List of defunct retailers of the United States

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Across the United States, a large number of local stores and store chains that started between the 1920s and 1950s have become defunct since the late 1960s, when many chains were either consolidated or liquidated. Some have been lost due to mergers. Below is a list of defunct retailers of the United States.

Contents

[edit] Automotive

[edit] Catalog showrooms

  • Ardan 1950—1986 An outgrowth of a family-owned jewelry business dating back to 1885,[11] Ardan showroom locations increased to 68 across the Midwest and California by 1983, when the company began closing and selling showrooms due to shrinking market share, and stopped retailing non-jewelry merchandise.[12][13] Some showrooms were acquired by Service Merchandise.[14]
  • Best Products — ceased business in 1998 after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996
  • Brendle's — operated 58 showrooms in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee; closed in 1996, a few months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time
  • Consumers and Consumers Express
  • K's Merchandise
  • Service Merchandise — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1999; ceased operations by early 2002. The name was resurrected in 2004 for an online retail operation.
  • Wilson's Jewelers — Southern states, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; acquired by Service Merchandise in 1986
  • Witmark — operated in southwestern Michigan; founded 1969, liquidated 1997

[edit] Clothing, shoes, & specialty stores

[edit] Department and discount stores

[edit] Drug stores

[edit] Electronics stores

[edit] Five-and-dime/Variety stores

[edit] Furniture stores

[edit] Grocery stores and supermarkets

[edit] Home improvement

[edit] Home decor and craft stores

[edit] Music and video stores (records, tapes, books, CDs, DVDs, etc.)

[edit] Office supply stores

[edit] Camping, sports or athletic stores

[edit] Toy stores

[edit] Warehouse clubs and membership department stores

[edit] Restaurants

[edit] References

  1. ^ "10,000 Auto Parts leaves many losers". St. Paul Pioneer Press. March 4, 1990. {fee required}.
  2. ^ "GD Auto can buy 10,000 Auto Parts' Assets, Judge Says". St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN) (NewsBank): p. 10C Business. March 31, 1990. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB5D999827CD0F6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved January 29, 2012. (subscription required)
  3. ^ "Champion owners plan to buy assets of 10,000 Auto Parts stores, reopen 10". Minneapolis Star-Tribune (NewsBank). April 3, 1990. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EFE477E28592004&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "AutoZone acquires 112-store Auto Palace chain". Memphis Business Journal. February 18, 1998.
  5. ^ "We've Got You Covered". Record-Journal. March 22, 1998. p. D6.
  6. ^ "Company news; APS Holding to sell 142 Big A Auto Parts stores". New York Times. September 11, 1998.
  7. ^ Daly, Dan (March 7, 2007). "Talking Business: Prime Time Jerky gone". Rapid City Journal.
  8. ^ "Western Auto Acquires Wheels Discount Auto" (press release). Western Auto (Sears). October 20, 1995.
  9. ^ "Wheels Yields To Parts America". Schenectady:The Daily Gazette. February 20, 1996, p. D3.
  10. ^ "Fays Inc · 8-K · Wheels Discount Auto Supply, Inc. sold to Western Auto (Sears)". Securities and Exchange Commission. November 30, 1995.
  11. ^ "Ardan, catalog store, will open". The Modesto Bee: p. A-7. September 7, 1976. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1948&dat=19760907&id=AUYhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O38FAAAAIBAJ&pg=857,1877393. 
  12. ^ "Ardan catalog operation to close". Discount Store News (Findarticles.com). February 17, 1986. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_v25/ai_4138140/. 
  13. ^ "Two Showrooms Closed by Ardan". Lexington Herald-Leader (KY): p. B5. January 17, 1985. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73778AA48E96D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. (subscription required)
  14. ^ "2 operations consolidated by Carlson". Discount Store News (Findarticles.com). July 8, 1985. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_v24/ai_3850639/. 
  15. ^ Shapiro, Carolyn. January 12, 2008, The Virginian-Pilot, "After 139 years, A&N stores to close doors".
  16. ^ "Woolworth's to shut Anderson Little chain. (F.W. Woolworth Co. closes Anderson Little-Richman Brothers)". Highbeam.com. April 6, 1992. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-12107513.html. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
  17. ^ "Gentlemen's Wear-House chain using Anderson-Little Logo.". Highbeam.com. September 24, 1993. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-14436929.html. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
  18. ^ "Bell tolls for Anderson-Little. (Men's clothing retailer to close in New England in early 1997)". Highbeam.com. September 16, 1996. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18692047.html. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
  19. ^ "NewStandard: 11/18/96". Archive.southcoasttoday.com. November 18, 1996. http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-96/11-18-96/a01lo008.htm. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
  20. ^ Welker, Grant (July 16, 2008). "Anderson-Little is back in fashion — Fall River, Massachusetts". The Herald News. http://www.heraldnews.com/business/x1768848155/Anderson-Little-is-back-in-fashion. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
  21. ^ "Lawrence Israel; Ex-Engineer Founded Judy's, G.Hq. Clothing Store Chains". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 1991. http://articles.latimes.com/1991-09-28/news/mn-2651_1_lawrence-israel. 
  22. ^ a b "New owners dress up Judy's clothing store chain". Los Angeles Business Journal. June 14, 1993. http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-california-metro-areas/379975-1.html. 
  23. ^ Defying the odds: sharing the lessons I learned as a pioneer entrepreneur. Overlook Press. 2002. p. 235. ISBN 978-1585673070. http://books.google.com/books?id=vRe3AAAAIAAJ&q=forced+into+bankruptcy#search_anchor. 
  24. ^ "Encyclopedia of Cleveland History:RICHMAN BROTHERS CO". Ech.case.edu. June 20, 1997. http://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=RBC. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
  25. ^ "COMPANY NEWS — Richman Chain Will Be Closed". New York Times. April 3, 1992. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEFD91430F930A35757C0A964958260. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
  26. ^ "Sound Advice starts liquidation sales, will shut down". St. Petersburg Times. Tampabay.com. http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/article891247.ece. Retrieved June 19, 2010. 
  27. ^ Weber, Bruce (November 27, 2008). "Sandy Ruby, Co-Founder of Tech Hifi, Dies at 67". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/business/27ruby.html. Retrieved May 8, 2010. 
  28. ^ More Stores. Groceteria.com. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  29. ^ "G. E. Lowman and Twin Food Stores". Twin Food Stores—Baltimore (Md.) area supermarkets of yesteryear. AtlasCommunications. 2010. http://atlascom.us/TwinFood.htm. Retrieved January 28, 2010. 
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