here for a funeral a couple of weeks ago.
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 09, 2018, 02:49:12 PM
Or Starbucks everywhere.
You'll know the end of the world is approaching when Starbucks opens a new location inside another Starbucks.
Quote from: Brandon on October 04, 2018, 10:22:35 AM
A&P was in the Chicago area until 1981-82.
Which is odd, considering A&P stands for Atlantic & Pacific.
Quote from: abefroman329 on October 04, 2018, 10:26:51 AM
Quote from: Brandon on October 04, 2018, 10:22:35 AM
A&P was in the Chicago area until 1981-82.
Which is odd, considering A&P stands for Atlantic & Pacific.
We had A&P grocery stores here in Louisiana when I was a child...they left in the mid 80s.
Quote from: cjk374 on October 04, 2018, 08:49:49 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on October 04, 2018, 10:26:51 AM
Quote from: Brandon on October 04, 2018, 10:22:35 AM
A&P was in the Chicago area until 1981-82.
Which is odd, considering A&P stands for Atlantic & Pacific.
We had A&P grocery stores here in Louisiana when I was a child...they left in the mid 80s.
Louisiana at least has a tenuous connection to the Atlantic Ocean, via the Gulf of Mexico.
Quote from: kphoger on October 04, 2018, 10:26:08 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 09, 2018, 02:49:12 PM
Or Starbucks everywhere.
You'll know the end of the world is approaching when Starbucks opens a new location inside another Starbucks.
Until recently there was a Jaguar dealership in Winnetka that had a Starbucks inside of it. I'm not sure if it was open to people who weren't customers of the dealership, or if your coffee was free if you were a customer.
A&P use to have a pretty big presence in Michigan until they converted them over to Farmer Jack or closed stores in the 80's.
Quote from: Flint1979 on October 04, 2018, 09:00:57 PM
A&P use to have a pretty big presence in Michigan until they converted them over to Farmer Jack or closed stores in the 80's.
Detroit had a few grocery chains that have disappeared in the last few decades: A&P, Farmer Jack and Chatham to name a few.
It's probably been mentioned in this thread already, but the Chicago retailer Goldblatt's. I remember going there all the time with my parents as a kid. It was the first store I ever went to that had christmas stuff available at the end of September.
Remember when major department stores had not only a cafeteria, but also a snack stand that sold candies and fresh roasted peanuts and popcorn? Those were the days. The Sears at the Louis Joliet Mall had their stand not too far from the Atari 2600 game kiosk. Playing 45 seconds of Space Invaders, whilst smelling honey roasted peanuts being cooked. *sigh* I hate getting old!
Quote from: inkyatari on October 05, 2018, 09:04:24 AMRemember when major department stores had not only a cafeteria, but also a snack stand that sold candies and fresh roasted peanuts and popcorn?
No, but that sounds delicious.
Quote from: inkyatari on October 05, 2018, 09:04:24 AM
It's probably been mentioned in this thread already, but the Chicago retailer Goldblatt's. I remember going there all the time with my parents as a kid. It was the first store I ever went to that had christmas stuff available at the end of September.
Remember when major department stores had not only a cafeteria, but also a snack stand that sold candies and fresh roasted peanuts and popcorn? Those were the days. The Sears at the Louis Joliet Mall had their stand not too far from the Atari 2600 game kiosk. Playing 45 seconds of Space Invaders, whilst smelling honey roasted peanuts being cooked. *sigh* I hate getting old!
Ah yes, the Snacketeria in Sears. It was on the lower level, in the middle of what's the appliance department now. You could buy all sorts of chocolates and other goodies there. I think that disappeared sometime by 1984-85.
Quote from: kphoger on October 04, 2018, 10:26:08 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 09, 2018, 02:49:12 PM
Or Starbucks everywhere.
You'll know the end of the world is approaching when Starbucks opens a new location inside another Starbucks.
Or...the End of the Universe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBi9Wh4F_Og
Quote from: Brandon on October 05, 2018, 09:17:43 AM
Ah yes, the Snacketeria in Sears. It was on the lower level, in the middle of what's the appliance department now. You could buy all sorts of chocolates and other goodies there. I think that disappeared sometime by 1984-85.
Yup - I remember that. We had a small snackbar with a couple of stools in the Deptford Mall Sears until maybe the mid 80s. It disappeared with a renovation of the store around that time. It always seemed empty.
Quote from: abefroman329 on October 04, 2018, 10:26:51 AM
Quote from: Brandon on October 04, 2018, 10:22:35 AM
A&P was in the Chicago area until 1981-82.
Which is odd, considering A&P stands for Atlantic & Pacific.
Not really; I always assumed the implication was from the Atlantic to the Pacific, i.e., nationwide.
We had them here in Ohio when I was a kid.
Quote from: frankenroad on October 05, 2018, 10:17:18 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on October 04, 2018, 10:26:51 AM
Quote from: Brandon on October 04, 2018, 10:22:35 AM
A&P was in the Chicago area until 1981-82.
Which is odd, considering A&P stands for Atlantic & Pacific.
Not really; I always assumed the implication was from the Atlantic to the Pacific, i.e., nationwide.
We had them here in Ohio when I was a kid.
Exactly.
In the book of Revelation, God is called the Alpha and the Omega (the Beginning and the End). Does that mean the apostle John didn't believe God was anywhere in between? :hmmm:
Quote from: kphoger on October 05, 2018, 01:25:38 PM
Quote from: frankenroad on October 05, 2018, 10:17:18 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on October 04, 2018, 10:26:51 AM
Quote from: Brandon on October 04, 2018, 10:22:35 AM
A&P was in the Chicago area until 1981-82.
Which is odd, considering A&P stands for Atlantic & Pacific.
Not really; I always assumed the implication was from the Atlantic to the Pacific, i.e., nationwide.
We had them here in Ohio when I was a kid.
Exactly.
In the book of Revelation, God is called the Alpha and the Omega (the Beginning and the End). Does that mean the apostle John didn't believe God was anywhere in between? :hmmm:
The He should have been the Alpha, the Beta, the Gamma, the Delta...and the Omega.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 30, 2018, 01:00:00 PM
EDIT: The one in Danville wasn't a Scottie's, but an Ollie's Trolley -- another now-defunct regional chain.
There is an Ollie's Trolley in downtown DC at the corner of 12th and E NW (across from where Barnes & Noble used to be, a block north of Pennsylvania Avenue).
(Sorry if this duplicates someone else's comment, as I have not read the whole thread.)
Quote from: formulanone on October 05, 2018, 09:23:54 AM
Quote from: kphoger on October 04, 2018, 10:26:08 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on August 09, 2018, 02:49:12 PM
Or Starbucks everywhere.
You'll know the end of the world is approaching when Starbucks opens a new location inside another Starbucks.
Or...the End of the Universe.
....
Would that Starbucks then be the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?
Regarding buying a mattress online, we bought ours online over ten years ago, but it wasn't a true roll of the dice because we were familiar with the product–we ordered a Westin "Heavenly Bed" because we really liked the mattresses when we stayed at Westin hotels. We did not, however, purchase the accompanying bedding (pillows, sheets, etc.) because we did not like their pillows–we just got the mattress and box spring from them. Still very happy with it. Wasn't cheap, but then, theoretically you spend a third of your life asleep, so getting the cheapest possible product is not a priority of mine as to that particular purchase!
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 05, 2018, 03:56:08 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 30, 2018, 01:00:00 PM
EDIT: The one in Danville wasn't a Scottie's, but an Ollie's Trolley -- another now-defunct regional chain.
There is an Ollie's Trolley in downtown DC at the corner of 12th and E NW (across from where Barnes & Noble used to be, a block north of Pennsylvania Avenue).
(Sorry if this duplicates someone else's comment, as I have not read the whole thread.)
There's still one in Louisville, which unfortunately I didn't get to patronize the last time I was there because it's closed in the evenings. I also understand there's one in Memphis and there may be one in Cincinnati as well.
I think I mentioned the Ollie's Trolley in DC several pages back.
Maybe not so defunct anymore...
Carson's reopening Evergreen Park store on Black Friday (https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-carsons-reopening-evergreen-park-1031-story.html)
QuoteWhen Merrillville, Ind.-based CSC Generation bought the intellectual property of Carson's parent company, Bon-Ton Stores, out of bankruptcy last month, it got the retailers' e-commerce sites back online within a week and promised stores would follow.
"It's been a race to prepare to open our first store, and we're looking forward to growing our brick and mortar footprint over the coming months," CSC Generation CEO Justin Yoshimura said in a news release.
Carson's also said on its website that it plans to reopen locations in Lombard and Orland Park, but the company did not provide opening dates or other details for those locations.
It would honestly be better if they only had one name plate. Instead of having Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers they should have just went with one name. Just keep the oldest name plate active which is Carson's and they should go back to the original name Carson Pirie Scott & Co.
I think a lot of the stores looked cheesy especially using the same logo for every company. It'd be nice for them to reopen so they can take back some of these mall vacancies they left. Some of these malls like The Mall in Monroe which had a Carson's are now with only one anchor and many times those one anchors aren't even a regional chain. I don't think they ever had a location of any of these stores in Eastland Mall in Harper Woods but there's a prime example of a mall with no real anchor stores left, they have K&G Fashion Superstore and Shoppers World. And this mall was at one time a nice mall with real anchor stores, they now have 4 vacant anchors.
The following restaurant chains aren't defunct yet but some of them could implode depending of which path they'll take.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbztGhuFmik
I'd be surprised if any of them went under any time soon, frankly. Subway has been oversaturating the market for over a decade and they're still going strong
Quote from: abefroman329 on December 30, 2018, 07:15:49 PM
I'd be surprised if any of them went under any time soon, frankly. Subway has been oversaturating the market for over a decade and they're still going strong
The only one I could see going under is Papa Johns.
Quote from: dvferyance on December 30, 2018, 07:38:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on December 30, 2018, 07:15:49 PM
I'd be surprised if any of them went under any time soon, frankly. Subway has been oversaturating the market for over a decade and they're still going strong
The only one I could see going under is Papa Johns.
Papa Johns isn't going under unless college kids spontaneously stop eating pizza.
Papa John's does pretty good in my town anyway. We had a Cottage Inn that closed about five years ago they just opened another one here though. Michigan based pizza chains don't do bad around here like Jet's, Cottage Inn, Hungry Howie's, Little Caesars, Domino's. I'd have to say that Jets or Cottage Inn are the best ones though. The ultimate best pizza chain in Michigan though is Buddy's by far. There are 11 Buddy's locations that I know of including the original location on Conant Street in Detroit. Buddy's has also been coined as one of the best pizzerias in the United States by the Food Network. If you ask any Detroiter where the best pizza place in Detroit is I guarantee just about everyone will say Buddy's. They've been in business for over 70 years.
When my in-laws lived in Holland, there were two really good local pizzerias, although neither was Detroit-style. The best Detroit-style pizza I've had was in Austin, of all places (I've never been to Detroit as an adult).
Quote from: abefroman329 on December 30, 2018, 08:27:31 PM
When my in-laws lived in Holland, there were two really good local pizzerias, although neither was Detroit-style. The best Detroit-style pizza I've had was in Austin, of all places (I've never been to Detroit as an adult).
For Detroit style around here Jet's is the best. I'm pretty sure Jet's is almost strictly in Michigan though. There is another chain called Happy's Pizza and I would turn anyone away that even wanted to try that crap out. I heard they have new owners now but they at least use to use expired food products and the pizza's were not good anyway. The founder of Happy's is currently in prison for fraud.
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 30, 2018, 09:49:26 PM
I'm pretty sure Jet's is almost strictly in Michigan though.
Located in 20 states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet%27s_Pizza
Quote from: Big John on December 30, 2018, 09:54:40 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 30, 2018, 09:49:26 PM
I'm pretty sure Jet's is almost strictly in Michigan though.
Located in 20 states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet%27s_Pizza
I've never seen one outside of Michigan. Wasn't aware they were that big of a chain.
Why is Boston Market still around?
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Why wouldn't they be? While I don't personally go there, there's nothing wrong with them.
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 30, 2018, 09:59:23 PM
Quote from: Big John on December 30, 2018, 09:54:40 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 30, 2018, 09:49:26 PM
I'm pretty sure Jet's is almost strictly in Michigan though.
Located in 20 states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet%27s_Pizza
I've never seen one outside of Michigan. Wasn't aware they were that big of a chain.
Didn't know that they had locations down south. Don't know if and when we'll stop at one, though.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on December 30, 2018, 10:41:15 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 30, 2018, 09:59:23 PM
Quote from: Big John on December 30, 2018, 09:54:40 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 30, 2018, 09:49:26 PM
I'm pretty sure Jet's is almost strictly in Michigan though.
Located in 20 states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet%27s_Pizza
I've never seen one outside of Michigan. Wasn't aware they were that big of a chain.
Didn't know that they had locations down south. Don't know if and when we'll stop at one, though.
There are two locations in my town and I've had them before. I'm not a huge pizza lover but I'll eat it once in awhile. The Jet's by my house though are pretty good. I don't think the Detroit style pizza concept has really caught on nationally though but here in Michigan it's a thing. I wouldn't discourage you from trying one they are pretty good at least the locations I have tried them at are. One Michigan pizza chain I will discourage anyone from eating at is Happy's Pizza. Bunch of legal problems there the owner is in prison for fraud and they use expired products.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Because the elderly have to eat too. Same reason Bakers Square and Perkins are still around.
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 30, 2018, 09:59:23 PM
Quote from: Big John on December 30, 2018, 09:54:40 PM
Quote from: Flint1979 on December 30, 2018, 09:49:26 PM
I'm pretty sure Jet's is almost strictly in Michigan though.
Located in 20 states: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet%27s_Pizza
I've never seen one outside of Michigan. Wasn't aware they were that big of a chain.
There are several in Chicago and I ordered delivery from one in Columbus when I was there on business a few years ago.
