We're going on a shopping trip back in time...
February 12, 2007 11:56 AM Subscribe
That brings back memories.
One thing I always notice when seeing those kinds of store logos and advertisements from that era is that there are certain font styles they use that no one would ever use now. Those fonts absolutely scream "1965!!!"
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:06 PM on February 12, 2007
One thing I always notice when seeing those kinds of store logos and advertisements from that era is that there are certain font styles they use that no one would ever use now. Those fonts absolutely scream "1965!!!"
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:06 PM on February 12, 2007
briank, I do indeed. I also worked for a long time in the converted Peck's Department Store in Lewiston (now owned by L.L.Bean).
posted by anastasiav at 12:10 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by anastasiav at 12:10 PM on February 12, 2007
Whoa, Merle Hay Mall circa the time I was living near Des Moines. And then an additional frisson when he mentioned the Dodge Omni, which my family owned at the time! Alas, it is not the Omni I remember (neither is that link, but at least it's the right body type).
posted by DU at 12:16 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by DU at 12:16 PM on February 12, 2007
Yowza. This brings back many memories of being dragged about in my mom's Chevy Celebrity wagon to stores like Venture (which I didn't realize was sort of Target), Zayre, and Phar-Mor.
I didn't realize Zayre had a Yiddish etymology.
posted by ninjew at 12:18 PM on February 12, 2007
I didn't realize Zayre had a Yiddish etymology.
posted by ninjew at 12:18 PM on February 12, 2007
Oooh, I SO miss having ice cream at the soda counter at Woolworths. I actually still vividly remember how excited I was whenever my mom took me there. MAJOR reward for good behavior.
posted by miss lynnster at 12:21 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 12:21 PM on February 12, 2007
I vaguely remember Ardan. But I remember TG&Y far more. and look, it's on the second page.
Nothing on Otasco, though.
posted by dw at 12:24 PM on February 12, 2007
Nothing on Otasco, though.
posted by dw at 12:24 PM on February 12, 2007
Really cool link!
Skagway has to be the greatest name for a store ever.
posted by Dr-Baa at 12:31 PM on February 12, 2007
Skagway has to be the greatest name for a store ever.
posted by Dr-Baa at 12:31 PM on February 12, 2007
It's interesting - you can always tell which American neighborhoods are poorest by how many of its stores still have those big 60s-style light-up signs.
posted by Afroblanco at 12:36 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by Afroblanco at 12:36 PM on February 12, 2007
Skagway has to be the greatest name for a store ever.
Agreed.
posted by tiger yang at 12:49 PM on February 12, 2007
Agreed.
posted by tiger yang at 12:49 PM on February 12, 2007
Wow. I spent my childhood in many of these.
Zayre
Ayr-Way (sadly, I can still sing their jingle...badly)
Turn*Style
Shopper's Fair
No mention of Topps, though.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:52 PM on February 12, 2007
Zayre
Ayr-Way (sadly, I can still sing their jingle...badly)
Turn*Style
Shopper's Fair
No mention of Topps, though.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:52 PM on February 12, 2007
For years the official Gungho family birthday present wrapping was a Zayre's bag. We still joke about it.
As a youngster we were clothed for back to school with the finest Geranimals from W.T. Grant.
posted by Gungho at 12:59 PM on February 12, 2007
As a youngster we were clothed for back to school with the finest Geranimals from W.T. Grant.
posted by Gungho at 12:59 PM on February 12, 2007
What -- no Zody's?
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 1:22 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 1:22 PM on February 12, 2007
Oh -- he does mention Zody's. No pic, though! I remember the smell of popcorn and the fear that one of my schoolmates would see me shopping in there. Oh, the shame!
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 1:24 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 1:24 PM on February 12, 2007
Visceral wallop there with the fonts, photos, copy and prices. Thanks for the memories anastasiav.
The website owner has a fun other page as well, called House O' Retro with a link to The Good Games of the Ideal Toy Corporation.
