Tuesday OT: a business from your childhood that is extinct

[CycloneSpinning]

Saw this news today, loved going thru the catalog.


What's your Eastbay?

Eastbay seems somewhat significant. That was certainly a staple growing up. My main one is probably so obscure it borders on dumb to mention. The Rose Petal in Irwin. I was pretty young when it went out of business, but I have so many good early childhood memories at that restaurant…

Second one might be Marshall Fields. I didn’t personally do much shopping there, but something in the city of Chicago seemed to die with that store. Christmas was certainly better when it was around. Macy’s is a poor substitute.

 

[CycloneErik]

Sub sandwich place in my hometown Parkersburg growing up called Falcon’s Nest. To this day still the best subs I’ve ever had. Unfortunately after a few passes of ownership, it turned into a stupid candle/craft store

I'm guessing those are not the best subs you've ever had?

 

[JP4CY]

Eastbay seems somewhat significant. That was certainly a staple growing up. My main one is probably so obscure it borders on dumb to mention. The Rose Petal in Irwin. I was pretty young when it went out of business, but I have so many good early childhood memories at that restaurant…

Second one might be Marshall Fields. I didn’t personally do much shopping there, but something in the city of Chicago seemed to die with that store. Christmas was certainly better when it was around. Macy’s is a poor substitute.

I remember Eastbay being huge because in small town Iowa it was a way to get matching team shoes.
I specifically remember my sister getting cheerleader shoes with snap in colors and the bottom rubber was molded for a hand. Those blew my mind.

 

[madguy30]

**** Chucky Cheese, Discovery Zone Kid until I die

It was Show Biz Pizza first.

 

[2speedy1]

Some of you long time Ames residents might know this one. Boyd's dairy. Early 80s, they still did milk delivery in those glass bottles. My parents turn of the century house has a milk box like the picture below and we got weekly delivery of milk from them. Boyd's was on Hayward and later just downtown for a few years before they closed up. Not surprisingly, they had the most amazing ice cream. Butterscotch malts were my primary go to.

Found an article on them

Those doors were normally used for coal chutes during the days of coal deliveries for coal furnaces. We had one on a house we lived in that was used to bring wood in for a wood burning stove, but was a repurposed coal door.

 

[dukeebear]

Saw this news today, loved going thru the catalog.


What's your Eastbay?

That's a bummer. I spent hours looking at their catalog

 

[isucyfan]

Does anybody else remember the CD shop in the back of the building on Welch that is next to Theta Chi fraternity? Back when the music came in the long boxes, '91-92. I don't think it was a chain, but my wife and I were talking about it recently. We went in there a lot to kill time and listen to new things.

Peeple's? Loved that place.

 

[Gonzo]

It was Show Biz Pizza first.

The Rock-A-Fire Explosion...

 

[Die4Cy]

There were Bonanza Steak Houses also. I remember because we'd hit them up on my dad's birthday.

Is the Ground Round still around?

What about Bishops? Was that a chain or local cafeteria type place?

 

[JP4CY]

Peeple's? Loved that place.

I remember Peeples and I think another one tries to start up in the Keg shop building.

 

[dukeebear]

Joyces grocery store. I worked their in HS, in small town. It closed probably 22 years ago.

Solid grocery store. Had one in my hometown

 

[2speedy1]

Also Pamida, dont know if they are still around.

Pamida was bought by Shopko... then shopko went out of business.

 

[cycloner29]

Eastbay seems somewhat significant. That was certainly a staple growing up. My main one is probably so obscure it borders on dumb to mention. The Rose Petal in Irwin. I was pretty young when it went out of business, but I have so many good early childhood memories at that restaurant…

Second one might be Marshall Fields. I didn’t personally do much shopping there, but something in the city of Chicago seemed to die with that store. Christmas was certainly better when it was around. Macy’s is a poor substitute.

Went to school in Irwin. I remember that. Also remember, Red’s Cafe, Mickel’s and the Holiday Buffet in Harlan. Wasn’t the Rose Petal, Wheeler’s supper club at one time? I also remember the Beer Barn in Kirkman.

 

[JustAnotherTimeline]

Mr bulky
So ho

 

[Malone]

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)

 

[KidSilverhair]

Big Bear.

You just brought back some memories. I haven’t thought about Big Bear stores in decades.

 

[cyclones500]

Some of these are closer to my childhood and a few more recently. Some were absorbed by other companies.

Borders Books
Coast to Coast
FuncoLand
Gibson’s
Musicland
Payless
Peoples Drug
Woolco

 

[2speedy1]

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

Shakeys is still around in some states

the leather store I think was Wilsons leather, they still are around. Believe there are a couple in Des Moines and others.

Hardware Hank is still alive and well, many of them in Iowa, including Boone.

 

[madguy30]

The Rock-A-Fire Explosion...

View attachment 107419

There's a documentary from years ago about people that rebuilt these things and made them fit different modern songs.

Was pretty cool, a little creepy.

 

[keepngoal]

So many to mention. So I’ll share just a few.

Jacks
Montgomery Ward (hated that store)
Aladians Castle (already mentioned)
Amacos
Pizza2U

I’m ready for Beat Buy.