Quote from: 1 on December 30, 2018, 10:37:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Why wouldn't they be? While I don't personally go there, there's nothing wrong with them.
They were a bit on the fence in the 1990's, especially when they expanded from Boston Chicken to Boston Market, but actually rebounded nicely and serve a quality product. They probably were a little bit ahead of their time when fast food was still the go-to takeout food, but when the fast-casual type restaurants started infiltrating the market, such as Chipotles and Panara Breads, Boston Market fell right into line with them.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 31, 2018, 07:57:29 AM
Quote from: 1 on December 30, 2018, 10:37:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Why wouldn't they be? While I don't personally go there, there's nothing wrong with them.
They were a bit on the fence in the 1990's, especially when they expanded from Boston Chicken to Boston Market, but actually rebounded nicely and serve a quality product. They probably were a little bit ahead of their time when fast food was still the go-to takeout food, but when the fast-casual type restaurants started infiltrating the market, such as Chipotles and Panara Breads, Boston Market fell right into line with them.
McDonald's probably saved them when they bought them.
Quote from: abefroman329 on December 30, 2018, 07:51:14 PM
Quote from: dvferyance on December 30, 2018, 07:38:35 PM
Quote from: abefroman329 on December 30, 2018, 07:15:49 PM
I'd be surprised if any of them went under any time soon, frankly. Subway has been oversaturating the market for over a decade and they're still going strong
The only one I could see going under is Papa Johns.
Papa Johns isn't going under unless college kids spontaneously stop eating pizza.
Or the start going somewhere else to get it.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
I didn't realize they still were! Man, I wish there were a Boston Market in Wichita...
Quote from: 1 on December 30, 2018, 10:37:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Why wouldn't they be? While I don't personally go there, there's nothing wrong with them.
They recently closed the one by me. There is now only one left I know of around here.
Quote from: kphoger on December 31, 2018, 02:28:34 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
I didn't realize they still were! Man, I wish there were a Boston Market in Wichita...
I noticed recently the one near a childhood home is still there. I ate there once as a kid and never went back. It's the only one I can think of still in MSP. There was one down the street from one of my other homes as a kid that's long gone.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 31, 2018, 07:57:29 AM
Quote from: 1 on December 30, 2018, 10:37:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Why wouldn't they be? While I don't personally go there, there's nothing wrong with them.
They were a bit on the fence in the 1990's, especially when they expanded from Boston Chicken to Boston Market, but actually rebounded nicely and serve a quality product. They probably were a little bit ahead of their time when fast food was still the go-to takeout food, but when the fast-casual type restaurants started infiltrating the market, such as Chipotles and Panara Breads, Boston Market fell right into line with them.
As I recall, it was the dazzling, red-hot growth chain of the late 1980s / early '90s, because it made rotisserie chicken a Big Thing. Then in the late '90s every supermarket in the United States added an in-store rotisserie, which sucked the life out of Boston Market.
Quote from: GenExpwy on January 01, 2019, 02:51:36 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 31, 2018, 07:57:29 AM
Quote from: 1 on December 30, 2018, 10:37:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Why wouldn't they be? While I don't personally go there, there's nothing wrong with them.
They were a bit on the fence in the 1990's, especially when they expanded from Boston Chicken to Boston Market, but actually rebounded nicely and serve a quality product. They probably were a little bit ahead of their time when fast food was still the go-to takeout food, but when the fast-casual type restaurants started infiltrating the market, such as Chipotles and Panara Breads, Boston Market fell right into line with them.
As I recall, it was the dazzling, red-hot growth chain of the late 1980s / early '90s, because it made rotisserie chicken a Big Thing. Then in the late '90s every supermarket in the United States added an in-store rotisserie, which sucked the life out of Boston Market.
Hey, at least they found a way to survive, as compared to Kenny Rogers Roasters.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 01, 2019, 07:15:49 AM
Quote from: GenExpwy on January 01, 2019, 02:51:36 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 31, 2018, 07:57:29 AM
Quote from: 1 on December 30, 2018, 10:37:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Why wouldn't they be? While I don't personally go there, there's nothing wrong with them.
They were a bit on the fence in the 1990's, especially when they expanded from Boston Chicken to Boston Market, but actually rebounded nicely and serve a quality product. They probably were a little bit ahead of their time when fast food was still the go-to takeout food, but when the fast-casual type restaurants started infiltrating the market, such as Chipotles and Panara Breads, Boston Market fell right into line with them.
As I recall, it was the dazzling, red-hot growth chain of the late 1980s / early ’90s, because it made rotisserie chicken a Big Thing. Then in the late ’90s every supermarket in the United States added an in-store rotisserie, which sucked the life out of Boston Market.
Hey, at least they found a way to survive, as compared to Kenny Rogers Roasters.
Roasters was pretty good but it disappeared in just a few years when I lived in Florida.
Boston Market is decent fast-casual; sometimes I don't want to wait long for food when I'm eating alone, and it's a reliable lunch spot. I tend to notice it up in the Northeast but rarely elsewhere. They have no locations near my home and they always stock a bottle of Huy Fong sriracha, so there's two reasons for me to stop when I'm on the road.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
They filed for Chapter 11 20 years ago and have hung on despite near complete irrelevance. I've never heard someone in my life ever even utter the name, and to this day I've never been in one despite its formation being a mere 20 miles from me. I swear like Mattress Firm it's a front or something.
^^^^^^^^
My GF really likes Boston Market's meatloaf, so I pick up take-out from them about once every 4-6 weeks (would likely be more often except there's one near the hospital where she works, so she regularly gets her "fix" at lunch or dinner, depending on her shift). Actually, IMO, that's the best thing on the menu; their chicken is a bit bland to me. I think that the chain persists simply because it supplies "standard American" food for those wanting to stick with familiar fare -- or maybe simply as part of a "rotation" through various cuisines.
Quote from: sparker on January 08, 2019, 03:49:06 AM
^^^^^^^^
My GF really likes Boston Market's meatloaf, so I pick up take-out from them about once every 4-6 weeks (would likely be more often except there's one near the hospital where she works, so she regularly gets her "fix" at lunch or dinner, depending on her shift). Actually, IMO, that's the best thing on the menu; their chicken is a bit bland to me. I think that the chain persists simply because it supplies "standard American" food for those wanting to stick with familiar fare -- or maybe simply as part of a "rotation" through various cuisines.
When I would get food from there, it was always a meatloaf sandwich and a side of macaroni and cheese.
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 08, 2019, 09:38:43 AM
Quote from: sparker on January 08, 2019, 03:49:06 AM
^^^^^^^^
My GF really likes Boston Market's meatloaf, so I pick up take-out from them about once every 4-6 weeks (would likely be more often except there's one near the hospital where she works, so she regularly gets her "fix" at lunch or dinner, depending on her shift). Actually, IMO, that's the best thing on the menu; their chicken is a bit bland to me. I think that the chain persists simply because it supplies "standard American" food for those wanting to stick with familiar fare -- or maybe simply as part of a "rotation" through various cuisines.
When I would get food from there, it was always a meatloaf sandwich and a side of macaroni and cheese.
Wow -- you're prescient! That's her basic lunch fare at Boston Market (
nobody refers to it by its initials for obvious reasons!). Add to that an iced tea and you've got the basic package!
In Arkansas news today, Minute Man is planning a return.
https://www.prweb.com/releases/minute_man_to_minute_men_a_legendary_arkansas_restaurant_franchise_plans_a_comeback/prweb16024479.htm
"Remember, when you're hungry, it only takes a Minute Man."
I'll have the Hickory Burger with no cheese, fries, and a radar pie. And a Coke.
Quote from: US71 on January 16, 2019, 11:00:54 PM
In Arkansas news today, Minute Man is planning a return.
https://www.prweb.com/releases/minute_man_to_minute_men_a_legendary_arkansas_restaurant_franchise_plans_a_comeback/prweb16024479.htm
"Remember, when you're hungry, it only takes a Minute Man."
I'll have the Hickory Burger with no cheese, fries, and a radar pie. And a Coke.
Radar pie? (queues that Golden Earring song)
Quote from: SectorZ on January 06, 2019, 02:16:39 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
They filed for Chapter 11 20 years ago and have hung on despite near complete irrelevance. I've never heard someone in my life ever even utter the name, and to this day I've never been in one despite its formation being a mere 20 miles from me. I swear like Mattress Firm it's a front or something.
There use to be one in Bay City, MI several years ago but it's been closed for several years too. I don't think I've ever ate at a Boston Market.
Apparently Deptford, NJ is home to the one and only remaining Don Pablos! They were down to 5 a few months ago, and it appears the other 4 closed. Their headquarters remains in Texas, per their website.
Why is Deptford the only remaining one? Absolutely no idea. It's not especially busy other than during normal busy times for all restuarants, and there isn't an unusual ethnic population that would normally frequent that one. There's very few Mexican restaurants in the area, unless you want to consider Taco Bell down the road (ironically, next to a Boston Market as we've also discussed recently). Their other 4 restaurants which they closed were in Texas, somewhat near their headquarters!
So, I don't really foresee the Deptford location remaining around very long, but it's interesting nonetheless. It appears their parent company is Food Management Partners http://www.foodmps.com/our-divisions/ , which has a vast portfolio of restaurants, although many of them have had closures recently.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on January 16, 2019, 11:33:15 PM
Quote from: US71 on January 16, 2019, 11:00:54 PM
In Arkansas news today, Minute Man is planning a return.
https://www.prweb.com/releases/minute_man_to_minute_men_a_legendary_arkansas_restaurant_franchise_plans_a_comeback/prweb16024479.htm
"Remember, when you're hungry, it only takes a Minute Man."
I'll have the Hickory Burger with no cheese, fries, and a radar pie. And a Coke.
Radar pie? (queues that Golden Earring song)
One of the first restaurants to feature microwave pies
Quote from: abefroman329 on January 01, 2019, 07:15:49 AM
Quote from: GenExpwy on January 01, 2019, 02:51:36 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 31, 2018, 07:57:29 AM
Quote from: 1 on December 30, 2018, 10:37:03 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on December 30, 2018, 10:35:32 PM
Why is Boston Market still around?
Why wouldn't they be? While I don't personally go there, there's nothing wrong with them.
They were a bit on the fence in the 1990's, especially when they expanded from Boston Chicken to Boston Market, but actually rebounded nicely and serve a quality product. They probably were a little bit ahead of their time when fast food was still the go-to takeout food, but when the fast-casual type restaurants started infiltrating the market, such as Chipotles and Panara Breads, Boston Market fell right into line with them.
As I recall, it was the dazzling, red-hot growth chain of the late 1980s / early '90s, because it made rotisserie chicken a Big Thing. Then in the late '90s every supermarket in the United States added an in-store rotisserie, which sucked the life out of Boston Market.
Hey, at least they found a way to survive, as compared to Kenny Rogers Roasters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Rogers_Roasters
https://www.berjaya.com/inquiry.php
https://www.berjaya.com/food-beverage.php
As of 2019 an investment group called Berjaya of Malaysia owns the name Kenny Rogers Roasters even though they no longer exist in the USA.
Anyone still seeing Toys 'R' Us signs around? Because I am.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on March 24, 2019, 12:27:07 AM
Anyone still seeing Toys 'R' Us signs around? Because I am.
Yes.
To add to the defunct (or soon to be) list: Charlotte Russe (closing), Crazy 8/Gymboree (closing), Rogers Jewelers (closing)
Quote from: US71 on March 25, 2019, 09:40:12 AM
Quote from: D-Dey65 on March 24, 2019, 12:27:07 AM
Anyone still seeing Toys 'R' Us signs around? Because I am.
Yes.
To add to the defunct (or soon to be) list: Charlotte Russe (closing), Crazy 8/Gymboree (closing), Rogers Jewelers (closing)
And the soon to be defunct ShopKo.
Longstanding discount grocery chain Shoppers Food Warehouse here in the DC area will be closing their stores sometime this year after their parent company decided to leave the grocery business. I think they're the third- or fourth-largest grocery store chain in the DC area (Giant still far and away the leader, I think Safeway is second).
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 25, 2019, 11:07:09 AM
Longstanding discount grocery chain Shoppers Food Warehouse here in the DC area will be closing their stores sometime this year after their parent company decided to leave the grocery business. I think they're the third- or fourth-largest grocery store chain in the DC area (Giant still far and away the leader, I think Safeway is second).
I would think they were also facing stiff competition from Aldi and Lidl.
Quote from: abefroman329 on March 25, 2019, 11:10:29 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 25, 2019, 11:07:09 AM
Longstanding discount grocery chain Shoppers Food Warehouse here in the DC area will be closing their stores sometime this year after their parent company decided to leave the grocery business. I think they're the third- or fourth-largest grocery store chain in the DC area (Giant still far and away the leader, I think Safeway is second).
I would think they were also facing stiff competition from Aldi and Lidl.
I don't know how stiff the competition is. There have been more Aldi stores opening, but geographically they don't seem to overlap most of the Shoppers locations, at least not the ones with which I'm familiar.
I went to an Aldi once (the one in Springfield when it first opened). Don't feel much need to go there again.
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 25, 2019, 11:13:58 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on March 25, 2019, 11:10:29 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 25, 2019, 11:07:09 AM
Longstanding discount grocery chain Shoppers Food Warehouse here in the DC area will be closing their stores sometime this year after their parent company decided to leave the grocery business. I think they're the third- or fourth-largest grocery store chain in the DC area (Giant still far and away the leader, I think Safeway is second).
I would think they were also facing stiff competition from Aldi and Lidl.
I don't know how stiff the competition is. There have been more Aldi stores opening, but geographically they don't seem to overlap most of the Shoppers locations, at least not the ones with which I'm familiar.
I went to an Aldi once (the one in Springfield when it first opened). Don't feel much need to go there again.