In NYC on Madison Avenue and 90th Street I think it was, there was a Lamston's 5 and 10 cent store (M.H. Lamston). Red sign. A lot like Woolworth's. Can't believe there isn't a single photo of the place on the web, except a faded Lamston's Stationary sign in fogotten ads.
They sold the felt I used to hand make clothes for my troll! (awww trolls). I loved that place.
There was a wonderful discount store in NYC that went belly-up, called Odd Job Trading. Such a cool place with affordable good stuff. Now there is the excellent Jack's 99 cent store (with things that cost more than 99cents upstairs) at 32nd Street. And 99 Cent Dreams on West 46th Street. Really practical. Discount stores are enjoyable daydreaming places too.
posted by nickyskye at 1:26 PM on February 12, 2007
The website owner has a fun other page as well, called House O' Retro with a link to The Good Games of the Ideal Toy Corporation.
In NYC on Madison Avenue and 90th Street I think it was, there was a Lamston's 5 and 10 cent store (M.H. Lamston). Red sign. A lot like Woolworth's. Can't believe there isn't a single photo of the place on the web, except a faded Lamston's Stationary sign in fogotten ads.
They sold the felt I used to hand make clothes for my troll! (awww trolls). I loved that place.
There was a wonderful discount store in NYC that went belly-up, called Odd Job Trading. Such a cool place with affordable good stuff. Now there is the excellent Jack's 99 cent store (with things that cost more than 99cents upstairs) at 32nd Street. And 99 Cent Dreams on West 46th Street. Really practical. Discount stores are enjoyable daydreaming places too.
posted by nickyskye at 1:26 PM on February 12, 2007
How dare you leave out those two Maine institutions, dear! Of course, they're still alive and kicking.
posted by SteveInMaine at 1:42 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by SteveInMaine at 1:42 PM on February 12, 2007
Oh yeah, Zody's! Forgot about that! And FedMart! And Kreske's! And in downtown San Diego there actually used to be a 5&10... long after things stopped being 5¢. Ahhh, the corners of my mind are all lit up right now... :)
I love love love the 99¢ Stores in Southern California. I desperately miss being able to shop there since I moved away.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:50 PM on February 12, 2007
I love love love the 99¢ Stores in Southern California. I desperately miss being able to shop there since I moved away.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:50 PM on February 12, 2007
On a related note, Malls of America is full of funky decor and signage.
posted by schoolgirl report at 2:00 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by schoolgirl report at 2:00 PM on February 12, 2007
the fear that one of my schoolmates would see me shopping in there
Had the same fear when it came to Woolco (and dining at the luxurious Red Grille).
posted by evilcolonel at 2:05 PM on February 12, 2007
Had the same fear when it came to Woolco (and dining at the luxurious Red Grille).
posted by evilcolonel at 2:05 PM on February 12, 2007
Good call schoolgirl report.
Ive been a satisfied patron of Malls of America for a year now.
I get lost in there.
And of course, if you guys havent been to the brilliant James Lileks site then you have no idea what youre missing. Killed many many hours there reading his sharp-as-a-tack commentary and looking through the archaelogical-grade quality of his finds. Man's a hero of mine.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:38 PM on February 12, 2007
Ive been a satisfied patron of Malls of America for a year now.
I get lost in there.
And of course, if you guys havent been to the brilliant James Lileks site then you have no idea what youre missing. Killed many many hours there reading his sharp-as-a-tack commentary and looking through the archaelogical-grade quality of his finds. Man's a hero of mine.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 2:38 PM on February 12, 2007
Marvelous post!
I had my first Purple Cow at a Grant's in Escondido, California with Alicia Pinkerton.
I was twelve, smitten, chubby.
We picked out a genuine calfskin wallet afterwords, and I paid for the whole shebang with nickels saved from hauling RC Cola bottles to the Sunoco down the street.
Are you alive, Alicia Pinkerton?
Are you happy?
posted by Dizzy at 2:42 PM on February 12, 2007
I had my first Purple Cow at a Grant's in Escondido, California with Alicia Pinkerton.
I was twelve, smitten, chubby.
