I put this here because it's not particular to a decade, and I hope there isn't a similar subject somewhere back.


Anyway. One thing I miss from the past, are the places I used to go. Businesses had more competition.

For music all there is now, here anyway, is FYE and Best Buy. Circuit City shut down forever in 2009. There was also a big one called Believe In Music that's long gone.

For books I remember Walden Books. There was one in the older mall.

Another store I miss is Natural Wonders. I would spend lots of time in there when I was 13 and 14, looking at everything. We have Sleeping Tiger and new age stores, but it's not the same.

Restaurants I wish still existed would be a couple Chinese buffets I used to eat at often, but those are all over. When one is gone, a new one pops up.

Lucky's which became Albertsons and Blockbuster

Lucky's which became Albertsons and Blockbuster

We have ONE Blockbuster left, and the big one is gone completely. It's Family Video now. Blockbuster got so expensive.

We have ONE Blockbuster left, and the big one is gone completely. It's Family Video now. Blockbuster got so expensive.
I remember going there everyday to rent games and movies. Now they are going out of business.

Here's a few for my fellow Canadians.  I miss these three stores alot ...


Music World
out of business:  2007

http://www.calgary-city-maps.com/images/Music_World_Logo.jpg


A&A Records and Tapes
out of business:  1993

The flagship A&A Records store in Toronto can be seen in the 1982 film Class of 1984 starring Perry King, Timothy Van Patten and Michael J Fox (as pictured below in an actual scene from the film).  Some see this as a filming goof as the movie is knowingly set in the United States (which is evident in a scene where the American flag is seen raised up the school's flagpole)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/godeltsihw/AandA_zpsfb370027.jpg


Towers Department Store
out of business:  1991

Towers was featured in two 1987 episodes of Degrassi Junior High:  When LD helps Melanie buy a bra, and when Lucy and Voula are caught shoplifting.  In the 1984 film Police Academy, a Towers store can be seen as the punks are hauling Leslie Barbara's photo booth to the bridge.

http://www.towersdepartmentstores.info/images/cole_harbour/129_1718.JPG

Yugoslavia!

We have ONE Blockbuster left, and the big one is gone completely. It's Family Video now. Blockbuster got so expensive.


Blockbuster where I live is almost out of business, there are still a couple left.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5123/5275507996_d9d6d9e4a4_z.jpg

Korvettes started in 1948 and went bankrupt Chapter 11 in 1980 almost 35 years.

http://www.plaidstallions.com/toystores/lionel.jpg

Playworld Toy Store

http://shopboxingday.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/zellers-boxing-day.png

This is another example of a Canadian business that did well in the beginning and went out of business with the changing times. 

1931-2013

A&A Records and Tapes
out of business:  1993

The flagship A&A Records store in Toronto can be seen in the 1982 film Class of 1984 starring Perry King, Timothy Van Patten and Michael J Fox (as pictured below in an actual scene from the film).  Some see this as a filming goof as the movie is knowingly set in the United States (which is evident in a scene where the American flag is seen raised up the school's flagpole)



I went to that A&A's several hundred times in my life. To buy albums, lining up for boxing day sales, buying concert tickets. "Sam the record man" was 2 stores south of it on Yonge street. And the only one left is in Belleville. I think you posted a pic of it a year ago.  When the Argos won the Grey Cup in 1983, we went down in my buddy's car to celebrate and it was almost turned over by drunks (while we were in the car) right in front of the A&A's. lol

Blockbuster where I live is almost out of business, there are still a couple left.

The one nearest my house went out of business half a year ago. I think they may be on their way out.



We have ONE Blockbuster left, and the big one is gone completely. It's Family Video now. Blockbuster got so expensive.

That, and the fact that many people don't like to go out to video/dvd rental places anymore; they'd rather use Netflix or a similar service... or rent movies "on demand" from their service provider.

http://www.hazletboa.org/images3/two%20guys.jpg

Two Guys department store was started in 1946 and went bankrupt in 1982, they were in financial trouble.

I went to that A&A's several hundred times in my life. To buy albums, lining up for boxing day sales, buying concert tickets. "Sam the record man" was 2 stores south of it on Yonge street. And the only one left is in Belleville. I think you posted a pic of it a year ago.  When the Argos won the Grey Cup in 1983, we went down in my buddy's car to celebrate and it was almost turned over by drunks (while we were in the car) right in front of the A&A's. lol


With that A&A being so close to Sam's, did the Boxing day line-ups ever get mixed up?

The last remaining Sam the Record Man is in Belleville, Ontario.  The franchise used to be all about low prices, but now that this one is independently owned, the prices can be quite high.  Often at times though, they have things that HMV or Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Future Shop will not have

http://www.countryroadshastings.ca/photos/custom/sam4.jpg

In the store, they modified the original logo to say "YES, THIS IS THE LAST SAM THE RECORD MAN"

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l8rSq3s1qwY/Ttm3DwDuK5I/AAAAAAAAWbw/v6AtfokV5Ac/s1600/wi+milw+gimbels+70s.jpg

Gimbels Department Store

With that A&A being so close to Sam's, did the Boxing day line-ups ever get mixed up?