I think I prefer Aldi to SFW, even though you can't necessarily get all of the groceries you need at Aldi.
There's a very SFW-esque chain here called Food4Less, although they're owned by Kroger.
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 25, 2019, 11:13:58 AM
Quote from: abefroman329 on March 25, 2019, 11:10:29 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on March 25, 2019, 11:07:09 AM
Longstanding discount grocery chain Shoppers Food Warehouse here in the DC area will be closing their stores sometime this year after their parent company decided to leave the grocery business. I think they're the third- or fourth-largest grocery store chain in the DC area (Giant still far and away the leader, I think Safeway is second).
I would think they were also facing stiff competition from Aldi and Lidl.
I don't know how stiff the competition is. There have been more Aldi stores opening, but geographically they don't seem to overlap most of the Shoppers locations, at least not the ones with which I'm familiar.
I went to an Aldi once (the one in Springfield when it first opened). Don't feel much need to go there again.
Aldi and similar grocery stores seem to have no middle ground. People either swear by it or go once and never again.
My family does half our shopping at Aldi and half at the local Kroger iteration, depending on the grocery item. There are plenty of items we actually prefer from Aldi, not to mention the savings.
As for not being able to get everything you need there, that's very true for our family, which is why we do half our shopping at another store. But we're good friends with a family who makes a point to not cook with anything they can't get at Aldi. All it takes is some creativity, I guess.
Noticed this in Fresno: Circuit City became Furniture City. (https://goo.gl/maps/9wJNonKpcy12) Slight reduction in technology.
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on April 04, 2019, 12:33:51 AM
Noticed this in Fresno: Circuit City became Furniture City. (https://goo.gl/maps/9wJNonKpcy12) Slight reduction in technology.
On that note, changes in technology have rendered some types of furniture obsolete, or changed radically. Desks do not need to be as large as before, large cabinets for televisions and living rooms have fallen out of vogue, and telephone stands are a thing of the past. Of course, you can still re-purpose these things or press them into service for another method of holding and presenting all your stuff.
Quote from: formulanone on April 04, 2019, 07:42:32 AM
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on April 04, 2019, 12:33:51 AM
Noticed this in Fresno: Circuit City became Furniture City. (https://goo.gl/maps/9wJNonKpcy12) Slight reduction in technology.
On that note, changes in technology have rendered some types of furniture obsolete, or changed radically. Desks do not need to be as large as before, large cabinets for televisions and living rooms have fallen out of vogue, and telephone stands are a thing of the past. Of course, you can still re-purpose these things or press them into service for another method of holding and presenting all your stuff.
On the other hand, many pieces of furniture have quite a bit of modern technology in them. Many recliners are electric, with both foot rests and head tilting features. USB ports are common, and some integrate outlets into storage areas. One nice couch I saw recently has massaging capabilities and chilled cup holders as well.
We have a power recliner we bought shortly before the birth of our son, and the USB port is a pretty neat feature, especially since we don't really have any other phone chargers in our living room, and my wife and I spent A LOT of time in that recliner back when he would really only sleep on one of us.
I also installed electrical outlets with USB ports in our bedroom, and that's a pretty nifty trick too; no need for a sync cable and a plug, just need the cable.
Quote from: ErmineNotyours on April 04, 2019, 12:33:51 AM
Noticed this in Fresno: Circuit City became Furniture City. (https://goo.gl/maps/9wJNonKpcy12) Slight reduction in technology.
Well, at least they fabricated some new letters (and did a reasonably decent job at it, too–I'm somewhat impressed).
In a similar situation, after Borders went out of business, a location on 19th Ave. in San Francisco became "ODE" –a used bookstore–by simply removing a few letters. The "Books - Music - Cafe" subhead was kept as-is.
(https://static01.nyt.com/images/2011/10/10/technology/10bits-ode/10bits-ode-blog480.jpg)
But keeping an old sign on a new business is nothing new. The Sheraton hotel chain–today having hundreds of locations around the world–is so named because the owners of a small Massachusetts hotel chain (back in the '30s) bought a hotel in Boston with huge letters atop spelling "SHERATON HOTEL" . The owners couldn't afford to change the rooftop sign, so they decided to rename their other hotels (and their company) Sheraton. Thus this "second hand" name was spread around the world.
Tops Appliance City in the NY Metro Area was a one store location that was originally on Route 27 in Edison, NJ. When he opened his second store in Brooklyn on Cropsey Avenue and then another (I think in Kew Gardens, Queens) he went belly up completely.
He also was one to refer to his competitors as "Dirtbags" as his later catchphrase was "Don't buy appliances from a dirtbag! Come to Tops!"
Who is old enough to remember JGE Appliances in New York? Hey Jerry, what's the story? I think he went belly up over a scandal of bad quality merchandise. Jerry Rosenthal or Rosenburg ran that outfit for union members as you had to be in a union to shop there.
[Merged posts. -S.]
Sound Playground was an electronics/appliances chain in Connecticut. Their TV ads often featured character actor Michael Vale. I met him at a Panasonic event there in August of 1991. It was the Newington, CT location. Cool guy. Most people remembered him as Fred the Baker in the old school Dunkin' Donuts commercials. ("Time to make the donuts!")
Did they not have any locations in MA? Like in Springfield? The Sound Playground commercials played on Springfield TV stations as well.
I think they were in NEWINGTON (northbound side of Berlin Turnpike before the Wethersfield town line), Orange and West Springfield, MA.
Orange? Really? Back then? Orange was cruddier back then than it is now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylcy9ZgzN8E
YUP! Forgot they were also in Norwich for a time, too!
Perkins/Marie Callendar files for bankruptcy. https://www.nbc15.com/content/news/Perkins-in-Janesville-closes-doors--521604931.html
Looks like Barney's New York may be joining these ranks here.
https://www.jckonline.com/editorial-article/bankrupt-barneys-looking-buyer/
Kmart in Central Florida is defunct. I am surprised they still have stores in other markets.
Not a chain, but definitely defunct. For those of you who drove NY 17 through Orange County, NY probably remember the historic Red Apple Rest.
http://roadarch.com/05/5/rest3.jpg
Quote from: roadman65 on April 05, 2019, 10:46:37 PM
He also was one to refer to his competitors as "Dirtbags" as his later catchphrase was "Don't buy appliances from a dirtbag! Come to Tops!"
Some people in my family used to suspect that one of the "dirtbags" in those commercials was A.J. Richards, or one of his sons. My mother used to work for P.C. Richards' customer service department.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 05, 2019, 10:46:37 PM
Who is old enough to remember JGE Appliances in New York? Hey Jerry, what's the story? I think he went belly up over a scandal of bad quality merchandise. Jerry Rosenthal or Rosenburg ran that outfit for union members as you had to be in a union to shop there.
Not only am I old enough, I actually created the Wikipedia article on Rosenberg. There's still a lot of info missing on the guy.
And a fast-growing one appears headed for bankruptcy.
Teen clothing retailer Forever 21 reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy (https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/29/business/forever-21-bankruptcy-trnd/index.html)
Quote from: Brandon on August 30, 2019, 04:19:01 PM
And a fast-growing one appears headed for bankruptcy.
Teen clothing retailer Forever 21 reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy (https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/29/business/forever-21-bankruptcy-trnd/index.html)
This has been rumored for some time now, nothing new.
Quote from: kevinb1994 on August 31, 2019, 08:18:13 AM
Quote from: Brandon on August 30, 2019, 04:19:01 PM
And a fast-growing one appears headed for bankruptcy.
Teen clothing retailer Forever 21 reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy (https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/29/business/forever-21-bankruptcy-trnd/index.html)
This has been rumored for some time now, nothing new.
Big difference between rumor and reality.
All those boutique chains use child laborers, maybe even from the same manufacturers.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on September 01, 2019, 09:10:27 PM
All those boutique chains use contractors who may or may not use child laborers, maybe even from the same manufacturers.
FIFY. They never make the apparel themselves.
Quote from: Brandon on September 01, 2019, 09:57:33 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on September 01, 2019, 09:10:27 PM
All those boutique chains use contractors who may or may not use child laborers, maybe even from the same manufacturers.
FIFY. They never make the apparel themselves.
American Apparel did, until Gilead bought them out.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on September 02, 2019, 11:56:00 AM
Quote from: Brandon on September 01, 2019, 09:57:33 PM
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on September 01, 2019, 09:10:27 PM
All those boutique chains use contractors who may or may not use child laborers, maybe even from the same manufacturers.
FIFY. They never make the apparel themselves.
American Apparel did, until Gilead bought them out.
However, they typically boasted of making their apparel in LA.
Golden Skillet and Steak & Eggs. Two greasy spoons that bit the dust, though the former had one in Hackettstown, NJ even when I left there in 1990. Do not know if that one is still around as that was one of the few left.
Pappy's Pizza in DE and PA went under, but I believe that Johnstown, PA still has the one and only left.
Chesapeake Seafood House was a chain in VA and PA, but closed all but one and the one left was in the Potomac Mills Mall parking lot near Dale City, VA.
How about this defunct Ross type of store in New York.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 11, 2019, 12:00:43 AM
How about this defunct Ross type of store in New York.
Mays is in real estate now.
http://www.jwmays.com/
Speaking of Ross, I once suspected the Ross department stores might've been affiliated with Ross Bicycles.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on September 13, 2019, 02:34:32 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 11, 2019, 12:00:43 AM
How about this defunct Ross type of store in New York.
Mays is in real estate now.
http://www.jwmays.com/
Speaking of Ross, I once suspected the Ross department stores might've been affiliated with Ross Bicycles.
Just like Two Guys went into Real Estate where the money is.
Speaking of Mays, I was trying to find the older commercials of theirs, where it has a verse to the jingle and features a TV on the fritz and the man trying to watch it throwing a magazine at it. That was the best of their ads.
Schottenstein's/Value City also left discount retail for real estate. The Value City Furniture stores have remained active though.
Quote from: GCrites80s on September 15, 2019, 01:10:43 PM
Schottenstein's/Value City also left discount retail for real estate. The Value City Furniture stores have remained active though.
When I moved to Danville, VA in 2011, I was told there used to be a Value City here at the Danville Plaza shopping center on US-58 Business (Riverside Drive). The space is now Dan River Church. The only other tenant left there is the Salvation Army. The empty space to the right of it was a Harris Teeter until it closed in 2010.
Given that the Dan River is literally right behind the shopping center, it's no mystery why the place is dead.
Wow, I didn't know Value City had locations that far from the Columbus HQ. I can't recall their footprint.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on February 22, 2020, 04:54:07 PM
Slightly OT, where's that thread on defunct gas stations, and restaurants, and what not? Because I swear I spotted an OTB in Wikimedia Commons that looks like it used to be an old Howard Johnson's.
Okay, this is the thread I was looking for.
Is it just me or does this OTB in Louisiana look like an old Howard Johnsons?
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KennerLAFairGroundsOTB.JPG
Quote from: D-Dey65 on February 22, 2020, 11:31:54 PM
Okay, this is the thread I was looking for.
Is it just me or does this OTB in Louisiana look like an old Howard Johnsons?
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KennerLAFairGroundsOTB.JPG
Because of its orange-ish roof and cupola, it does have a bit of that look, but I'm pretty confident that it was never a Howard Johnson's.
Howard Johnson's restaurant layouts were quite standardized, either being the early colonial type (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/b05a2mWFbIaN3oAt4pl-w3xdCHJk0g_3Ykr3jwr--YE01yUAOb7uRKHK35trgGAFZMsJF3AJVFcC1mWq4bNGblzwhAwgigNKI5Wtml9rMntConTYiz9BKIoFWpbZWxGoZSiPJFa3QVs), the '50s/'60s Nims type (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/teU-AdS2uj6-u_Uxugj20ERCxDc-JSXZmezT1YSV7HSgzM1FWhYguuNpBPt77Okbglw80_q2IT90VxOLY-FdFXRSAxIOWJOSZLXXtMaYKu6FHv9jsuE-7BKZhGjx) (by far what most people remember), the rare "Concept '65" type (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/cpbYvGINeYToJxr9ebq_Db1YKjHXlGIOWrisXq7r8t_iXyFNrf2N0Nw4Yi_bbvEaRz2f8vd4tmZwMCs_lyq8GtHw02twyAoxAC5VQOYgZSR1IHMLPrx3JXb5i5IY2zrCFiKE), or the late mansard type (http://www.highwayhost.org/Florida/Keys/KeyLargo/2-16-2004/keylargo12.jpg). The OTB has some flavors of a few of Howard Johnson's different design eras, but it doesn't really fit into any of them.
The rather authoritative America's Landmark (http://www.highwayhost.org/Stategateways/louisiana.html) Howard Johnson's history website lists that Louisiana only had two standalone restaurants (i.e. not attached to a motor lodge), and both of those were in New Orleans.
Nice site. I wish all the links worked. They've even got the one in Medford, New York (http://www.highwayhost.org/NewYork/Restaurants/restaurant1.htm#Medford) which was converted into an IHOP, although I actually know the fate of that one.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8224087,-72.9973072,3a,75y,100.78h,99.46t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s4ZbEUh0Wdbam-e68yai-4w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D4ZbEUh0Wdbam-e68yai-4w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D278.46545%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8224087,-72.9973072,3a,75y,100.78h,99.46t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s4ZbEUh0Wdbam-e68yai-4w!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D4ZbEUh0Wdbam-e68yai-4w%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dsearch.revgeo_and_fetch.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D96%26h%3D64%26yaw%3D278.46545%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en)
As you can see, it's a mini-mall containing a Starbucks, a subshop, a hookah den, a frozen yogurt shop, etcetera.
Quote from: roadman65 on August 10, 2019, 12:24:51 AM
Not a chain, but definitely defunct. For those of you who drove NY 17 through Orange County, NY probably remember the historic Red Apple Rest.
http://roadarch.com/05/5/rest3.jpg
There's a book about the Red Apple Rest in my Kindle queue.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200301/358482f976433937bc30e66e7012aacc.jpg)
Stuckeys with their $1.99 breakfast! They were still around here in Florida as late as 1994 in Sanford, Florida.