We picked out a genuine calfskin wallet afterwords, and I paid for the whole shebang with nickels saved from hauling RC Cola bottles to the Sunoco down the street.
Are you alive, Alicia Pinkerton?
Are you happy?
posted by Dizzy at 2:42 PM on February 12, 2007
Around NC, the discount stores of choice were Rose's. I remember going to a close out sale at a Woolco, and at a Nichols. There was also a huge Skyway at the top of a hill around Ashevill, NC, iirc.
Zayre's was still in the Maryland are in the mid 80's.
posted by alikins at 2:47 PM on February 12, 2007
Zayre's was still in the Maryland are in the mid 80's.
posted by alikins at 2:47 PM on February 12, 2007
> Skagway has to be the greatest name for a store ever.
Agreed.
Nah, I'll nominate Piggly Wiggly for that one.
On another note, my impression from looking at the old-timey department stores that still exist now, is one of overwhelming gloom. On the other hand, a lot of department stores now (Super Wal-Mart, Dillards, etc) are not gloomy but simply soulless. I'm trying to recall any department store experience I've ever had that was kind of exhilirating or cozy, and the closest I can think of were the 1970s-early 1980s AAFES (military) BX stores where huge sections were dedicated to albums and stereo systems... and of course music was a huge part of military culture. Also some mall experiences in the early 1980s felt that way, but only the busy ones. Since then I've lost a lot of my consumerist hormones but I do remember the feel and aura of stores over the decades.
posted by rolypolyman at 2:59 PM on February 12, 2007
Agreed.
Nah, I'll nominate Piggly Wiggly for that one.
On another note, my impression from looking at the old-timey department stores that still exist now, is one of overwhelming gloom. On the other hand, a lot of department stores now (Super Wal-Mart, Dillards, etc) are not gloomy but simply soulless. I'm trying to recall any department store experience I've ever had that was kind of exhilirating or cozy, and the closest I can think of were the 1970s-early 1980s AAFES (military) BX stores where huge sections were dedicated to albums and stereo systems... and of course music was a huge part of military culture. Also some mall experiences in the early 1980s felt that way, but only the busy ones. Since then I've lost a lot of my consumerist hormones but I do remember the feel and aura of stores over the decades.
posted by rolypolyman at 2:59 PM on February 12, 2007
This was a wonderful post. I remember TG&Y being the only place to go to buy things in my part of SEKS. And then the Wal-Mart moved in and it closed shortly after, becoming an ALCO for a little while (another midwestern chain--although I remember buying Slayer's Reign in Blood and the Repo Man soundtrack at Alco when I was 13, so it was actually a good place to go in my mind). I think a tornado wiped it out a few years ago. I think the picture of the TG&Y in Lawrence in the thread is now a closed Food-4-Less.
Although they're more prevalent in the midwest now, I can remember as a teenager being excited to see a Piggly Wiggly while on vacation in the south. I made my parents stop so that I could go in. Yeah, I'm a dork.
Fascinating, anastasiav. Thanks.
posted by sleepy pete at 3:05 PM on February 12, 2007
Although they're more prevalent in the midwest now, I can remember as a teenager being excited to see a Piggly Wiggly while on vacation in the south. I made my parents stop so that I could go in. Yeah, I'm a dork.
Fascinating, anastasiav. Thanks.
posted by sleepy pete at 3:05 PM on February 12, 2007
no Korvette's?
I always thought that E. J. Korvette's was a Philly thing.
Although maybe there were other mini-malls in other cities started by Eight Jewish Korean war Veterans.
posted by Afroblanco at 4:23 PM on February 12, 2007
I always thought that E. J. Korvette's was a Philly thing.
Although maybe there were other mini-malls in other cities started by Eight Jewish Korean war Veterans.
posted by Afroblanco at 4:23 PM on February 12, 2007
Hey Long Islanders, remember John's Bargain Store? I used to love watching the sign painters work there.
posted by tommasz at 5:24 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by tommasz at 5:24 PM on February 12, 2007
What -- no Zody's?