Nope.

http://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/20120420aa.jpg

Sam's lineup went to the right (in the photo) and there was a little alleyway between it and the next store ( I think it was a CIBC??), so the lineup continued there. Old men used to play chess on tables in that alleyway (late 1970s)

The A&A's lineup (which was usually a bit shorter) went to the left of the store.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/zomfgspazlolzorz/2-20-06/000_0378.jpg

http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp124/rcazas/hcm/towerrecords.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/zomfgspazlolzorz/2-20-06/000_0378.jpg

http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp124/rcazas/hcm/towerrecords.jpg

We had Sam Goody! It had better band t-shirts than FYE does. Now you have to go online.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f65/zomfgspazlolzorz/2-20-06/000_0378.jpg

http://i404.photobucket.com/albums/pp124/rcazas/hcm/towerrecords.jpg


I remember Sam Goody, they had such a great collection.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sduXKVLHwBg/TaZc-FnvcoI/AAAAAAAAHwE/Nu52SEdVWvE/s1600/ny+nyc+gertz+60s+clr.jpg


Gertz Plaza Mall

I remember Sam Goody, they had such a great collection.

It felt like there was more to pick from than FYE, and certainly more than Best Buy, which tends to carry more the newest of music. I can order if I really can't find something and that's not a problem, but it's less convenient. There are used record shops, but it's luck of the draw there.

It felt like there was more to pick from than FYE, and certainly more than Best Buy, which tends to carry more the newest of music. I can order if I really can't find something and that's not a problem, but it's less convenient. There are used record shops, but it's luck of the draw there.



There's this used record shop and they sell old vinyls, cassette tapes and videos of past and present. They have been in business for quite a long time. It's called Breakdown Records.

never mind Katana, Breakdown has officially closed permanently, guess they couldn't keep up with the competition any longer. The place was a mess anyway. :(

There's this used record shop and they sell old vinyls, cassette tapes and videos of past and present. They have been in business for quite a long time. It's called Breakdown Records.

never mind Katana, Breakdown has officially closed permanently, guess they couldn't keep up with the competition any longer. The place was a mess anyway. :(

The one here has all that too, plus an old pinball machine you can play for free in the back room.  :) The one downtown has good metal to pick from, but it's not ALL used, just some. That and it's hard to drive to and not in the best area. There was another on a different street that closed down a couple years ago I would also go to. What do you mean the one you knew was a mess?

My very old house that my family lived in from 1991 to 2001 was torn down in 2002.

We had to move because the last three years the house was infested with roaches and mice!!  8-P
When I slept at night in the late 90s and early 00s, there would be mice crawling on the floor, and I could hear squeaks in the kitchen.

http://img1.bdbphotos.com/images/orig/h/n/hn8qb0241tjnbq2h.jpg?kj8as6ye


http://static.neatorama.com/images/2008-04/wt-grant-co.jpg

http://www.wtv-zone.com/dpjohnson/60sdiscountstores/zayre.png


http://i.somethingawful.com/u/abraham/alod/alod_ames_store.jpg



Cat

Agnew shoes in Canada went out of business in the mid 90s.  I remember there being a location at the Dufferin Mall in Toronto.  I used to buy my shoes there whenever the other stores didn't have shoes in my size.  :( I was sad to see it go.  :(

The one here has all that too, plus an old pinball machine you can play for free in the back room.  :) The one downtown has good metal to pick from, but it's not ALL used, just some. That and it's hard to drive to and not in the best area. There was another on a different street that closed down a couple years ago I would also go to. What do you mean the one you knew was a mess?


You'd come into the store and it smelt of incense which I'm not crazy about, a lot of the records and CDs, most of them were out of order scattered all over the place.

http://img1.bdbphotos.com/images/orig/h/n/hn8qb0241tjnbq2h.jpg?kj8as6ye


http://static.neatorama.com/images/2008-04/wt-grant-co.jpg

http://www.wtv-zone.com/dpjohnson/60sdiscountstores/zayre.png


http://i.somethingawful.com/u/abraham/alod/alod_ames_store.jpg



Cat


I remember Caldor.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_bcS60NRiXFk/SX_EQvYzK2I/AAAAAAAABeM/fJ-VFBo74Gg/s320/Mego_logo.JPG

A corporation by the name of Mego sold dolls and figurines in the mid to late 1970's, it filed for bankruptcy in 1983. My father worked with that company and I remember he brought home Clown Around in 1981.