Quote from: roadman65 on March 01, 2020, 11:14:07 PM
Stuckeys... They were still around here in Florida as late as 1994
While the company is certainly well off its peak of 350+ locations in the late '60s, Stuckey's (https://stuckeys.com) isn't defunct, having over 100 locations still in operation–several in Florida.
Quote from: briantroutman on March 01, 2020, 11:59:59 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on March 01, 2020, 11:14:07 PM
Stuckeys... They were still around here in Florida as late as 1994
While the company is certainly well off its peak of 350+ locations in the late '60s, Stuckey's (https://stuckeys.com) isn't defunct, having over 100 locations still in operation–several in Florida.
Including a boat load along the I-75 corridor in southern Georgia
There was one on US 13 north of the CBBT.
But I think the one in Breezewood is no longer. It was part of a gas station.
Quote from: briantroutman on March 01, 2020, 11:59:59 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on March 01, 2020, 11:14:07 PM
Stuckeys... They were still around here in Florida as late as 1994
While the company is certainly well off its peak of 350+ locations in the late '60s, Stuckey's (https://stuckeys.com) isn't defunct, having over 100 locations still in operation–several in Florida.
A lot seem to be sharing space with DQ's.
Quote from: Rothman on March 02, 2020, 06:05:20 PM
There was one on US 13 north of the CBBT.
But I think the one in Breezewood is no longer. It was part of a gas station.
The one on US 13 is still there (near Mappsville VA). Usually stop there when I travel that way; as recently as a few months ago.
It's for old time's sake. When a kid in the early 1970's on family vacations we always stopped at Stuckey's since back then it was usually the only restaurant right at the interstate, and Dad didn't want to wander more than a quarter mile or so from the interstate. Plus since they all were similar, we knew what we were getting.
Quote from: GCrites80s on September 16, 2019, 09:20:13 PM
Wow, I didn't know Value City had locations that far from the Columbus HQ. I can't recall their footprint.
Most of the Value City stores in Detroit was former Crowley's Dept. stores. Crowley's was a competitor to Hudsons in Detroit.
Quote from: cwf1701 on March 03, 2020, 01:07:40 PM
Quote from: GCrites80s on September 16, 2019, 09:20:13 PM
Wow, I didn't know Value City had locations that far from the Columbus HQ. I can't recall their footprint.
Most of the Value City stores in Detroit was former Crowley's Dept. stores. Crowley's was a competitor to Hudsons in Detroit.
Value City, especially in their later years when they were mostly clothing, are like what Ross Stores are today.
And like Value City, I never shop at Ross because most of the product (at least at my local store) are styles and sizes I wouldnt wear, and the store itself is so messy, with boxed iteams and shoes picked thru and mismatched.
Spe-Dee Mart c-stores (based in Johnson, AR). When the owner died, they were assimilated by EZ Mart. EZ Mart has been sold to GPM, but still retain the old name
Zayre I remember but where they were I cant recall.
Its odd them and Jamesway both went out almost together. Jamesway was NY area with warehouse and distribution in Cranbury, NJ seen from the NJ Turnpike.
There was a Zayre in Hadley, MA.
I recall there being at least one Zayre in Northern Virginia. I believe it was at the Eden Center near Seven Corners. There may have been another on Edsall Road where the Sullivan Place condos are now, just off I-395.
I recall the Jamesway chain roadman65 mentions (and the warehouse visible from the Turnpike). As I recall, their TV jingle went "At Jaaaameswaaaay, we care about YOU!" One of those ubiquitous annoying jingles you heard constantly.
I want to say that Zayre was based in Rocky Hill, CT. They more or less were Ames later on. Ames was definitely based there! My mother once worked part time at an old Zayre store in Biddeford, ME (1985-86 or so).
Quote from: KEVIN_224 on March 04, 2020, 07:59:32 PM
I want to say that Zayre was based in Rocky Hill, CT. They more or less were Ames later on. Ames was definitely based there! My mother once worked part time at an old Zayre store in Biddeford, ME (1985-86 or so).
Ames bought Zayre's from TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and Home Goods. Their headquarters, as it is today, was in Natick right off the Pike Exit 13 (future 117). Most of the Zayre's locations did become Ames. I know the one on Queen St in Southington did (which is now mostly Bob's Furniture and a portion of Bed Bath & Beyond), as did one on East Main St in Meriden (now a defunct Lowe's). Pretty sure there was also one in Copaco Shopping Center in Bloomfield, because I remember having to go there to get my first real bike as a kid because Southington didn't have it in stock.
Ames' problem was they expanded too fast when they bought Hills. I remember watching a postgame wrap up from the RCA Dome in Indy and seeing an Ames billboard behind the announcers. I also went to one in Timonium, MD. Little by little, they started closing from the nether regions in toward CT, and by 2002, they were gone.
The Zayre closed in Hadley, MA. It was at one end of a strip mall and Stop & Shop was at the other. Stop & Shop turned Zayre's space into a Super Stop & Shop and Stop and Shop's old space became mostly a liquor store (Liquor 44).
Art Van Furniture, which started in Detroit with a single store in 1959 and eventually grew to 200 stores in Michigan and several other states, is shutting down operations. Liquidation sales begin March 6.
The original owner's family sold the company to an equity firm in 2017. I guess they got out at the right time.
https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/art-van-going-out-business-liquidation-sales-to-start-friday
AFIAK there was never a Zayre in CT, only Ames.
Quote from: catch22 on March 05, 2020, 10:17:04 AM
Art Van Furniture, which started in Detroit with a single store in 1959 and eventually grew to 200 stores in Michigan and several other states, is shutting down operations. Liquidation sales begin March 6.
The original owner's family sold the company to an equity firm in 2017. I guess they got out at the right time.
https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/art-van-going-out-business-liquidation-sales-to-start-friday
Apparently some Art Van stores will remain open. I was expecting to see the Evansville, IN store announce their closing, but the reports yesterday afternoon were that it would remain open. It is supposedly one of a couple of dozen franchise stores.
Speaking of defunct, I saw a Radio Shack still open in Southwest Florida. Even though the parent corporation went under, private owned franchises still remain in few places.
Benningans did that one when the parent company of Steak & Ale and Benningans filed for bankruptcy had franchises issued, but the one in Lake Buena Vista, FL still closed a few years later. Do not know if Benningan franchises are still around elsewhere as in Central Florida that was the only one that was after going under.
Quote from: roadman65 on March 07, 2020, 11:55:09 AM
Benningans did that one when the parent company of Steak & Ale and Benningans filed for bankruptcy had franchises issued, but the one in Lake Buena Vista, FL still closed a few years later. Do not know if Benningan franchises are still around elsewhere as in Central Florida that was the only one that was after going under.
Including one in Florida (Melbourne), the Benningan website shows a total of 11 still in existence.
Shells was another one thought to be defunct, but there is still the original in Tampa and one in Melbourne still open. Shells was a regional chain in Florida serving seafood. It used to have many around the center of the state.
Quote from: Life in Paradise on March 06, 2020, 01:05:53 PM
Quote from: catch22 on March 05, 2020, 10:17:04 AM
Art Van Furniture, which started in Detroit with a single store in 1959 and eventually grew to 200 stores in Michigan and several other states, is shutting down operations. Liquidation sales begin March 6.
The original owner's family sold the company to an equity firm in 2017. I guess they got out at the right time.
https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/articles/news/art-van-going-out-business-liquidation-sales-to-start-friday
Apparently some Art Van stores will remain open. I was expecting to see the Evansville, IN store announce their closing, but the reports yesterday afternoon were that it would remain open. It is supposedly one of a couple of dozen franchise stores.
Looks like the franchisees will have a rather short window (60 days or so) to stop using the Art Van name, according to this article. I always thought all the stores were company-owned.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/these-art-van-stores-dont-plan-close-though-sign-out-front-will-have-change
Quote from: catch22 on March 07, 2020, 01:21:50 PM
Looks like the franchisees will have a rather short window (60 days or so) to stop using the Art Van name, according to this article. I always thought all the stores were company-owned.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/these-art-van-stores-dont-plan-close-though-sign-out-front-will-have-change
Your link lurks behind a paywall.
Quote from: renegade on March 08, 2020, 11:18:31 AM
Quote from: catch22 on March 07, 2020, 01:21:50 PM
Looks like the franchisees will have a rather short window (60 days or so) to stop using the Art Van name, according to this article. I always thought all the stores were company-owned.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/these-art-van-stores-dont-plan-close-though-sign-out-front-will-have-change
Your link lurks behind a paywall.
Odd. Works for me just fine (just checked it). No clue as to why it would be different.
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on March 05, 2020, 09:43:08 PM
AFIAK there was never a Zayre in CT, only Ames.
There was one in East Hartford near the CT 3 approach: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecaldorrainbow/2327013258
It changed to Ames, and now there's a Home Depot.
Stumbled across this Zayre's ad which looks like one of the fake commercials in
Robocop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J11dHKFReVc
"I'd buy that for a dollar!"
Can I now un-see that ad? Damn you! (Ha ha!) Don't make me send those Two Guys after you! ;)
Turning here because I cannot find it.
Looking for any information on a gas station chain/oil company in central PA, probably 20-25 years ago
Problem is, the name is BEST, so searching is very, very hard because I just get a million top ten lists and Angie's list type stuff.
The logo was very plain, white rectangle, BEST in blue with a red bar above and below. Possibly reverse the blue/red.
There was one at 4106 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown, PA 17059. This is now a Gulf station.
Does anyone happen to remember BEST gas stations?
The Downtown Seattle location for Macy's recently closed, but it was known for much longer as the flagship store of The Bon Marche. The Bon was a Northwest institution and had a classic advertising jingle played on TV sets around the region:
Quote from: sbeaver44 on March 08, 2020, 10:06:26 PM
Looking for any information on a gas station chain/oil company in central PA, probably 20-25 years ago
...
The logo was very plain, white rectangle, BEST in blue with a red bar above and below. Possibly reverse the blue/red.
As a Central PA native, I don't remember seeing BEST in my travels around the state back then. That's not saying that I absolutely
didn't see it, but if I did, it must not have made much of an impression. My guess is that it may have registered in my mental files as "cheap off-brand gas station" along the lines of "US Gas (https://m.citizensvoice.com/polopoly_fs/1.2340551!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_700/image.jpg)" and similarly generic names I've seen slapped onto an old Amoco or Texaco by a small-time operator to keep the gasoline flowing.
But out of curiosity, I searched through Trademarkia for any trademark registrations of "BEST" for the purposes of retailing gasoline. I found this record (https://trademark.trademarkia.com/best-73112717.html)–registered by Total Petroleum in 1977 and which expired in 1998. Unfortunately, the trademark record doesn't have an image attached, as many do.
Quote from: catch22 on March 08, 2020, 02:08:28 PM
Quote from: renegade on March 08, 2020, 11:18:31 AM
Quote from: catch22 on March 07, 2020, 01:21:50 PM
Looks like the franchisees will have a rather short window (60 days or so) to stop using the Art Van name, according to this article. I always thought all the stores were company-owned.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/these-art-van-stores-dont-plan-close-though-sign-out-front-will-have-change
Your link lurks behind a paywall.
Odd. Works for me just fine (just checked it). No clue as to why it would be different.
Cookies? I've blocked cookies on a couple of sites that cut you off after only viewing a certain number of stories per month and nag you for a subscription, and it works well.
Quote from: hbelkins on March 09, 2020, 12:09:39 PM
Quote from: catch22 on March 08, 2020, 02:08:28 PM
Quote from: renegade on March 08, 2020, 11:18:31 AM
Quote from: catch22 on March 07, 2020, 01:21:50 PM
Looks like the franchisees will have a rather short window (60 days or so) to stop using the Art Van name, according to this article. I always thought all the stores were company-owned.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/these-art-van-stores-dont-plan-close-though-sign-out-front-will-have-change
Your link lurks behind a paywall.
Odd. Works for me just fine (just checked it). No clue as to why it would be different.
Cookies? I've blocked cookies on a couple of sites that cut you off after only viewing a certain number of stories per month and nag you for a subscription, and it works well.
I've done that before as well. Could also be something to do with using a user's location based on IP addresses.
Quote from: catch22 on March 10, 2020, 07:58:51 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on March 09, 2020, 12:09:39 PM
Quote from: catch22 on March 08, 2020, 02:08:28 PM
Quote from: renegade on March 08, 2020, 11:18:31 AM
Quote from: catch22 on March 07, 2020, 01:21:50 PM
Looks like the franchisees will have a rather short window (60 days or so) to stop using the Art Van name, according to this article. I always thought all the stores were company-owned.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/these-art-van-stores-dont-plan-close-though-sign-out-front-will-have-change
Your link lurks behind a paywall.
Odd. Works for me just fine (just checked it). No clue as to why it would be different.
Cookies? I've blocked cookies on a couple of sites that cut you off after only viewing a certain number of stories per month and nag you for a subscription, and it works well.
I've done that before as well. Could also be something to do with using a user's location based on IP addresses.
That's what private/incognito mode is for.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on March 10, 2020, 10:59:27 AM
Quote from: catch22 on March 10, 2020, 07:58:51 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on March 09, 2020, 12:09:39 PM
Quote from: catch22 on March 08, 2020, 02:08:28 PM
Quote from: renegade on March 08, 2020, 11:18:31 AM
Quote from: catch22 on March 07, 2020, 01:21:50 PM
Looks like the franchisees will have a rather short window (60 days or so) to stop using the Art Van name, according to this article. I always thought all the stores were company-owned.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/retail/these-art-van-stores-dont-plan-close-though-sign-out-front-will-have-change
Your link lurks behind a paywall.