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 4:22 PM EST
I was just thinking about Zody's the other day; I was thinking about what a depressing experience it was to shop there. As soon as my mother drove into the Zody's parking lot, I would steel myself for an unpleasant shopping trip.
What hit you immediately upon entering was the harsh lighting and tinny music completely unlike the soft ambiance of Broadway's department store. There were water stains on the ceiling and piles of merchandise left carelessly on the floor. But it was the racks of cheap, nasty clothing that reminded you of just how poor you were, here there were no soft pastels in wool or fine linens in earth tones. Zody's racks were jammed with unwearables. The blues were not the rich, pure blue of a Tintoretto painting but the unnatural chemical blue of denture cream. The whites were not off-white or ivory or ecru; they were cheap polyester white that would be sure to turn dingy with only a few washings. The greens were not the greens of ferns or dappled sunlit forests; they were the green of molds, of pus, of old man's liver.
They sold few things in solids, rather they were in riotous color combinations chosen by the perversely blind: black and orange stripes with turquise top stitching, or purple strawberries on a grey background with gold lace, or brown, blue and red plaid with lime green piping.
For a little girl who dreamed of brown velvet and creamy silk it was hell.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:24 PM on February 12, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 4:22 PM EST
I was just thinking about Zody's the other day; I was thinking about what a depressing experience it was to shop there. As soon as my mother drove into the Zody's parking lot, I would steel myself for an unpleasant shopping trip.
What hit you immediately upon entering was the harsh lighting and tinny music completely unlike the soft ambiance of Broadway's department store. There were water stains on the ceiling and piles of merchandise left carelessly on the floor. But it was the racks of cheap, nasty clothing that reminded you of just how poor you were, here there were no soft pastels in wool or fine linens in earth tones. Zody's racks were jammed with unwearables. The blues were not the rich, pure blue of a Tintoretto painting but the unnatural chemical blue of denture cream. The whites were not off-white or ivory or ecru; they were cheap polyester white that would be sure to turn dingy with only a few washings. The greens were not the greens of ferns or dappled sunlit forests; they were the green of molds, of pus, of old man's liver.
They sold few things in solids, rather they were in riotous color combinations chosen by the perversely blind: black and orange stripes with turquise top stitching, or purple strawberries on a grey background with gold lace, or brown, blue and red plaid with lime green piping.
For a little girl who dreamed of brown velvet and creamy silk it was hell.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 5:24 PM on February 12, 2007 [2 favorites]
Anyone with pictures of Illinois-based discount stores Union Hall or Insurance Liquidators wins this thread.
posted by eschatfische at 6:08 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by eschatfische at 6:08 PM on February 12, 2007
The Lileks site is good, but beware the "Bleat" and "Screed" sections. His rightwing views got him run off MeFi a while back.
posted by keswick at 7:01 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by keswick at 7:01 PM on February 12, 2007
Two Guys from Harrison! My dad worked the parent company Vornado in the early '70s so we shopped there a lot.
posted by octothorpe at 7:50 PM on February 12, 2007
posted by octothorpe at 7:50 PM on February 12, 2007
no Korvette's? awww...
Ha, amberglow, I thought the same thing. Also no Times Square Stores, where my family had the carpet concession (Oskar's Floorcovering) for something like 40 years.
posted by astruc at 8:41 PM on February 12, 2007
Ha, amberglow, I thought the same thing. Also no Times Square Stores, where my family had the carpet concession (Oskar's Floorcovering) for something like 40 years.
posted by astruc at 8:41 PM on February 12, 2007
This discussion needs a link to the excellent Apache Plaza site as well.
