Tuesday OT: a business from your childhood that is extinct

cyclones500

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Jan 29, 2010
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Michigan
basslakebeacon.com
In our town Gibsons became Pamida.

Specific memory was a store in Muscatine called Stiles Drug. More of an everything store but yes, it did have a pharmacy. When I was a kid and candy bars were 5 cents each, you could get them there 3/12 cents. (I feel like the guy on Seinfeld. "A Hershey bar FOR A NICKEL!)

Ah yes, Gibson's became Pamida -- I saw refs to Pamida earlier the thread and I didn't make the connection.
 
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Trice

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Apr 1, 2010
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Shakey's Pizza
Waldenbooks
Ponderosa Steakhouse
The store at the mall that was just leather jackets and bags?
Big Boy
Chi Chi's
Sears/Wards
Rexall was my hometown drugstore
REX Electronics disappeared when Best Buy came around
Sav-U-More groceries
Eagle Country Market (groceries)
Hardware Hank

Loved Shakey's Pizza as a kid. I also miss actual restaurant Pizza Huts, which I think still exist in places.
 
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somecyguy

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Jun 19, 2006
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Suncoast video
Blockbuster

what was the music store other than Sam goody? I cant remember the name Sam Goody may have taken them over.

several of the others mentioned

Before Blockbuster went tits up, they opened a gigantic Blockbuster Music in CR where Barnes & Noble currently sits. Just huge. Any CD you could take to a listening station in the center of the store and an associate would open it and put the CD in the player for you. When you finished, they would put it back in a new plastic seal. I killed hours listening to some really obscure stuff.
 

HOTDON

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Mar 24, 2006
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Fort Dodge, IA
Man. Talk about getting punched square in the feels. I've got kids between 15 and 21 and I frequented well over a dozen of the places in the this post during those years. I have no way to describe Lazer X with Block Rockin' Beats blaring through the arena, flipping through singles cassettes at Pamida or getting dropped off on a Friday night at a small town roller skating rink (with a 7 in 10 chance it was named "Skateland"). They have no analogue for those things. Fortunately, by the same logic, they don't know what they're missing.
 

Jer

CF Founder, Creator
Feb 28, 2006
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Stella’s and Ruttles. Ogden skating rink and swimming pool. Eastbay brings back memories as that’s where I got my first Iowa State Starter jacket.
 

Acylum

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Nov 18, 2006
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Holiday Station Stores. They had a little bit of everything. Although I think I did see one in Nebraska a few years back.
Side story- when I was a jr in HS I had a senior friend whose college gf worked at the local Holiday. She would let us buy beer. One night after a baseball game, still with our unis on, we were walking out with a case of Schlitz. Right as our head coach was walking in. He just pointed to his car and said “Just put it in the back seat guys.” We briefly discussed whether he was serious but ultimately decided he was.
 
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MuskieCy

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Nov 4, 2006
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Yes, I'm same age as your brother. Graduated MHS 1974
Cohn's, Boston's Theater, Grimm's Drug, Safely's Sporting Goods, Lange's Jewelry, K&D Clothiers,........I could name many more.

I need to sleuth you out now!!!
 

ISpyCy

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Sep 17, 2011
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Harlan, IA/Lincoln, NE
That happened fast too. Bought them all out, changed the signage, then shut everything down. Weird.
The large ShopKo stores were alright. The former Pamida stores were basically stocked with all the secondary junk that wouldn't sell anywhere else. Sounds like private investors bought the stores, loaded them with debt to pay themselves, couldn't find a buyer, said "screw it" and liquidated.

 
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scyclonekid

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Feb 13, 2008
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Talking about downtown Ottumwa, I remember that being jammed with shoppers coming up on Christmas time - the traffic light cycle actually would stop traffic in all directions at the intersection of Market and Main so pedestrians could cross kitty-korner.

JC Penney’s downtown, with a toy section in the lower level; Western Auto always had bikes in the window; Kresges; Osco Drug with the angled entrance right on the corner; Seiferts … things have changed a lot in that town since my memories from the late 1960s-early 70s.
Downtown was full of great places to shop I grew up there in the 80’s and 90’s. Crazy days was awesome Browns had a great selection of shoes. Then it just went to ****. I left in 99 to move to Ames. I fondly remember my grandparents telling me to get the heck out.
 

JustAnotherTimeline

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Jul 29, 2021
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Paul Revere’s Pizza in the Drake neighborhood
Ground Round on Merle Hay
The Rookie (sports cards)
Dave’s Ball Cards
Hollywood Video
Lazer X
Merle Hay Lanes (with the excessive indoor smoking)

Which Dave's?

Ground round!!! Where kids had to weigh in for the price of their kids meal! That wouldnt fly these days

Ah yes. My smoking cover.


Great list.
 
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