Odd. Works for me just fine (just checked it). No clue as to why it would be different.
Cookies? I've blocked cookies on a couple of sites that cut you off after only viewing a certain number of stories per month and nag you for a subscription, and it works well.
I've done that before as well. Could also be something to do with using a user's location based on IP addresses.
That's what private/incognito mode is for.
But ... I'm in ...
Detroit!
Quote from: sbeaver44 on March 08, 2020, 10:06:26 PM
Turning here because I cannot find it.
Looking for any information on a gas station chain/oil company in central PA, probably 20-25 years ago
Problem is, the name is BEST, so searching is very, very hard because I just get a million top ten lists and Angie's list type stuff.
The logo was very plain, white rectangle, BEST in blue with a red bar above and below. Possibly reverse the blue/red.
There was one at 4106 William Penn Highway, Mifflintown, PA 17059. This is now a Gulf station.
Does anyone happen to remember BEST gas stations?
This is what I remember the logo being(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200311/16ea506119f4b3f747041be876914c72.jpg)
Did I mention that I found out the All-American Hamburger Drive-In in Massapequa used to be a chain? I think I did.
Another Ponderosa location bites the dust. The one in Hazard, Ky., which by all indications was doing extremely well, announced Friday that it will not be reopening. This restaurant got some notoriety because they posted on their marquee "Closed Due To Governor" when the governor ordered dine-in restaurants closed back in mid-March.
Sweet Tomatoes / Souplantation announces the permanent shutdown of all 97 stores (they have been closed since March).
https://sweettomatoes.com
Damn. Didn't have one near me but Sweet Tomatoes are usually one of my go tos for lunch when travelling for business.
Quote from: formulanone on May 09, 2020, 07:57:10 AM
Sweet Tomatoes / Souplantation announces the permanent shutdown of all 97 stores (they have been closed since March).
https://sweettomatoes.com
They filed bankruptcy not too long ago, so they were already in trouble. COVID-19 just finished them off.
A lot of people think buffets will be especially screwed by COVID-19, but I've seen enough memes of people who can't wait for Chinese buffets to reopen that I'm not so sure.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 09, 2020, 11:24:51 AM
A lot of people think buffets will be especially screwed by COVID-19, but I've seen enough memes of people who can't wait for Chinese buffets to reopen that I'm not so sure.
Chinese buffets make me ill. I used to frequent Golden Corral
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 09, 2020, 11:24:51 AM
A lot of people think buffets will be especially screwed by COVID-19, but I've seen enough memes of people who can't wait for Chinese buffets to reopen that I'm not so sure.
What I heard from family is that Chinese restaurants are opening up, but the buffet is still closed, so it's all menu-ordering.
JC Penney's filing for bankruptcy. No word yet on what stores will be closing.
Sweet Tomatoes announced yesterday (5/8) that they're shutting down all 70-odd of their remaining restaurants immediately -- closing for good. This is probably the likely fate for restaurants that rely on the salad/soup/breakfast bar approach; en masse self-service in general is unlikely to survive this pandemic, especially if it continues to be problematic (if not overwhelming) over time. This is likely to bode pretty well for table-service restaurants in the mid-term; greater control over customer contact points. Of all the places that fit that format -- and are established as traveler-oriented -- Perkins might come out of this in good shape; wouldn't be surprised if they wind up expanding their outlets over a wider region (maybe out West or farther south than they've previously ventured). And if they 86 their minimalist and not universal salad bars, Denny's might even come out of this more viable than before.
Quote from: US71 on May 09, 2020, 12:13:05 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 09, 2020, 11:24:51 AM
A lot of people think buffets will be especially screwed by COVID-19, but I've seen enough memes of people who can't wait for Chinese buffets to reopen that I'm not so sure.
Chinese buffets make me ill. I used to frequent Golden Corral
Sweet Tomatoes is gone. Golden Corral and the rest of the geezer-friendly family buffets are next.
I can also just about guarantee that the buffets in Nevada hotel/casinos are gone, probably never to return. The hotels shut them down even before the gambling shutdown. I can't see them reopening until COVID-19 is completely eradicated. That won't be in the foreseeable future.
Quote from: KeithE4Phx on May 09, 2020, 09:48:31 PM
Quote from: US71 on May 09, 2020, 12:13:05 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 09, 2020, 11:24:51 AM
A lot of people think buffets will be especially screwed by COVID-19, but I've seen enough memes of people who can't wait for Chinese buffets to reopen that I'm not so sure.
Chinese buffets make me ill. I used to frequent Golden Corral
Sweet Tomatoes is gone. Golden Corral and the rest of the geezer-friendly family buffets are next.
I can also just about guarantee that the buffets in Nevada hotel/casinos are gone, probably never to return. The hotels shut them down even before the gambling shutdown. I can't see them reopening until COVID-19 is completely eradicated. That won't be in the foreseeable future.
Probably true. Even the self-serve displays (salad, bulk goods) in local supermarkets have been either removed or "tarped" for the time being. The fact that the clear glass/acrylic sheeting over the food bins is termed "sneeze guards" is in itself a bit unnerving these days. I used to look forward to such things as the old Shoney's rather comprehensive breakfast bars -- and even the Sizzler salad bar -- during my various travels; considering the potential for disaster, we were probably fortunate to have come away from that experience unscathed!
Quote from: hbelkins on May 09, 2020, 07:25:02 PM
JC Penney's filing for bankruptcy. No word yet on what stores will be closing.
What Chapter, 11 (reorganization) or 7 (liquidation)?
BTW, I've never had a problem at the local family-owned Chinese buffets around here and also want to go back to them. This entire episode has gone on waaaaay too long already.
Mike
Quote from: US71 on May 09, 2020, 12:13:05 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 09, 2020, 11:24:51 AM
A lot of people think buffets will be especially screwed by COVID-19, but I've seen enough memes of people who can't wait for Chinese buffets to reopen that I'm not so sure.
Chinese buffets make me ill. I used to frequent Golden Corral
Most "steam-table" heated-in-tray Chinese sucks; the sauce coagulates and ends up being more like thick gravy than a sauce. Panda Express seems to suck less than the others; probably because of the volume the stuff doesn't stick around in the trays for hours (and they basically have their spicing right). But I consider any Chinese except regular restaurant cooked-to-order and served "fast food", barely adequate even in a pinch. But even around here too many Chinese restaurants "tone down" the food for mainstream U.S. "tastes" (or lack thereof). But my ATF has been around for nearly 50 years now -- Hunan on Sansome in S.F. Can't wait until they're back on line -- but in the meantime, I have their founder's cook book and have been cobbling up a few dishes here & there -- but unfortunately I don't have access to a 650-degree gas cooking system, so it never comes out quite the same!
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
I have been to one a grand total of three times and I've never been impressed with them. I'm not really a fan of buffet restaurants anyway.
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Western Sizzlin is worse
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Our wedding rehearsal dinner was at Golden Corral, and everybody loved it.
Quote from: kphoger on May 11, 2020, 03:35:47 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Our wedding rehearsal dinner was at Golden Corral, and everybody loved it.
Probably depends on the franchisee
Quote from: mgk920 on May 11, 2020, 12:11:03 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 09, 2020, 07:25:02 PM
JC Penney's filing for bankruptcy. No word yet on what stores will be closing.
What Chapter, 11 (reorganization) or 7 (liquidation)?
BTW, I've never had a problem at the local family-owned Chinese buffets around here and also want to go back to them. This entire episode has gone on waaaaay too long already.
Mike
Likely Chapter 11. They are talking about closing some stores, but leaving some open. If they close here, our mall is doomed (Sears left several years ago and Dillard's shrank.
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Golden Corral is on the short list of restaurants I've vomited in the parking lot of. I have only ever been there because I had no choice in the matter (friends' parents wanted to go there, school trip). Have never had a desire to go there of my own accord.
Quote from: US71 on May 11, 2020, 06:30:49 PM
Quote from: mgk920 on May 11, 2020, 12:11:03 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 09, 2020, 07:25:02 PM
JC Penney's filing for bankruptcy. No word yet on what stores will be closing.
What Chapter, 11 (reorganization) or 7 (liquidation)?
BTW, I've never had a problem at the local family-owned Chinese buffets around here and also want to go back to them. This entire episode has gone on waaaaay too long already.
Mike
Likely Chapter 11. They are talking about closing some stores, but leaving some open. If they close here, our mall is doomed (Sears left several years ago and Dillard's shrank.
I had read in one online news story that JCP was looking to close about 25% of their retail stores.
I'm also surprised that we have yet to hear any word on the fate of the remaining Kmart/Sears stores. You would think that the pandemic would kill off the rest of their open stores. I also read somewhere that there are only 46 Kmarts left in the US once the latest round of closures is complete. Not sure on the number of Sears stores left.
Quote from: kphoger on May 11, 2020, 03:35:47 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Our wedding rehearsal reception dinner was at Golden Corral, and everybody loved it.
Are you sure you didn't mean the above?
Old Country Buffet closed all but one location in the Twin Cities (ironically I believe their HQ was still here at the time, if still not now off 494 and Pilot Knob Road in Eagan across the river from the airport) while the remaining location in Burnsville has been on death watch for years as the Golden Corral franchise owners vulture around it. I found them superior to Golden Corral.
I do love me a good casino buffet though, sadly.
Quote from: thenetwork on May 11, 2020, 11:12:09 PM
Quote from: US71 on May 11, 2020, 06:30:49 PM
Quote from: mgk920 on May 11, 2020, 12:11:03 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on May 09, 2020, 07:25:02 PM
JC Penney's filing for bankruptcy. No word yet on what stores will be closing.
What Chapter, 11 (reorganization) or 7 (liquidation)?
BTW, I've never had a problem at the local family-owned Chinese buffets around here and also want to go back to them. This entire episode has gone on waaaaay too long already.
Mike
Likely Chapter 11. They are talking about closing some stores, but leaving some open. If they close here, our mall is doomed (Sears left several years ago and Dillard's shrank.
I had read in one online news story that JCP was looking to close about 25% of their retail stores.
I'm also surprised that we have yet to hear any word on the fate of the remaining Kmart/Sears stores. You would think that the pandemic would kill off the rest of their open stores. I also read somewhere that there are only 46 Kmarts left in the US once the latest round of closures is complete. Not sure on the number of Sears stores left.
No one is going to know what TransformCo has planned, since they went private.
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on May 11, 2020, 11:29:06 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 11, 2020, 03:35:47 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Our wedding rehearsal reception dinner was at Golden Corral, and everybody loved it.
Are you sure you didn't mean the above?
Wedding Rehearsal dinners are usually low-key affairs a day or two before the actual wedding ceremony. Traditionally, as the bride's family pays for most of the wedding costs, the groom's family covers the rehearsal dinner (as well as transportation, bar tab...one's mileage may vary). Depends on how big the wedding party is ("wedding party" = Best Man, Maid/Matron of Honor, bridesmaids, direct family, et al). We had ours with about 20 folks at a local Italian restaurant which shuttered about five years later.
The wedding reception is the traditional meal and festivities after the ceremony.
Quote from: formulanone on May 12, 2020, 07:35:25 AM
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on May 11, 2020, 11:29:06 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 11, 2020, 03:35:47 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Our wedding rehearsal reception dinner was at Golden Corral, and everybody loved it.
Are you sure you didn't mean the above?
Wedding Rehearsal dinners are usually low-key affairs a day or two before the actual wedding ceremony. Traditionally, as the bride's family pays for most of the wedding costs, the groom's family covers the rehearsal dinner (as well as transportation, bar tab...one's mileage may vary). Depends on how big the wedding party is ("wedding party" = Best Man, Maid/Matron of Honor, bridesmaids, direct family, et al). We had ours with about 20 folks at a local Italian restaurant which shuttered about five years later.
The wedding reception is the traditional meal and festivities after the ceremony.
Yes, I'm well aware. Just thought he should own up and tell us he had his actual reception at a Golden Corral! :sombrero:
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on May 12, 2020, 10:24:08 AM
Quote from: formulanone on May 12, 2020, 07:35:25 AM
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on May 11, 2020, 11:29:06 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 11, 2020, 03:35:47 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Our wedding rehearsal reception dinner was at Golden Corral, and everybody loved it.
Are you sure you didn't mean the above?
Wedding Rehearsal dinners are usually low-key affairs a day or two before the actual wedding ceremony. Traditionally, as the bride's family pays for most of the wedding costs, the groom's family covers the rehearsal dinner (as well as transportation, bar tab...one's mileage may vary). Depends on how big the wedding party is ("wedding party" = Best Man, Maid/Matron of Honor, bridesmaids, direct family, et al). We had ours with about 20 folks at a local Italian restaurant which shuttered about five years later.
The wedding reception is the traditional meal and festivities after the ceremony.
Yes, I'm well aware. Just thought he should own up and tell us he had his actual reception at a Golden Corral! :sombrero:
I typed correctly.
My dad was going to cook for the rehearsal dinner, but my grandma died not long before our wedding, and her funeral more than 200 miles away prevented my dad from being able to pull it off. So we quickly changed plans and reserved a party room at Golden Corral.
The reception was at
a community center (https://www.bransonparksandrecreation.com/652/Branson-Community-Center) less than a half-mile from the church.
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 01:33:22 PM
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on May 12, 2020, 10:24:08 AM
Quote from: formulanone on May 12, 2020, 07:35:25 AM
Quote from: Roadrunner75 on May 11, 2020, 11:29:06 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 11, 2020, 03:35:47 PM
Quote from: Rothman on May 11, 2020, 03:13:58 PM
Golden Corral is disgusting.
Our wedding rehearsal reception dinner was at Golden Corral, and everybody loved it.
Are you sure you didn't mean the above?
