Quoting:
Yes, they were "bought-out" or "taken over" by "Ames" Department Store, which recently also went "Out Of Business".

If I may ramble for just a moment:

Wal-Mart's too much of a giant for anyone, anymore. That's including K-Mart (I'm surprised they keep hangin' on), Mom & Pop stores, Optical places, Photo places, even Supermarkets are being shadowed by the Wal-Mart "Super Center". Wal-Mart's just waaay tooo convenient. One place for all your needs, and I mean almost ALL of your needs.

It's a sign of the way things are today as opposed to the way things were in the 1980's. There's clearly a very significant difference.... But that's for a whole other thread sometime.  ;)

Ok. I'm done.


End Quote

 Never been to a Wal-Mart, but there's a couple of Targets and K-Marts nearby.  Wards are gone... the old store on University avenue is now a Borders and a PetsMart... the garage is a travel agency and a chiropracter.  There's a few Sears hanging on but nobody really knows how or why... and of course just a couple miles southwest of here is THE MALL...

K-Mart is the creepiest.  Even time I go in there it looks like it needs to be picked up... like it's a teenage boy's bedroom or something.  I don't like to touch things in K-Mart.

Quoting: Never been to a Wal-MartEnd Quote

That is amazing. You have never been to a Wal-Mart!
Are there no Wal-Marts around or do you make it a point not to go to one? Just curious....

Quoting:
Yes, they were "bought-out" or "taken over" by "Ames" Department Store, which recently also went "Out Of Business". End Quote

Just barely. Geez, not that I was a huge fan of the chain, but everyone here is talking like Ames went under several months ago, or something - the one here in my town just closed its doors for good this past Sunday (i.e., three days ago)!

Quoting: If I may ramble for just a moment:

Wal-Mart's too much of a giant for anyone, anymore. End Quote

Unless you live in a rural area, I disagree. If you live in an urban or suburban region, you're not venturing out far enough from your home...

Quoting: That's including K-Mart (I'm surprised they keep hangin' on), Mom & Pop stores, Optical places, Photo places, even Supermarkets are being shadowed by the Wal-Mart "Super Center". End Quote

Again, not true, as not all Wal-Marts have a full-size grocery section (thus making it a "Super Center"), including the one in my town...

Quoting: Wal-Mart's just waaay tooo convenient. One place for all your needs, and I mean almost ALL of your needs. End Quote

lmao! Hardly - I visit the one here in my town maybe once a month, and aside from a few cheap food items, and an occasional CD or two that's on sale, I don't think I've ever bought anything else there!

Quoting: It's a sign of the way things are today as opposed to the way things were in the 1980's. There's clearly a very significant difference.... But that's for a whole other thread sometime.  ;)

Ok. I'm done. End Quote

Again, if you live in a rural area, then yes, having a Wal-Mart in town could dominate. And if that's the case, then you need to support your local "Mom & Pop" stores, no matter what their specialty (optical, photo, music, whatever)...

Quoting:
We didn't have a Zayre's in my home town, but there must have been one nearby because I remember newspaper and TV ads for the store. For some reason I always thought it was kind of like a Service Merchandise with a focus on jewelry.
End Quote

Sounds like you're confusing Zayre's w/ Zale's Jewelers...

Quoting:


That is amazing. You have never been to a Wal-Mart!
Are there no Wal-Marts around or do you make it a point not to go to one? Just curious....
End Quote

Contrary to popular belief, Wal-Mart has not (yet) penetrated every corner of this country! They weren't found on the west coast when I lived there in the '80s, and they weren't in the part of the Northeast where I lived during the '90s. In fact, it wasn't until last year, when I moved to the part of New England that I'm in now, that I was first exposed to Wal-Mart. I could be wrong, but based on the local chains he named (i.e., Target, K-mart, Montgomery Ward, Borders, Sears, etc.), it sounds like Steve_H_2002 lives on the west coast...

Added: Okay, his profile says St. Paul, MN, lol! (But all of those chains are/were found on the west coast!) :)

Quoting:
Again, if you live in a rural area, then yes, having a Wal-Mart in town could dominate. And if that's the case, then you need to support your local "Mom & Pop" stores, no matter what their specialty (optical, photo, music, whatever)...
End Quote

The only problem there is that if you do live in a rural area, Wal-Mart has probably already choked out the Mom & Pop stores.

Quoting:


Contrary to popular belief, Wal-Mart has not (yet) penetrated every corner of this country! They weren't found on the west coast when I lived there in the '80s, and they weren't in the part of the Northeast where I lived during the '90s. In fact, it wasn't until last year, when I moved to the part of New England that I'm in now, that I was first exposed to Wal-Mart. I could be wrong, but based on the local chains he named (i.e., Target, K-mart, Montgomery Ward, Borders, Sears, etc.), it sounds like Steve_H_2002 lives on the west coast...