http://www.prestoimages.net/store/graphics02/1141_pd958699_1.jpg

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/PKQAAOxyJX9SH~KZ/$T2eC16F,!)EE9s2ufE9RBSH+KYbmUg~~60_35.JPG

Miracle Food Mart
out of business:  1989

WNOus0fQU4g


Consumers Distributing
out of business:  1996

nLTb3G6X3E4


Agnew shoes in Canada went out of business in the mid 90s.  I remember there being a location at the Dufferin Mall in Toronto.  I used to buy my shoes there whenever the other stores didn't have shoes in my size.  :( I was sad to see it go.  :(


I remember Agnew.  They used to compete with Bata shoes, a store in itself that no longer operates retail in Canada, but from what I read, their office headquarters are still located in Toronto

http://media.filmschoolrejects.com/images/musicworld.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Woolworths_Hounslow_-_Closing_Down_Sale_-_Exterior.jpg

...but Woolworths does still trade online in the UK.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Woolworths_Hounslow_-_Closing_Down_Sale_-_Exterior.jpg

...but Woolworths does still trade online in the UK.


I remember Woolworth's.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CN/20140413/FINANCE/140419949/AR/0/Nobody-Beats-the-Wiz.jpg?q=100

The Wiz went bankrupt 11 years ago.

The Bargain Shops in Canada have all gone out of business or have been converted to Red Apple stores.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52aagdKt5nU/U4S4RYKhLcI/AAAAAAABK-Y/p050Ua5Frgk/s1600/bargain+shop.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/A%26S_logo.svg/200px-A%26S_logo.svg.png

http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/store/ttdb/krg0002/lowres/000138_regular.jpg?1249901946

http://www.trademarkia.com/logo-images/m-h-lamston/lamstons-73427198.jpg

Lamstons Store

West Country Pasty Company, the supplier and retailer of pasties and snacks, went into administration in April, but was bought by Enact (a fund) one day later. The Company ran 45 retail outlets plus facilities in 20 railway stations and employed 350 people. The new company will have the West Country Pasty Company brand along with 35 stores: 30 stores will close and 92 people will be made redundant. The reasons for the decline were given as the Government's 'pasty tax' (tax on items sold hot), but also increased competition in this sector.

West Country Pasty Company, the supplier and retailer of pasties and snacks, went into administration in April, but was bought by Enact (a fund) one day later. The Company ran 45 retail outlets plus facilities in 20 railway stations and employed 350 people. The new company will have the West Country Pasty Company brand along with 35 stores: 30 stores will close and 92 people will be made redundant. The reasons for the decline were given as the Government's 'pasty tax' (tax on items sold hot), but also increased competition in this sector.


I didn't think that was introduced in the end?

I didn't think that was introduced in the end?
The branch in Hammersmith when we last saw it, was closed with apology letters to customers. I will investigate that next time I am there.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/music-hits-last-track-at-cd-plus-116904198.html

http://media.winnipegfreepress.com/images/110224-_CD_1_14305695.jpg

This is but another Canadian based company that I was sad to see go.  But the record shops have gone the way of the dinosaurs.  :(

I remember both CD Plus and The Bargain Shop.  TBS! also operated under Liquidation World, and it too went under

Speaking of discount stores, I miss BiWay and Bargain Harolds

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CkipWT-ji0A/TzLFe63fNbI/AAAAAAAAAIk/DgarmPCBljI/s1600/Picture+2.png http://www.blogto.com/upload/2007/04/20070420_reuse2.jpg

There was also a record store called Discus.  They had one here at the local mall, but for some reason, I never once went into it.  My mom used to buy 45s and tapes from there on occasion

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Woolworths_Hounslow_-_Closing_Down_Sale_-_Exterior.jpg

...but Woolworths does still trade online in the UK.


Didn't Woolworths Canada go under at the same time that Woolco did or am I imagining things?
I remember when Woolco went under and was taken over by Wal-Mart.  At least the Woolco stores that weren't unionized were taken over by Wal-Mart the others stores that were unionized were closed down.
I hated that because I remember the Woolco store, that's now a Wal-Mart store, at the Dufferin Mall that had the moving treadmill thing that went down to the basement and the toy section.  I was enthralled to go down there and pick up toys for my me and my brother on our birthdays and on Christmas.  :)

9lJD8671Tpw

Becker's which was taken over by Mac's Milk or Daisy Mart.  Another convenience store that I was sad to see go but still.

http://placesnomore.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/5389440604_7f729d7aaf_b.jpg

CBGB's.

Canadian stores:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/canadianskeezix/EatonsShoppers.jpg

http://www.halifaxhistory.ca/simpsons-crop.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0bRrhyfW294/S_w1qU1hbhI/AAAAAAAADCk/B_wjcTmjRvQ/s1600/z+ca+pq+mon+morgans+50s+clr.jpg

http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/w9SYfWsrqfc/0.jpg