Wedding Rehearsal dinners are usually low-key affairs a day or two before the actual wedding ceremony. Traditionally, as the bride's family pays for most of the wedding costs, the groom's family covers the rehearsal dinner (as well as transportation, bar tab...one's mileage may vary). Depends on how big the wedding party is ("wedding party" = Best Man, Maid/Matron of Honor, bridesmaids, direct family, et al). We had ours with about 20 folks at a local Italian restaurant which shuttered about five years later.
The wedding reception is the traditional meal and festivities after the ceremony.
Yes, I'm well aware. Just thought he should own up and tell us he had his actual reception at a Golden Corral! :sombrero:
I typed correctly.
My dad was going to cook for the rehearsal dinner, but my grandma died not long before our wedding, and her funeral more than 200 miles away prevented my dad from being able to pull it off. So we quickly changed plans and reserved a party room at Golden Corral.
The reception was at a community center (https://www.bransonparksandrecreation.com/652/Branson-Community-Center) less than a half-mile from the church.
I was hoping for a tale of a reception in the regular dining room with people dancing by the buffet! My rehearsal dinner was in the church fellowship hall (I had to ask my wife to remind me...it's been awhile) followed by a trip out to a tavern for the bridal party. The Golden Corral would have been just fine too for the rehearsal - we're not fancy people! The reception, however, was at a historic inn in PA that I understand has since been sold to a hospital network of all things for medical offices.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 11, 2020, 11:53:54 PM
Old Country Buffet closed all but one location in the Twin Cities (ironically I believe their HQ was still here at the time, if still not now off 494 and Pilot Knob Road in Eagan across the river from the airport) while the remaining location in Burnsville has been on death watch for years as the Golden Corral franchise owners vulture around it. I found them superior to Golden Corral.
I do love me a good casino buffet though, sadly.
Since Golden Corral went exclusively to the buffet format, I've only encountered one that didn't thrill me. That was in Chillicothe, Mo., and the only reason was it was a smaller restaurant with a more limited selection. When I lived in Winchester, Ky., we had one that started out as a traditional steakhouse. They built a new location and shortly after the move, became buffet only. I've always found the food there to be excellent, although it's been a few years since I've been there. I always found it preferable to Ryan's. And Old Country Buffet, for that matter. Two decades ago, my brother, dad, and I frequented the Old Country on the east side of Louisville, as we were going to visit a relative who was in the hospital in Louisville long-term. It was OK, but not that great.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 12, 2020, 04:44:17 PM
Since Golden Corral went exclusively to the buffet format, I've only encountered one that didn't thrill me. That was in Chillicothe, Mo., and the only reason was it was a smaller restaurant with a more limited selection.
That's an odd destination for someone from Kentucky (unless you're a hunter, I guess). I've only had one reason to spend time in Chillicothe, and that was to visit my mother-in-law at the women's correctional facility there. What took you to Chillicothe?
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 04:50:20 PM
What took you to Chillicothe?
US-36, I'd imagine.
Old Country Buffet > Golden Corral...but it has been awhile since I've been to Old Country Buffet, so they may have gone downhill since I last went to one (used to go somewhat frequently in Duluth, MN).
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 12, 2020, 05:28:01 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 04:50:20 PM
What took you to Chillicothe?
US-36, I'd imagine.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/SUeUCn53naadO/giphy-downsized-medium.gif)
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 12, 2020, 05:28:01 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 04:50:20 PM
What took you to Chillicothe?
US-36, I'd imagine.
I bet it was a car, too.
But that's not the answer I was looking for.
Expect nothing to be the same ever. Probably a blessing in disguise as buffet styles are overplayed. Maybe tge Morrson Cafeteria concept might be back where the server gets your food portioned.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 13, 2020, 02:06:12 PM
Expect nothing to be the same ever. Probably a blessing in disguise as buffet styles are overplayed. Maybe tge Morrson Cafeteria concept might be back where the server gets your food portioned.
My local Golden Corral is still closed, but 65 miles north in Fayetteville, it's open for business. A few others are serving plated meals.
Quote from: US71 on May 13, 2020, 02:14:11 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 13, 2020, 02:06:12 PM
Expect nothing to be the same ever. Probably a blessing in disguise as buffet styles are overplayed. Maybe tge Morrson Cafeteria concept might be back where the server gets your food portioned.
My local Golden Corral is still closed, but 65 miles north in Fayetteville, it's open for business. A few others are serving plated meals.
The only Golden Corrals I ever patronized were in San Bernardino (courtesy of my late cousin; she adored buffets in general) and Hesperia, where I used to live -- only because a friend worked there part-time and could give me price breaks (dinner at lunch prices, no add-on for drinks, etc.), but that was a matter of choosing to consume food I didn't particularly care for just to save money (which was necessary for myself 10-12 years ago) -- so that happened only on rare occasions. Interestingly, the San Bernardino outlet was right next to a strip club, and the dancers would gather there to schmooze before or after their shifts -- invariably complaining rather loudly about customers and/or working conditions (the working definition of TMI!).
But up here in NorCal, the closest Corrals are in either Concord or Tracy -- not to stereotype them, but they tend to locate in areas that on the average aren't particularly high-income -- and they prefer locations near major freeways (I've driven past the Concord one; it's along I-680 near the CA 242 split; while, like most other chains in Tracy, that one's next to I-205). There's also a few strung along CA 99; that seems to fit their location criteria to a "T". But for me they'll continue to be "drive-by" businesses.
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 12, 2020, 05:28:01 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 04:50:20 PM
What took you to Chillicothe?
US-36, I'd imagine.
Correct. I was on my way home from the Lawrence, Kan. meet. I drove up to US 36 on I-29 and I-229, crossed over into Kansas, and then turned around so I could clinch US 36 in Missouri. I ended up spending the night in Chillicothe. Turns out that Brian Reynolds, who had also attended that meet, spent the night there as well. I saw his car in the parking lot the next morning when I was checking out and left a note on his windshield.
Photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbelkins/albums/72157626760500189 and https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbelkins/albums/72157626941029770
Golden Corral isn't spectacular, but it beats the Hell out of Western Sizzlin and Furr's.
Used to be a decent place near Little Rock, but I think they closed.
Quote from: kphoger on May 13, 2020, 01:37:41 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 12, 2020, 05:28:01 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 04:50:20 PM
What took you to Chillicothe?
US-36, I'd imagine.
I bet it was a car, too.
But that's not the answer I was looking for.
Quote from: hbelkins on May 13, 2020, 04:58:29 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 12, 2020, 05:28:01 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 04:50:20 PM
What took you to Chillicothe?
US-36, I'd imagine.
Correct. I was on my way home from the Lawrence, Kan. meet. I drove up to US 36 on I-29 and I-229, crossed over into Kansas, and then turned around so I could clinch US 36 in Missouri. I ended up spending the night in Chillicothe.
The best part about telling a dumb joke is when it has a double meaning that's right. :P
Most of the time, when a forum member ends up some bizarre place they would have no reason to go otherwise, they're in it for the roads!
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 12, 2020, 05:28:01 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 04:50:20 PM
What took you to Chillicothe?
US-36, I'd imagine.
Without reading the context in the previous posts, and thinking you were talking about Chillicothe, OH, I had a whole reply typed about how you must've meant US-35, and how in my case, it was actually OH 159 that took me there, and how I quite enjoyed it, and it seemed like quite a booming little town.
Anyways... :pan:
Well played joke, and TIL there is more than one Chillicothe!
Quote from: webny99 on May 13, 2020, 10:17:29 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on May 12, 2020, 05:28:01 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 12, 2020, 04:50:20 PM
What took you to Chillicothe?
US-36, I'd imagine.
Without reading the context in the previous posts, and thinking you were talking about Chillicothe, OH, I had a whole reply typed about how you must've meant US-35, and how in my case, it was actually OH 159 that took me there, and how I quite enjoyed it, and it seemed like quite a booming little town.
Anyways... :pan:
Well played joke, and TIL there is more than one Chillicothe!
I have passed through Chillicothe, Ohio, on US 23 numerous times, but also on US 35, US 50, and OH 104. If I'm going to Columbus, I will always opt for US 23 over I-75 and I-71 through Cincinnati.
Looks like JC Penney has a temporary reprieve
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/15/jc-penney-makes-17-million-interest-payment-as-it-explores-bankruptcy.html
I'm six weeks late with this, but...
The parent company for Logan's Roadhouse is keeping all their locations closed.
https://www.kfvs12.com/2020/04/07/logans-roadhouse-fires-all-employees-closes-restaurants/
Quote from: formulanone on May 18, 2020, 04:12:24 PM
I'm six weeks late with this, but...
The parent company for Logan's Roadhouse is keeping all their locations closed.
https://www.kfvs12.com/2020/04/07/logans-roadhouse-fires-all-employees-closes-restaurants/
Mine closed 3-4 months ago.
Quote from: formulanone on May 18, 2020, 04:12:24 PM
I'm six weeks late with this, but...
The parent company for Logan's Roadhouse is keeping all their locations closed.
https://www.kfvs12.com/2020/04/07/logans-roadhouse-fires-all-employees-closes-restaurants/
I suspect that many more small restaurant chains will close in the near future.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 09, 2020, 11:24:51 AM
A lot of people think buffets will be especially screwed by COVID-19, but I've seen enough memes of people who can't wait for Chinese buffets to reopen that I'm not so sure.
I too wouldn't be so sure. As a real-life example, nobody stopped eating at cruise ships' buffets when they went back to self-serve after each norovirus outbreak. (And, yes, I know the norovirus isn't nearly as deadly, but that's irrelevant as far as the herd mentality goes. And I'm just as guilty as anyone else.)
Quote from: wanderer2575 on May 18, 2020, 05:34:33 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on May 09, 2020, 11:24:51 AM
A lot of people think buffets will be especially screwed by COVID-19, but I've seen enough memes of people who can't wait for Chinese buffets to reopen that I'm not so sure.
I too wouldn't be so sure. As a real-life example, nobody stopped eating at cruise ships' buffets when they went back to self-serve after each norovirus outbreak. (And, yes, I know the norovirus isn't nearly as deadly, but that's irrelevant as far as the herd mentality goes. And I'm just as guilty as anyone else.)
Maybe people won't stop going, but it's going to take a while before the government approves buffets opening. Might be too late by that point.
Lord & Taylor just bit the dust.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/business/lord-and-taylor-store-closures-bankruptcy/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/business/lord-and-taylor-store-closures-bankruptcy/index.html)
Quote from: LM117 on August 27, 2020, 06:41:23 PM
Lord & Taylor just bit the dust.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/business/lord-and-taylor-store-closures-bankruptcy/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/business/lord-and-taylor-store-closures-bankruptcy/index.html)
They used to be everywhere. They were really at their peak when they were a part of Federated. Then Federated began changing everything over to Macy's.
I preferred the regional approach they had. Filene's was more recognizable here in New England.
NY-based Century 21 has filed bankruptcy and will close all of it's stores.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/century-21-bankruptcy-closing/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/century-21-bankruptcy-closing/index.html)
Yeesh. That'll be a big hit in NYC.
Quote from: LM117 on September 10, 2020, 04:30:17 PM
NY-based Century 21 has filed bankruptcy and will close all of it's stores.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/century-21-bankruptcy-closing/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/century-21-bankruptcy-closing/index.html)
I assumed that was the realty company for some reason.
Quote from: Takumi on September 13, 2020, 03:23:32 PM
Quote from: LM117 on September 10, 2020, 04:30:17 PM
NY-based Century 21 has filed bankruptcy and will close all of it's stores.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/century-21-bankruptcy-closing/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/century-21-bankruptcy-closing/index.html)
I assumed that was the realty company for some reason.
Whoops.
Maverick. The only one I had been to was on Dirksen Pkwy in Springfield, IL.
Quote from: Takumi on September 13, 2020, 03:23:32 PM
Quote from: LM117 on September 10, 2020, 04:30:17 PM
NY-based Century 21 has filed bankruptcy and will close all of it's stores.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/century-21-bankruptcy-closing/index.html (https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/10/business/century-21-bankruptcy-closing/index.html)
I assumed that was the realty company for some reason.
You were not alone. :wave:
I saw this video posted by someone that narriates why they believe the Rax Fast Food Chain closed. https://youtu.be/uEcz8I64Mz0
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 03, 2020, 09:54:27 AM
I saw this video posted by someone that narriates why they believe the Rax Fast Food Chain closed. https://youtu.be/uEcz8I64Mz0
I've never even heard of Rax. But I just found an article on "Investing.org" about defunct restaurant chains with a few inaccuracies. For example, it claimed the troubled Kenny Rogers Roasters went out of business in 1999, but I saw some franchises opening and closing in Florida during the early 2000's. It also claimed that one chain went under in the 1960's despite the presence of 1970's cars, and that the last All-American Burger restaurant closed in Hollywood in 2010.
https://za.investing.com/magazine/iconic-fast-food-chains-that-no-longer-exist/64/?ref=next
Investing.org, meet Massapequa, New York:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:All-American_Hamburger_Drive-In;_Massapequa,_New_York.jpg
I didn't see Horne's yet, but I'm still going through the article.
Casa Bonita (https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/10/casa-bonita-denver-colorado-south-park-mexican-food/), made famous by South Park, used to have 3 locations, now it's down to just 1. And unsurprisingly, it's the one in Colorado
Quote from: D-Dey65 on December 28, 2020, 09:13:56 AM
I didn't see Horne's yet, but I'm still going through the article.
FWIW, there is still a Horne's restaurant in Port Royal VA, at the intersection of US 301 and US 17. I've been told that it is the last Horne's in the US.
Quote from: dlsterner on December 28, 2020, 08:00:51 PM
Quote from: D-Dey65 on December 28, 2020, 09:13:56 AM
I didn't see Horne's yet, but I'm still going through the article.
FWIW, there is still a Horne's restaurant in Port Royal VA, at the intersection of US 301 and US 17. I've been told that it is the last Horne's in the US.
It is. (http://www.hornesva.com/) There was a different restaurant in Florence, SC that kept the Horne's name but changed the overall format, and it closed in 2013.