R.I.P.: Apache Plaza, 1961-2004.
posted by gimonca at 8:59 PM on February 12, 2007
R.I.P.: Apache Plaza, 1961-2004.
posted by gimonca at 8:59 PM on February 12, 2007
Linky no worky
The chains I remember are Yankees, Arlans, and Federals. Federals had a cage of moneys. This was early 60's. Kressges dimestore (the origin of K-Mart) is also a fond memory.
posted by Goofyy at 10:48 PM on February 12, 2007
The chains I remember are Yankees, Arlans, and Federals. Federals had a cage of moneys. This was early 60's. Kressges dimestore (the origin of K-Mart) is also a fond memory.
posted by Goofyy at 10:48 PM on February 12, 2007
in our area we had grants, kresges and woolworths ... later came shopper's fair in battle creek and zayre's in kalamazoo ... and i believe it might be the last picture ... the building still stands, but never seems to keep a business for very long
then k-mart came ... and meijers expanded to the point where they could be considered department stores AND supermarkets
meijers won ... now that wal-mart's here ... meijers is STILL winning
posted by pyramid termite at 1:16 AM on February 13, 2007
then k-mart came ... and meijers expanded to the point where they could be considered department stores AND supermarkets
meijers won ... now that wal-mart's here ... meijers is STILL winning
posted by pyramid termite at 1:16 AM on February 13, 2007
I wish the site had more west coast or pacific northwest stores. It does have White Front. I remember Seattle's White Front on Aurora, just north of 130th. Across the street was Gov-Mart. Both buildings still exist as far as I know -- White Front became K Mart (is it still?) and the Gov-Mart has Ross, Rite-Aid, etc. I remember Kress (was that related to Kresge/K Mart or something different?) and of course, Woolworth, which was beloved for one major reason: the milkshakes at the cafe counter!
Then there were the smaller variety/dime stores like Chubby & Tubby and the Fuji ten-cent store on 45th in Wallingford, of which I have many fond memories from when I used to work 1/2 a block away.
I was just thinking recently that people my age (early Gen-X) are probably the last people to have regularly heard/used the term "dime store". My parents and grandparents used that a lot when I was a kid, but the dime stores are now gone.
posted by litlnemo at 3:27 AM on February 13, 2007
Then there were the smaller variety/dime stores like Chubby & Tubby and the Fuji ten-cent store on 45th in Wallingford, of which I have many fond memories from when I used to work 1/2 a block away.
I was just thinking recently that people my age (early Gen-X) are probably the last people to have regularly heard/used the term "dime store". My parents and grandparents used that a lot when I was a kid, but the dime stores are now gone.
posted by litlnemo at 3:27 AM on February 13, 2007
Termite: I'm happy to hear Meijers is still winning. Bwuhahaha. They manage what they do without feeling crappy like Walmart.
I watched Walmart destroy a regional chain called Pamida, up in northern Wisconsin, awhile back. Especially bad since Walmart was 30 miles away, Pamida was local (to me).
posted by Goofyy at 4:33 AM on February 13, 2007
I watched Walmart destroy a regional chain called Pamida, up in northern Wisconsin, awhile back. Especially bad since Walmart was 30 miles away, Pamida was local (to me).
posted by Goofyy at 4:33 AM on February 13, 2007
Goofyy: I wouldn't say that Pamida is destroyed, just smaller. I know they moved out of Houghton and up to Calumet, but not until the ShopKo moved in across the parking lot, six years after the WalMart came in across the street. There's still one in Marquette/Negaunee, and one in Chelsea. I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones I see regularly.
Nobody mentioned Newberry's, a regional UP discount chain--three years after KMart moved in to Houghton the last (iirc) Newberry's closed. Somewhere along M28 between Tahquamenon and Munising there's a town that still has a Newberry's sign up. Wish I could remember where.
rolypolyman: turn off half the lights at WalMart, and you'll recreate a large part of that gloomy feeling. You won't get the grittiness so much, but you'll still have the towering piles of stuff and the cavern effect.
posted by jlkr at 5:19 AM on February 13, 2007
Nobody mentioned Newberry's, a regional UP discount chain--three years after KMart moved in to Houghton the last (iirc) Newberry's closed. Somewhere along M28 between Tahquamenon and Munising there's a town that still has a Newberry's sign up. Wish I could remember where.
rolypolyman: turn off half the lights at WalMart, and you'll recreate a large part of that gloomy feeling. You won't get the grittiness so much, but you'll still have the towering piles of stuff and the cavern effect.
posted by jlkr at 5:19 AM on February 13, 2007
Apparently there are a lot of Pamidas still. (Surprised me too, but then I don't spend a lot of time in small towns.) It looks like they became a ShopKo division in 1999, then got sold again a couple of years ago.