Added: Okay, his profile says St. Paul, MN, lol! (But all of those chains are/were found on the west coast!) :)
End Quote

Walmart didn't come to Massachusetts until the late 90s.. but when they got here, they went in everywhere.. like every other town.. I think they must have opened a new one every six months...

I don't really remember seeing many places in my town close though.. there was already a mall here that did a good job on killing off the small mom and pop type places long before.. the only casualty I can think of is Spags, which is nowhere near as busy as it used to be.. they were the first bulk reseller in my area.. buy large quantities, sell cheap.. I remember going there in the 80s as a kid, and the place was packed.. nowadays it's never that crowded...

I personally try and stay away from Wal-mart as much as possible.. I never buy CDs or DVDs there (nothing worse than getting an edited version of something I can usally buy cheaper at BJs anyways).. they tend to pursue witch hunts against music groups and refuse to stock titles constantly.. I go there for rubbermaid containers, and maybe spray paint, but otherwise I shop elsewhere..

Quoting:


Just barely. Geez, not that I was a huge fan of the chain, but everyone here is talking like Ames went under several months ago, or something - the one here in my town just closed its doors for good this past Sunday (i.e., three days ago)! End Quote

You read too much into things. No one specified a time of Ames' closure, here. Also, the fact that the one in your town just closed a few days ago means very little. Other ones have been closed down for quite some time.

Then again, it does buy you another opportunity for you to disagree with something and correct us.  ::)

Quoting:
Unless you live in a rural area, I disagree. If you live in an urban or suburban region, you're not venturing out far enough from your home...End Quote

Plllllease! There's always a Wal-Mart within, at least, 20 minutes from anywhere, U.S.A! And if they're not there yet, they WILL be soon enough.

Quoting:
Again, not true, as not all Wal-Marts have a full-size grocery section (thus making it a "Super Center"), including the one in my town...End Quote

You said: "Again, not true,..."   ::)  

Hmmm.... This was not a debate, you know. There's no truth or lie situation going on here. You are just plain nit-picking.

Quoting:
lmao! Hardly - I visit the one here in my town maybe once a month, and aside from a few cheap food items, and an occasional CD or two that's on sale, I don't think I've ever bought anything else there!End Quote

You're not being stuck-up, are you? Just nit-picking again.  ::)
Shouldn't you be going to them Mom & Pop stores anyway and supporting them?

Quoting:
Again, if you live in a rural area, then yes, having a Wal-Mart in town could dominate. And if that's the case, then you need to support your local "Mom & Pop" stores, no matter what their specialty (optical, photo, music, whatever)...
End Quote

Could? No. DOES dominate.

Firstly, Mom & Pop stores are expensive. Secondly, they don't have the selection. The convinience of having multiple categories of merchandise available in one place is immesurable.

Another point:

Mom & Pop stores don't hire people. It is usually the same old couple and their extended family who run them. Maybe a couple of "hired hands" once in a blue moon.

Wal-Mart is one of the nation's largest employers. Wal-Mart may be putting those Mom & Pop places out of business, but they're sure not putting people out of work!

Many people, many of whom are in the moderate income bracket need every good bargain they can get, especially if they have a family. Wal-Mart's merchandise is well priced and not bad at all. I can judge that ALL for myself.

And that "you need to..." line you threw in there...  ::)

80smusicfreak, you go and support your little Mom & Pop places. No preaching necessary. Just do it.

Quoting:
... and I remember Kreske's (sp?) and especially Ben Franklin stores (Grandfolks lived up in Aitkin and that was the only store in the small town and county seat...)... always stopped off at Bridgemans on the way up for onion rings and root beer floats...
End Quote

 I remember Ben Franklin stores Quite well.   There is one in Estes Park Colorado that was still in buisness when I went there in 2000, and another in Big Timber Montana that was still in buisness in 1995 (I bought toothpaste there when our car broke down).  They may be still around.

 As for the Mal mart Issue, I grew up in Portland,OR,  and we had a similar store called Fred Myers ("You'll find it at Freddies" was a household slogan).   A Wal-mart  didn't open in Oregon until 1993.   I don't know know if they have any more now, but Fred Myers had a hold on the market.  

Quoting:


Sounds like you're confusing Zayre's w/ Zale's Jewelers...
End Quote

You're right. But I must have seen ads for Zayre's, because that's the only way I would have known of its existence.

Quoting:
We didn't have a Zayre's in my home town, but there must have been one nearby because I remember newspaper and TV ads for the store. For some reason I always thought it was kind of like a Service Merchandise with a focus on jewelry.
End Quote

Quoting:


Sounds like you're confusing Zayre's w/ Zale's Jewelers...
End Quote

Quoting:
There have never been any Zayre's here either but there is ZAIRES jewelry store.