Quote from: dlsterner on December 28, 2020, 08:00:51 PM
Quote from: D-Dey65 on December 28, 2020, 09:13:56 AM
I didn't see Horne's yet, but I'm still going through the article.
FWIW, there is still a Horne's restaurant in Port Royal VA, at the intersection of US 301 and US 17. I've been told that it is the last Horne's in the US.
Yes, and I've been there on almost every NYC road trip since 2017. Plus, I eventually found the Horne's in this article.
Along US 1, 23, and 301 near Callahan, FL there is the sign left up on the side of the road from a long abandoned Hornes that stands even though the building is been torn down.
Sizzler closed up in North Bend OR. I wonder if they can be colored gone?
Rick
Quote from: nexus73 on January 02, 2021, 12:54:02 PM
Sizzler closed up in North Bend OR. I wonder if they can be colored gone?
Rick
Nope, they still have over 90 locations elsewhere.
Charlie Brown's (https://charliebrowns.com/), a once popular steakhouse chain in New Jersey is now no longer a chain. Its down to one location in Scotch Plains NJ. It was having trouble before the pandemic, so no surprises there. Its one defining feature, the well stocked all you can eat salad bar, has been sidelined as well. They now have a staff member building and serving the salads to you to get around the self service restriction.
Quote from: NJRoadfan on January 03, 2021, 05:00:06 PM
Charlie Brown's (https://charliebrowns.com/), a once popular steakhouse chain in New Jersey is now no longer a chain. Its down to one location in Scotch Plains NJ. It was having trouble before the pandemic, so no surprises there. Its one defining feature, the well stocked all you can eat salad bar, has been sidelined as well. They now have a staff member building and serving the salads to you to get around the self service restriction.
Didn't they spread beyond NJ? Thought I heard about Charlie Brown's in other states (maybe even CA?).
Charlie Brown's Steakhouse had locations in New York (Fishkill and Staten Island) and Pennsylvania (Allentown area) at it's peak. Before the parent company went bankrupt in 2010 from a CEO embezzlement case it also owned a chain called "The Office Beer Bar and Grill" (NJ only) and Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse (New England chain, now defunct).
There has been about a half-dozen Burger Kings that suddenly went out of business in the past year in Western Colorado, including a few right off of I-70 where they were pretty much the only major fast-food chain (Wendy's, McDonalds, etc...)
Not sure if it is COVID-related or the fact that the Minimum Wage in Colorado just went up to $12.32/hr.
Quote from: thenetwork on January 05, 2021, 10:42:17 PM
There has been about a half-dozen Burger Kings that suddenly went out of business in the past year in Western Colorado, ...
Could they have all been the same franchisee, and the franchise was cancelled for some reason?
Good chance, a common number of franchises to own is 3 or 6.
Quote from: GCrites80s on January 06, 2021, 11:37:26 AM
Good chance, a common number of franchises to own is 3 or 6.
Quote from: GaryV on January 06, 2021, 07:45:20 AM
Quote from: thenetwork on January 05, 2021, 10:42:17 PM
There has been about a half-dozen Burger Kings that suddenly went out of business in the past year in Western Colorado, ...
Could they have all been the same franchisee, and the franchise was cancelled for some reason?
Maybe, but they all didn't close at the same time. The most recent BK I saw closed (Eagle, CO) was still open just before Christmas.
Looks like Family Video may be eligible for the list, see https://www.familyvideo.com/store-status (https://www.familyvideo.com/store-status).
Does look like they will have an online-only presence.
Quote from: Revive 755 on January 06, 2021, 10:23:24 PM
Looks like Family Video may be eligible for the list, see https://www.familyvideo.com/store-status (https://www.familyvideo.com/store-status).
Does look like they will have an online-only presence.
There is still a regional chain of video stores in the CO/NM Area called Front Row Seat. I think they are mostly in the rural areas where there ain't much else for entertainment.
Crappy internet can keep places like that alive. We moved our store from the middle of a mid-major city to a town of 40k in 2014. Only a mile or two out of town the internet started to suck. We could barely sell a DVD in the city, but wow were DVDs back in the smaller town. As the internet slowly improved out of town DVD sales dropped, but now that things get yanked from streaming services or moved to other ones monthly, DVDs are back -- again.
Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2020, 01:46:27 PM
Casa Bonita (https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/10/casa-bonita-denver-colorado-south-park-mexican-food/), made famous by South Park, used to have 3 locations, now it's down to just 1. And unsurprisingly, it's the one in Colorado
I had no idea that place was real! :-o
Out of curiosity, I looked up what happened to the large bronze teddy bear that used to be outside the Downtown Seattle FAO Schwarz. It went to a day care center on Bainbridge Island. I found a 2013 Street View (https://goo.gl/maps/ZHvg72QtjdhX1PHT7) of it, but it disappeared by the next view in 2018.
Valley Fair in NJ. It had many locations after Great Eastern went under and took their old stores. They eventually closed but kept the store in Irvington, NJ that lasted for decades. Now it's closed there.
AQ Chicken House in Springdale, AR expanded their reach in the 1970's with several drive-in locations called Drumstick Drive-Ins , but they didn't last. They had a sit down location in Fayeteville, but it closed 3-4 years ago.
Probably mentioned on here before, but going through some boxes in my garage, and I found a bag from CompUSA....I always kinda liked that store.
Delchamps.
Valle's Steakhouse in VA, CT, and MA.
Fry's Electronics just went belly up.
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2021/2/24/22298616/frys-electronics-going-out-of-business (https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2021/2/24/22298616/frys-electronics-going-out-of-business)
Quote from: roadman65 on February 21, 2021, 07:42:30 AM
Valle's Steakhouse in VA, CT, and MA.
One of the last ones to close was fairly close to me in neighboring Andover. Don't remember going to it much.
I know they had a huge one somewhere on US 1 in Saugus that competed well with the Hilltop Restaurant, which is also defunct.
Not defunct yet, but Colonial Cafe in the western suburbs of Chicago had 7 locations and is now down to 3, all the closed locations have been within the last few years. This used to be a very popular chain, I wonder what is going on.
Quote from: I-39 on February 24, 2021, 08:35:55 AM
Not defunct yet, but Colonial Cafe in the western suburbs of Chicago had 7 locations and is now down to 3, all the closed locations have been within the last few years. This used to be a very popular chain, I wonder what is going on.
Is that the place with the "Kitchen Sink"? I've only eaten there once (in 1999), but I remember it being a locally popular place.
Quote from: kphoger on February 24, 2021, 10:56:47 AM
Quote from: I-39 on February 24, 2021, 08:35:55 AM
Not defunct yet, but Colonial Cafe in the western suburbs of Chicago had 7 locations and is now down to 3, all the closed locations have been within the last few years. This used to be a very popular chain, I wonder what is going on.
Is that the place with the "Kitchen Sink"? I've only eaten there once (in 1999), but I remember it being a locally popular place.
Yes. Their locations in Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Elgin and the west side of St. Charles have all closed within the last few years for reasons not totally clear. They were always busy when I went there.
Back in 2001, I saw a White Castle logo on US 71( now part of I-49) at the time I was hungry. Got off the freeway and after not being able to find the establishment I finally noticed a building boarded up that resembled the White Castle.
Early that trip I also wanted to visit the one in NorthKansas City off I-29 & 35 near the Paseo Bridge, and that too closed. So, of course, it was a regional closing. Too bad though, MDOT didn't remove their logo sign on the then solo US 71 freeway, as I wasted time cruising the streets of Grandview to find a closed business.
So White Castle is now defunct in the KC area.
https://www.kron4.com/news/national/frys-electronics-permanently-closes-nationwide/
Frys electronics going out of Business. I remember Frys was once the rival to best buy in California back in the 90's and 2000's.
Quote from: bing101 on February 24, 2021, 01:56:18 PM
https://www.kron4.com/news/national/frys-electronics-permanently-closes-nationwide/
Frys electronics going out of Business. I remember Frys was once the rival to best buy in California back in the 90's and 2000's.
I'm surprised Best Buy is still in business.
Quote from: LM117 on February 24, 2021, 06:28:49 AM
Fry's Electronics just went belly up.
Quote from: bing101 on February 24, 2021, 01:56:18 PM
Frys electronics going out of Business.
Don't forget Fry's Electronics.
Quote from: I-39 on February 24, 2021, 02:28:34 PM
Quote from: bing101 on February 24, 2021, 01:56:18 PM
https://www.kron4.com/news/national/frys-electronics-permanently-closes-nationwide/
Frys electronics going out of Business. I remember Frys was once the rival to best buy in California back in the 90's and 2000's.
I'm surprised Best Buy is still in business.
Last man standing it's kind of hard to mess that status up.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 24, 2021, 11:06:21 AM
Back in 2001, I saw a White Castle logo on US 71
So David's renting himself out for advertising now? :rofl:
Quote from: I-39 on February 24, 2021, 02:28:34 PM
Quote from: bing101 on February 24, 2021, 01:56:18 PM
https://www.kron4.com/news/national/frys-electronics-permanently-closes-nationwide/
Frys electronics going out of Business. I remember Frys was once the rival to best buy in California back in the 90's and 2000's.
I'm surprised Best Buy is still in business.
I'm actually surprised they held on this long
Quote from: hbelkins on February 24, 2021, 04:13:14 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 24, 2021, 11:06:21 AM
Back in 2001, I saw a White Castle logo on US 71
So David's renting himself out for advertising now? :rofl:
Royalties.
Quote from: SectorZ on February 24, 2021, 08:22:17 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 21, 2021, 07:42:30 AM
Valle's Steakhouse in VA, CT, and MA.
One of the last ones to close was fairly close to me in neighboring Andover. Don't remember going to it much.
I know they had a huge one somewhere on US 1 in Saugus that competed well with the Hilltop Restaurant, which is also defunct.
The one that was in Hartford is a very popular seafood restaurant called the USS Chowder Pot, which has another location in Branford.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 24, 2021, 09:07:54 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on February 24, 2021, 08:22:17 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 21, 2021, 07:42:30 AM
Valle's Steakhouse in VA, CT, and MA.
One of the last ones to close was fairly close to me in neighboring Andover. Don't remember going to it much.
I know they had a huge one somewhere on US 1 in Saugus that competed well with the Hilltop Restaurant, which is also defunct.
The one that was in Hartford is a very popular seafood restaurant called the USS Chowder Pot, which has another location in Branford.
AKA the USS Chowder Pot III. What ever happened to #II?
I'm a bit amazed at the wackoness that is going on WRT GameStop, as all of their outlets here in the Appleton, WI area closed several months ago.
:spin:
Mike
GameStop, using the only available information at the time, shut down any small locations that were close to large locations so that the larger locations could serve as gathering places for gamers -- both video and card. Now that video game demand is through the roof since people cannot gather that shift isn't as useful. I feel that video game demand will continue to be strong throughout 2021 and into 2022. After that is the wildcard. Does that much-touted but questionably-profitable "Gamesmaster Realm" business model that was being pushed from 2017-2019 as download games became dominant during The Fortnite Years kick right back in after the virus is over? Is there enough money in having all those young guys just hanging around all day? It's not like an arcade, barcade, pool hall or plain old bar where you're getting money out of them every X number of minutes.
You know for years I used to think Dairy Queen went bankrupt, because a lot of the franchises on Long Island just packed up and left in the early-1970's. So I never understood how they could still advertise all those years afterwards, because as far as I knew, they were gone.
See that smoke shop on the left side of NY 112 in this picture?
https://www.eastcoastroads.com/states/ny/state/ny112/fullsize/112n0051.jpg
That actually used to be a Dairy Queen.
And BTW, I recently found out Sinclair was back in the New York Tri-State area after 50 years.
Quote from: TravelingBethelite on February 25, 2021, 02:35:01 AM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on February 24, 2021, 09:07:54 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on February 24, 2021, 08:22:17 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on February 21, 2021, 07:42:30 AM
Valle's Steakhouse in VA, CT, and MA.
One of the last ones to close was fairly close to me in neighboring Andover. Don't remember going to it much.
I know they had a huge one somewhere on US 1 in Saugus that competed well with the Hilltop Restaurant, which is also defunct.
The one that was in Hartford is a very popular seafood restaurant called the USS Chowder Pot, which has another location in Branford.
AKA the USS Chowder Pot III. What ever happened to #II?
The one in Hartford is actually USS Chowder Pot
IV, so no idea what happened to II
and I
The last remaining Embers restaurant will close after tomorrow.
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/last-minnesota-embers-location-is-closing-for-good-on-sunday
https://www.growlermag.com/last-of-the-embers-the-final-holdout-of-the-embers-restaurant-chain-keeps-the-flames-burning-in-fridley/
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on March 27, 2021, 10:42:05 AM
The last remaining Embers restaurant will close after tomorrow.
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/last-minnesota-embers-location-is-closing-for-good-on-sunday
https://www.growlermag.com/last-of-the-embers-the-final-holdout-of-the-embers-restaurant-chain-keeps-the-flames-burning-in-fridley/
Dang. It had loyal customers in certain areas, too.
Jack in the Box is still all over Texas....
Quote from: briantroutman on September 27, 2016, 12:15:32 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 27, 2016, 07:25:16 AM
Jack In The Box, although a big chain still existed, could be considered defunct if you live on the east coast as they closed all their stores up and down the I-95 corridor back in the mid or late 70's. In fact I though they were gone up until I visited California in 88, and was amazed that they still existed as they were gone for well over a decade in my home state of the time.
Jack in the Box was founded–and is still headquartered–in San Diego, and the company has always been a largely West Coast-oriented operation. My dad recalled going to Jack in the Box locations in Delaware and New Jersey as a teenager in the mid '60s, and he assumed the company had gone out of business.
