Tuesday OT: a business from your childhood that is extinct

[Steve]

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

The original Gibson's were smaller stores in rural 3K to 6K size towns. They had a nice niche with little competition in this market. Wal-mart started to infringe into the smaller town market. The response was to counter with larger stores in larger markets along with the name change to Pamida. Pamida was chosen in reference to co-founder's sons Pat-Mike-David.

My closest connection to Pamida was that I once had a concert date with the other co-founder's step-daughter. It was the most thorough background check I ever had when picking up a date. She was brought home on time.

 

[Clonedogg]

There was a local burger chain in CR/IC that I loved. I think it was called the Dill-Burger.

Which reminds me that Dill spread was a big dill around here, Subway even carried it locally for quite a while then stopped.

 

[cyadict]

Sernett’s department store. I used to love going there as a kid. Seemed like they had everything.

I remember there being one in Algona.

 

[Trice]

Seems like there's a lot of Shopko Opticals out there.

I think that's all Shopko is now. Weird that the only surviving part of the business is optical. They opened a new location in Ankeny of all places maybe two or three years ago.

 

[Trice]

Who can forget Richman Gordman's with all the giant animal toys to play on in that room in the back of the store. I think they had a Nintendo sitting out to play too.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Richman Gordmans with the animal play area/slides. There was one on Hickman in Windsor Heights that’s like a State of Iowa office building now.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Who can forget Richman Gordman's with all the giant animal toys to play on in that room in the back of the store. I think they had a Nintendo sitting out to play too.

Holy **** we just mind melded.

 

[HFCS]

OMG. Just thought of one. Phar-Mor. I used to love that store.

Phar mor had incredible NES rental deals. I’m pretty sure I could get 3 games for price of one on certain days. I also bought music there, it was as good as the mall record stores but cheaper.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Phar mor had incredible NES rental deals. I’m pretty sure I could get 3 games for price of one on certain days. I also bought music there, it was as good as the mall record stores but cheaper.

They also had a really good house soda brand that that I can’t remember. The orange soda was awesome.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

TG&Y - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

There was one of these in Ames growing up either where Cyclone Liquors is or right near it.

 

[ISU4Life]

Tons of these are brining back memories. Spencer’s is one I don’t think has been mentioned.

 

[Gonzo]

There was a local burger chain in CR/IC that I loved. I think it was called the Dill-Burger.

Which reminds me that Dill spread was a big dill around here, Subway even carried it locally for quite a while then stopped.

Dill Burger was great, lower level of Lindale Mall in CR.

 

[alarson]

Tons of these are brining back memories. Spencer’s is one I don’t think has been mentioned.

Like the mall store? Those still exist

 

[CychiatricWard]

The original Battles BBQ in Ames. Free refills on lemonade. Once they moved and stopped the refills it was game over.

Dinner and Deserts, I think it was called, corner of north grand mall in Ames as you went towards the movie theater. Had the best smoothies.

Taco Time on Lincoln way. I’m craving one as we speak. Had it when I was in Missoula this summer and it’s still killer.

Moovies in west Ames.

Chinese Homestyle Cooking.

 

[Donqluione]

I miss Des Moines Sports. They had great quality merchandise, both clothing and sporting goods of all sports, for good prices that became VERY good in their latter days when their computer system apparently shorted out and fried. Checking out was like a lottery drawing, never knew what the computer would ring up vs the rack prices.

I felt guilty the first couple of times, told the clerk I thought what rang up wasn't right, was told that's what the almighty computer said the price was, so I just went with the flow, got lots of great deals. Started to it was just a big money laundry for stolen goods, how could they bleed that much lost income without realizing something was wrong. Annnnd, then they were bankrupt. Going out of business prices weren't as good as the every day random drawing prices had been.

 

[KnappShack]

There was a place in the mall (Westdale?) that had a place we'd hit on a special occasion. York Steakhouse I believe was the name.

Ground Round

Showbiz Pizza!!!!

Disc Jockey records

Really too many to name.

 

[ISU4Life]

Like the mall store? Those still exist

Yep, I didn’t look to see if it is still around nationally, just don’t remember seeing them in the DSM area anymore.

 

[JK4ISU]

I went to school at ISU in the late 70’s and 80’s. I recently retired and moved back to Ames. The things I miss: Many stores at the mall. I worked at Sears ( if Sears doesn’t have it, you don’t need it!), I got groceries at Randall’s, I drank at the Hallway. I miss Dugan’s Deli and The Mandarin. I miss Fred the barber. All in all, Ames has changed a lot, but surprisingly little.

 

[scyclonekid]

When (and where) was there a Sears in Ottumwa?

I lived there in the 80's and 90's and don't recall one.

I thought it was a block East of main st. I was maybe 5. Just remember my dad was pumped about a craftsman lawn mower. Maybe it wasn’t Sears been a long time.

 

[NickTheGreat]

Who can forget Richman Gordman's with all the giant animal toys to play on in that room in the back of the store. I think they had a Nintendo sitting out to play too.

Richman Gordmans with the animal play area/slides. There was one on Hickman in Windsor Heights that’s like a State of Iowa office building now.

Was going to say this. FYI the children's museum in Omaha has a set out for kids to play with. They are much smaller than I remember them being...