End Quote

Now I'm more confused than ever...  :-/

Quoting:
I remember Zayre's.  Around here, they made a point of carrying items that were wanted or needed locally. One example: There are a lot of private Catholic schools in the area, and part of the girl's uniforms was knee socks in the school's color.

Not knee-highs, which are nylon like panty-hose, only ending at the knee; but actual, thick winter-weight socks that went all the way to the knee.  Zayre's was the only store in the area that would carry them at a reasonalble price (like less than $10 a pair  :P ).  They eventually went out of business, and Ames took over most of their locations.

On the Wal-Mart issue, the only ones around here are in the suburbs.  You "can't get there from here" by bus, which leaves out the inner-city poor ( a group of people, including myself, who would benefit most from the lower prices).

That's another reason I miss Zayre's (and to a lesser extent, Bradlees.) They had most of their stores located on public transportation lines, to maximize customer accessibility. End Quote

It may be a good idea for you to go to the Wal-Mart site and contact them on that issue. They're always looking to open a new store somewhere and they take great pride in their help given to social/economic issues. They actually respond to e-mails!  :o  ;)

Quoting:


It may be a good idea for you to go to the Wal-Mart site and contact them on that issue. They're always looking to open a new store somewhere and they take great pride in their help given to social/economic issues. They actually respond to e-mails!  :o  ;)
End Quote

:o :o :o  Wow!! I didn't know that!

Thanks, Hairspray :) I will definitely contact them.  My brother took me to a Wal-Mart 2 years ago (when he still had a car) and I fell in love!  There is a K-Mart nearby, but since the chain is in financial trouble, I'm not sure how much longer they will be open.  Half the time, they are "out" of things I go there specifically to get. (Or they never got them in.)

Quoting:


:o :o :o  Wow!! I didn't know that!

Thanks, Hairspray :) I will definitely contact them.  My brother took me to a Wal-Mart 2 years ago (when he still had a car) and I fell in love!  There is a K-Mart nearby, but since the chain is in financial trouble, I'm not sure how much longer they will be open.  Half the time, they are "out" of things I go there specifically to get. (Or they never got them in.)
End Quote

You very welcome!  :)

Quoting: Wal-Mart's too much of a giant for anyone, anymore. End Quote

I totally agree!  My city has not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 stinkin' Walmart Supercenters, and I hate every one of them.  Walmart is kinda like the sore thumb of the "large discount store" chains in my opinion.  Its always a mess, kids running all over playing with toys and yelling, merchandise all over the floor, etc etc.  

Personally, I just go to Target, or if I really have to I go to Meijer(which is becomeing more like Walmart every day)

Quoting:


I totally agree!  My city has not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 stinkin' Walmart Supercenters, and I hate every one of them.  Walmart is kinda like the sore thumb of the "large discount store" chains in my opinion.  Its always a mess, kids running all over playing with toys and yelling, merchandise all over the floor, etc etc. End Quote

All Wal-Marts aren't like that. The ones in my area are quite organized, well stocked and clean.  ;)  I've accepted Wal-Mart's here to stay, so I'm making the best of it.

Quoting: All Wal-Marts aren't like that. The ones in my area are quite organized, well stocked and clean.  End Quote

Well, I guess your area is the exception to the rule.  So far, every Walmart I have been to in the last 5 years has been exactly as I described in my previous post.  And that includes Walmarts in states ranging from Indiana all the way down to Florida, they have all seemed the same.  

Quoting:


Well, I guess your area is the exception to the rule.  So far, every Walmart I have been to in the last 5 years has been exactly as I described in my previous post.  And that includes Walmarts in states ranging from Indiana all the way down to Florida, they have all seemed the same.  
End Quote

It must be a regional thing. That's too bad.  :-/

Quoting:


Well, I guess your area is the exception to the rule.  So far, every Walmart I have been to in the last 5 years has been exactly as I described in my previous post.  And that includes Walmarts in states ranging from Indiana all the way down to Florida, they have all seemed the same.  
End Quote

I'm gonna take an educated stab in the dark here, and say that it's a local management issue. In chains that have more than one store in my town, the difference between two individual stores are quite phenominal.

Example: We have two K-Marts within city limits.  One is always clean, well-stocked, and the employees are generally polite, though not very knowledgeable.  The other one is a filth-pit, the employees are rude, and I'm scared to death to walk into it (and it's in a "nice" part of town).  Both are company-owned, not franchisees (if K-Mart even allows such a thing).

You can often see the same differences between two fast-food places of the same chain.

You could try complaining to corporate HQ, but I'm not sure how much difference it would make.