I read that Jack's parent, Foodmaker, Inc., had planned a major eastward expansion for the '70s, but a combination of fuel shortages and declining economic conditions caused the company to abandon those plans. Perhaps the company was trying to blanket I-95 first in an attempt to get visibility for the name, but when the larger overall expansion was cancelled, the pioneer outposts were no longer needed.
Quote from: wriddle082 on September 27, 2016, 11:44:57 AM
Quote from: Brandon on September 27, 2016, 10:19:47 AM
2. Jack In The Box, believe it or not, still exists east of the Mississippi (but not by much). They're all over St. Louis and Metro East, and exist as far as Litchfield, IL.
Back in the early 00's, they expanded into Greater Nashville, Upstate SC, Greater Charlotte, and the Triad. (Maybe the Triangle also) Over the past 7-8 years they closed some of their underperforming locations (pulling completely out of the Triad in the process), but they facelifted the remaining ones with their current logo and paint scheme. Furthest east location now is either Concord or Monroe, NC.
I was about to mention that, and you beat me to it. They've also opened locations in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. I was also going to add, though, that I think all of the stores east of metro St. Louis are in entirely new territory for Jack–i.e., not locations that were part of the company's eastward expansion in the '60s that have hung around since then.
I wonder why Jack in the Box opened in Cincinnati over 10 years ago but still hasn't come to Columbus. Probably scared of how many Wendy's there are here. I remember one time counting 5 Wendy'ses that I drove past to get to the fast food place I wanted.
The only thing I'm looking for when it comes to Jack in the Box, is an old TV commercial that actress Julia Campbell appeared in. Evidently this was her on-screen debut.
On another defunct restaurant topic. when I was driving down from Folkston, GA last week, I stayed on US 301 a little longer than recommended, and I saw the former Hornes' in Lawtey:
http://www.highwayhost.org/Hornes/Locations/Florida/Photos/starke3.jpg
That place is completely closed now. Not even the "Florida Gift Shop" is operating anymore.
Was that Horne's location originally a Stuckey's? It has the roof-line.
I'm not sure, But anyway, here's a Horne's billboard I found on an old railroad photo:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwilson1949/5735401644/in/album-72157618387538564/
Hey, where was the one in Stony Creek, Virginia?
http://www.highwayhost.org/Hornes/Locations/Virginia/virginia1.htm
Sagebrush and Texas Steakhouse have only 3 locations in NC.
Sagebrush has 2 and TX Steakhouse has 1 left.
The one in Dunn is the only one in the area left.
One other in Smithfield (TXSteakhouse) and SB in Morehead City.
Bryce
Sam Goody. That was a national record store we bought our Albums (later cd's) before the internet made it possible to get music on demand, to you younger people.
In the New York City area there was Record World, who also ran specials with The Record Shops at TSS (Times Square Stores).
TSS, which was once popular in NYC that is long gone.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 17, 2022, 12:26:08 PM
Sam Goody. That was a national record store we bought our Albums (later cd's) before the internet made it possible to get music on demand, to you younger people.
In the New York City area there was Record World, who also ran specials with The Record Shops at TSS (Times Square Stores).
TSS, which was once popular in NYC that is long gone.
We had one in Dunn, now replaced by Gamestop.
Also, Mailboxes Etc, became UPS Store, closed in 2009 in Dunn.
Hallmark in Dunn.
Bryce
Quote from: roadman65 on May 17, 2022, 12:26:08 PM
Sam Goody. That was a national record store we bought our Albums (later cd's) before the internet made it possible to get music on demand, to you younger people.
In the New York City area there was Record World, who also ran specials with The Record Shops at TSS (Times Square Stores).
TSS, which was once popular in NYC that is long gone.
TSS also bought a lot of White's department stores, even after they merged with Modell's.
I remember the radio commercials for Record World and The Record Shops at TSS. But originally, I thought they were singing "Stop the music" at the end, rather than "Shop the music."
Okay, now I'm looking for a YouTube Poop of those commercials, where they actually sing "Stop the Music."
:crazy:
Seems then Burger Chef had once some locations in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) from what I read on that blog post.
https://torontoist.com/2012/10/vintage-toronto-ads-burger-chefs-monstrous-opening/
And some ex-Burger Chef restaurants was converted into Crock & Block restaurant like that one in Barrie.
https://www.barriearchive.ca/2017/02/25/crock-block-says-goodnight/
When i lived in the Philadelphia area, i used to shop at Genuardi's, a regional grocery store. They were bought out by Safeway and then closed. I miss them.
Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on August 24, 2022, 07:17:18 PM
When i lived in the Philadelphia area, i used to shop at Genuardi's, a regional grocery store. They were bought out by Safeway and then closed. I miss them.
One of my temp jobs in 2002 was to help "Safeway-ize" a Genuardi's near Kennett Square. Apparently they undid it with the "Genuardi's is back" campaign not much later.
Quote from: roadman65 on May 17, 2022, 12:26:08 PM
Sam Goody. That was a national record store we bought our Albums (later cd's) before the internet made it possible to get music on demand, to you younger people.
....
CDs are albums, except for the rare instance of CD singles (including the old 3-inch CDs that never really succeeded).
Abbey Road is still an album regardless of whether it's on LP, CD, cassette, 8-track, download, boxed set, whatever.
Your comment prompts me to remember Waxie Maxie's, another record store that around here was not located in shopping malls (unlike Sam Goody), as well as some of the mall-centered bookstore chains like B. Dalton and Waldenbooks (and later Brentano's, which was a spiffier version of Waldenbooks).
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 25, 2022, 09:36:42 AM
...except for the rare instance of CD singles (including the old 3-inch CDs that never really succeeded).
About once a year, I fumble through my desk drawers, and bump into that Nine Inch Nails mini-CD that hasn't been played since 1992.
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 25, 2022, 09:36:42 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 17, 2022, 12:26:08 PM
Sam Goody. That was a national record store we bought our Albums (later cd's) before the internet made it possible to get music on demand, to you younger people.
....
CDs are albums, except for the rare instance of CD singles (including the old 3-inch CDs that never really succeeded). Abbey Road is still an album regardless of whether it's on LP, CD, cassette, 8-track, download, boxed set, whatever.
Your comment prompts me to remember Waxie Maxie's, another record store that around here was not located in shopping malls (unlike Sam Goody), as well as some of the mall-centered bookstore chains like B. Dalton and Waldenbooks (and later Brentano's, which was a spiffier version of Waldenbooks).
For those of us with connections to northeast Wisconsin, we can no longer "say with me, The Exclusive Company". That music store chain in the state announced in April that it is shutting down after the death of its founder last year.
This was probably already mentioned, but Howard Johnson's was a big chain that was reduced to one location in Lake George, NY. But not long ago that location closed as well.
Near me, an extremely local chain, Brooks Market. It had like 4 or 5 locations at its peak. It had long been reduced to just two (Cattaraugus and Little Valley). Someone bought out the LV one and renamed it Cornerstone Market, but that shut down not long after. The Cattaraugus location was the last to go, sometime during the early stages of the pandemic if I remember correctly.
The guys of WatchMojo did a top 20 about fast food chains that don't exist anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nB5H3Lx2_4
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on January 25, 2023, 04:14:21 PM
The guys of WatchMojo did a top 20 about fast food chains that don't exist anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nB5H3Lx2_4
And I always thought Red Barn was just an Ohio/Michigan area restaurant. I never knew how widespread they were in their heyday.
That is definitely a chain that could've still been around today if the corporate mergers back then didn't ultimately kill them.
I loved Burger Chef. In my mind, Burger King is the successor to that chain, based on the taste of the burgers.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 26, 2023, 10:55:31 AM
I loved Burger Chef. In my mind, Burger King is the successor to that chain, based on the taste of the burgers.
Hardee's bought up Burger Chef in 1981.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 26, 2023, 10:55:31 AM
I loved Burger Chef. In my mind, Burger King is the successor to that chain, based on the taste of the burgers.
Ouch. The main draw of Burger Chef was the Fixin's Bar. Two cheap cheeseburgers could be made into a double decker with 4 or 5 inches of stuff piled high (ergo, a Dagwood Burger). Plus, their hamburger relish was as good as homemade variation that I've ever had (some stores had a good hotdog relish that was tasty on burgers also). Nobody that I knew ever used the drive thru because you were going to unwrap a "to-go" burger and fix it up the way you wanted it. I don't remember ever paying more than 37 cents for a cheeseburger there. My folks surmised that I was the main reason they couldn't stay in business.
Quote from: hbelkins on January 26, 2023, 10:55:31 AM
I loved Burger Chef.
Me, too. From the late '60s through the early '80s, Burger Chef locations in Lafayette, Indiana, were a regular stop on my family's shopping trips. Over time, we visited all six of the Lafayette-area Burger Chefs -- the US 52 Bypass East and Greenbush St locations probably got the most traffic from us. Man, I could sure go for a Big Shef right now!
Long after the Hardee's take-over, a stubborn franchisee remained in operation in Danville, Illinois. We used to make road trips from Lafayette to Danville to savor its culinary delights and revel in the nostalgia of it all. That lasted until sometime in the '90s when upon one visit to Danville, we found that the last-remaining Burger Chef was, indeed, gone for good. Almost lost the will to live right then and there.
Quote from: Rushmeister on January 27, 2023, 09:05:16 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on January 26, 2023, 10:55:31 AM
I loved Burger Chef.
Me, too. From the late '60s through the early '80s, Burger Chef locations in Lafayette, Indiana, were a regular stop on my family's shopping trips. Over time, we visited all six of the Lafayette-area Burger Chefs -- the US 52 Bypass East and Greenbush St locations probably got the most traffic from us. Man, I could sure go for a Big Shef right now!
Long after the Hardee's take-over, a stubborn franchisee remained in operation in Danville, Illinois. We used to make road trips from Lafayette to Danville to savor its culinary delights and revel in the nostalgia of it all. That lasted until sometime in the '90s when upon one visit to Danville, we found that the last-remaining Burger Chef was, indeed, gone for good. Almost lost the will to live right then and there.
From what I read on these blogs, there's was another stubborn franchisee who remained in operation in Tennessee until 1996.
http://www.brokenchains.blog/2018/07/burger-chef-lives-and-her-name-is-suzi.html
https://burgerbeast.com/burger-chef/
We got to give some kudos to the producers of the tv show Mad Men to revive Burger Chef for one episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObzdhnQzPy0
Quote from: bulldog1979 on August 25, 2022, 11:30:23 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on August 25, 2022, 09:36:42 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on May 17, 2022, 12:26:08 PM
Sam Goody. That was a national record store we bought our Albums (later cd's) before the internet made it possible to get music on demand, to you younger people.
....
CDs are albums, except for the rare instance of CD singles (including the old 3-inch CDs that never really succeeded). Abbey Road is still an album regardless of whether it's on LP, CD, cassette, 8-track, download, boxed set, whatever.
Your comment prompts me to remember Waxie Maxie's, another record store that around here was not located in shopping malls (unlike Sam Goody), as well as some of the mall-centered bookstore chains like B. Dalton and Waldenbooks (and later Brentano's, which was a spiffier version of Waldenbooks).
For those of us with connections to northeast Wisconsin, we can no longer "say with me, The Exclusive Company". That music store chain in the state announced in April that it is shutting down after the death of its founder last year.
That's sad news. I remember when they were Pipedreams in Green Bay before they became (or were absorbed) by the Exclusive Company. Really cool store that several artists visited when they toured through Green Bay. My cousin went to see Ozzy when he was in town promoting his latest in the early 80s.
If I'm not mistaken, there might still be some Thunderbird Inns and Motels around. I know of two former ones near Florence, South Carolina;
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Thunderbird_Inn_%40_Motel_6_in_Florence%2C_SC.jpg/640px-Thunderbird_Inn_%40_Motel_6_in_Florence%2C_SC.jpg)
and Bel Alton, Maryland;
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Bel_Alton_Motel_and_Thunderbird_Apartments.jpg/640px-Bel_Alton_Motel_and_Thunderbird_Apartments.jpg)
I knew there used to be one somewhere along US 301 in northern Georgia, because I spotted it on Google Street View years ago when I was doing research for the Wikipedia article on US 301.
Oh man, drive your Thunderbird there and have a bottle or two of Thunderbird wine in the back.
There is a Thunderbird Inn on W. Oglethorpe near Downtown Savannah. Very close to the off-ramp from the Talmadge Bridge.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fFtS7Go4dcuMUrGH8?g_st=ic
This one has been restored and is quite a treat to stay at if you're a nostalgia buff.
https://www.wideopencountry.com/bonanza-steakhouse/
Bonanza Steakhouse.
Interesting find. According to this article the late Bonanza star Dan Blocker opened that chain's first store.
Quote from: D-Dey65 on June 18, 2023, 07:33:05 AM
If I'm not mistaken, there might still be some Thunderbird Inns and Motels around. I know of two former ones near Florence, South Carolina;
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Thunderbird_Inn_%40_Motel_6_in_Florence%2C_SC.jpg/640px-Thunderbird_Inn_%40_Motel_6_in_Florence%2C_SC.jpg)
and Bel Alton, Maryland;
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Bel_Alton_Motel_and_Thunderbird_Apartments.jpg/640px-Bel_Alton_Motel_and_Thunderbird_Apartments.jpg)
I knew there used to be one somewhere along US 301 in northern Georgia, because I spotted it on Google Street View years ago when I was doing research for the Wikipedia article on US 301.
A popular resort on Treasure Island near St. Pete, FL is named that. However, don't know if it's the same chain.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ghvj1x6dyWLd2wyUA
There was a Thunderbird in Fitchburg, MA in the seventies my family stayed there as the nearby Leominster Holiday was out of rooms. In those days, Holiday Inn would find you another motel ( preferably their own, but cross the line if the property was isolated from the rest) if the location was sold out as part of their promise. They booked us there with you needing a room key to open the door to the pool.
Again it might be that Thunderbird is a cool name and not part of a chain and, of course, names aren't patented in business use. Only their logos are.