Pamida is the last big discount store you can stop at in Two Harbors, Minnesota, on the way to the North Shore.
posted by gimonca at 6:51 AM on February 13, 2007
Pamida is the last big discount store you can stop at in Two Harbors, Minnesota, on the way to the North Shore.
posted by gimonca at 6:51 AM on February 13, 2007
In 1975 Zayre started a program entitled "Zayre 75" to remodel and update the stores from the existing old looking Pink and Blue color scheme to a new updated Orange and Brown theme. Fashion!
posted by gimonca at 6:55 AM on February 13, 2007
posted by gimonca at 6:55 AM on February 13, 2007
White Front became K Mart (is it still?)
Yup. That one didn't close. Sucks to shop in, though. Target's getting all the business now, and the Bed Bath and Beyond going into Northgate will suck even more away from 130th.
Then there were the smaller variety/dime stores like Chubby & Tubby and the Fuji ten-cent store on 45th in Wallingford, of which I have many fond memories from when I used to work 1/2 a block away.
I do miss Chubby & Tubby, especially the Christmas trees. (Yes, I know the lot survives.)
I was just thinking recently that people my age (early Gen-X) are probably the last people to have regularly heard/used the term "dime store". My parents and grandparents used that a lot when I was a kid, but the dime stores are now gone.
Well, I'm later Gen-X and we used that term, or "five and dime." By the time I was 10 or so, though, TG&Y was branding itself as a "discount center."
posted by dw at 9:51 AM on February 13, 2007
Yup. That one didn't close. Sucks to shop in, though. Target's getting all the business now, and the Bed Bath and Beyond going into Northgate will suck even more away from 130th.
Then there were the smaller variety/dime stores like Chubby & Tubby and the Fuji ten-cent store on 45th in Wallingford, of which I have many fond memories from when I used to work 1/2 a block away.
I do miss Chubby & Tubby, especially the Christmas trees. (Yes, I know the lot survives.)
I was just thinking recently that people my age (early Gen-X) are probably the last people to have regularly heard/used the term "dime store". My parents and grandparents used that a lot when I was a kid, but the dime stores are now gone.
Well, I'm later Gen-X and we used that term, or "five and dime." By the time I was 10 or so, though, TG&Y was branding itself as a "discount center."
posted by dw at 9:51 AM on February 13, 2007
my parents said "five and dime" and we said woolworth's--but we all only meant woolworth's when we said it.
(i still miss them, actually--from school supplies to new apt. stuff they were perfect)
Also no Times Square Stores, where my family had the carpet concession (Oskar's Floorcovering) for something like 40 years.
We totally used to go there : >
I just realized that i'm still wearing a watch i bought at a closing-down sale of some chain store in Yonkers ages ago (maybe Caldors?)
posted by amberglow at 12:23 PM on February 13, 2007
(i still miss them, actually--from school supplies to new apt. stuff they were perfect)
Also no Times Square Stores, where my family had the carpet concession (Oskar's Floorcovering) for something like 40 years.
We totally used to go there : >
I just realized that i'm still wearing a watch i bought at a closing-down sale of some chain store in Yonkers ages ago (maybe Caldors?)
posted by amberglow at 12:23 PM on February 13, 2007
We had a place called "Treasure Island" here in Madison, Wisc. Yahoo had no pictures to link. We called it "Trash Island" but the goods were cheap.
posted by mouthnoize at 1:40 PM on February 13, 2007
posted by mouthnoize at 1:40 PM on February 13, 2007
What, no Monkey Wards (Montgomery Wards, of course)? And man, I had forgotten all about Zody's and TG&Y's. Truly a blast from the past. Thanks, anastasiav!
posted by deborah at 8:07 PM on February 14, 2007
posted by deborah at 8:07 PM on February 14, 2007
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posted by briank at 12:04 PM on February 12, 2007