Quoting: I'm gonna take an educated stab in the dark here, and say that it's a local management issue
End Quote

As I said, it has been the same in all Walmarts I have been in, not just in my city, but all over the country.

Quoting:
As I said, it has been the same in all Walmarts I have been in, not just in my city, but all over the country.
End Quote

Try looking at it with the "glass 1/2 full" type of perspective next time.  ;)

There are always bad apples in the bunch. With a chain that huge, the bad apples are multiplied. You just happen to hit all the "bad apples", it seems.  :-/  That's too bad.

Quoting:There are always bad apples in the bunch. With a chain that huge, the bad apples are multiplied. You just happen to hit all the "bad apples", it seems.  :-/  That's too bad.
End Quote

I guess I'll have to take your word for it.  Because as long as there are Targets, KMarts, and Meijers, I won't be subjecting myself to the chore of enduring another trip the Walmart.

Quoting:Was Zayre's a regional store because for the life of me I cannot remember any store by that name?End Quote

After hours of extensive research (ok a couple minutes on google) it seems like Zayre's was only located on the East Coast. I only find mentions of Zayres in Pittsburgh, Florida, Georgia...and Illinois.

Quoting:


After hours of extensive research (ok a couple minutes on google) it seems like Zayre's was only located on the East Coast. I only find mentions of Zayres in Pittsburgh, Florida, Georgia...and Illinois.
End Quote

Impossible, Sonvolt.  I remember the store, in Minnesota, in the 60s and 70s.  They never had any customers, but they were here.

Quoting:
...even though it was Ames by that time. End Quote

So then did the Ames Corporation take over Zayres?  Because we had Ames here, just never Zayres.

Quoting:Impossible, Sonvolt.  I remember the store, in Minnesota, in the 60s and 70s.  They never had any customers, but they were here. End Quote

I know...I used to go to one in Illinois.(if you read the first post it says I went to one in Round Lake, IL...I guess I should have said from the midwest too...sorry. (I live in Washington State now..so everything is eastern to me)

Quoting:
Yes, I remember Zayres very well. Where I came from in Massachusetts there were two nearby. When I got older I ended up working in one, even though it was Ames by that time. I remember one of my cousins who was 4 at the time saying 'There's always a sale at Zayres!'
End Quote

Didn't Zayre's also have some sort of guarantee that "if there are more than three people in line" they would open another cash register?  Or was that another chain?

BTW, bagpipegirl, what part of Massachusetts?  That's where I'm from, too! :D

Quoting:


Didn't Zayre's also have some sort of guarantee that "if there are more than three people in line" they would open another cash register?  Or was that another chain?

BTW, bagpipegirl, what part of Massachusetts?  That's where I'm from, too! :D
End Quote

You're probably right about the 'more than 3 customers in line' rule. Even when I worked at the service desk in Ames I had to make sure there weren't loads of people waiting and call up the next person to open another register. By that time scanners and stuff were in use , so people weren't waiting as long anymore. I think I left it until there were probably about 7-10 people.

I'm from the Springfield, Mass area. I think there were two Zayres and a few Ames as well, but the Zayres became Ames and then the original Ames' closed down. I haven't been back home for nearly a year, but my mother told me that Ames is gone completely now.

First it was Bradlee's and Caldor's..now <sniff> Ames!
I also heard that K-Mart is in jeopardy now too.

I don't think Wal-Mart is all THAT great! Funny thing is, Wal-Mart is even taking over grocery stores in the UK..I don't think Wal-mart itself has a store here..the grocery store kept it's name but it says 'a Wal-Mart company' on the bags or something of that nature.

Quoting:


I could be wrong, but based on the local chains he named (i.e., Target, K-mart, Montgomery Ward, Borders, Sears, etc.), it sounds like Steve_H_2002 lives on the west coast...

Added: Okay, his profile says St. Paul, MN, lol! (But all of those chains are/were found on the west coast!) :)
End Quote

They are here too, in Memphis.

Quoting:


I totally agree!  My city has not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 stinkin' Walmart Supercenters,

End Quote

I love Wal-Mart, There are 7 that immediately come to mind here in Memphis. Some I would prefer not to go to, but it really just depends on what part of town you are in. Most here are very nice, clean, well organized and easy to get around.

Quoting:


There are 7 that immediately come to mind here in Memphis. Some I would prefer not to go to, but it really just depends on what part of town you are in. Most here are very nice, clean, well organized and easy to get around.
End Quote

I think a lot has to do with how long the store has been open.  For example, the 4th and newest Walmart that just opened here in my city is fairly clean.  However, the other 3 have steadily declined in cleanliness, organization, etc since opening day.  The first and oldest one is horrible.  Its only a matter of time before the newest one is the same way.  

Thanks but no thanks, I'll stick with Kmart and Target.