Convenience Stores Closing

[ameskmart1]

I've been to:
Best: Missoula, MT 1996
Ernst Home & Nursery: Missoula, MT 1996
HomeBase: Boise, ID 2001
Kmart: Boise, ID 2003
KB Toys: Nampa, ID 2003
KB Toys: Boise, ID 2004
B. Dalton Booksellers: Boise, ID 2004
Ultimate Electronics: Boise, ID 2005
Big Lots: Boise, ID 2005
Sam Goody: Twin Falls, ID 2006
Sam Goody: Missoula, MT 2006
Super Save Drugs & Food: Pocatello, ID 2006
Macy's: Chubbuck, ID 2006
King's Discount Stores: Nampa, ID 2006 (store stopped sale and restocked in shelves)
Ace Hardware: Meridian, ID 2006
Tower Records: Portland, OR 2006
Mervyns: Portland, OR 2006
Book Warehouse: Boise, ID 2006
Only $1.00 Superstore: Meridian, ID 2007
Only $1.00 Superstore: Boise, ID 2007
Only $1.00 Superstore: Missoula, MT 2007
Liquidation World: Boise, ID 2007
Suncoast Motion Picture Company: Boise, ID 2007
Bombay Company: Boise, ID 2007
CompUSA: Boise, ID 2007
Mervyns: Boise, ID 2008
Linens N Things: Boise, ID 2008
Steve & Barry's: Nampa, ID 2008
KB Toy Outlet: Boise, ID 2009
JoAnn Fabrics (2 locations, actually moving sales): Boise, ID 2009
Sportsman's Warehouse: Nampa, ID 2009
Gottschalks: Yakima, WA 2009
Joe's Sporting Goods: Nampa, ID 2009
OfficeMax: Nampa, ID 2009
Rite Aid: Boise, ID 2009
B. Dalton Booksellers: Nampa, ID 2009
Macy's: Boise, ID 2010
Hollywood Video: Boise, ID 2010
Hollywood Video: Great Falls, MT 2010
Hollywood Video: Meridian, ID 2010
Hollywood Video: Nampa, ID 2010
Sears: St. Ann, MO 2010
Blockbuster Video: Boise, ID 2010


(updated November 24, 2010)

[d_fife]

Originally posted by ameskmart1
I've been to
Best, Ernst Home, HomeBase, Kmart, KB Toys, Ulitmate Electronics, Sam Goody, and Big Lots

I have been to KB TOys, KB toy works, SAm goody, Suncoast, Chess King, Filene's, Bradlees, Rich's, CAldor, Ames, Kmart, Cherry and Webb, Decelle, Laurat's books, disney store, All For a Dollar, Officemax, and probably more

[Caldor1999]

the onlyone i really remembr going to was caldor  i think i went to ames too and i did go to service merchandise when it was gob idk if filenes counts yet

[AmesNewington]

I've been to Bradlees (Newington in 1996), Ames (2002), Office Max (2004), and KB Toys (2004). Possibly Lechmere in 1997. All these locations were in Newington CT, and all of them except Ames and Lechmere were only underperforming stores that were closed during a chain's round of closings. Ames and Lechmere stayed open until the entire chain went out. Also, Office Max closed up with no warning, only a small sign in the window (within weeks it was gone).

[XISMZERO]

This might've been the last Ames I walked into in it's final week my senior year in high school. This was also probably the worst Ames I've ever visited in a former Caldor building. The building is now used privately for storage but can still be considered vacant in the retail world.

[powersbt]

I've been to Bradlees and Ames Store closings. Took advantage of the huge sales. When Bradlees went out, I found myself buying a lot of CD's and things of that nature. When Ames went out, I remember buying a Cedar chest for my apartment, as well as some items and supplies for a new kitten. Think I picked up a lot of CD's there too.

Also bought quite a bit of stuff when Pharmor went out. Used to go there countless times during their GOB sale, and pick up more stuff.

Where else, there was a K Mart in Rome that I went to, Super K Mart in Amsterdam, which was pretty much empty when I got there.

I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones off the top of my head.

[amesman]

I've been to the GOB sales of the following: Montgomery Ward, Caldor, Ames, Kmart.

[store215]

Ames (not the final G.O.B but when the closed a bunch of stores in '01), Bradlees, Encore Books, HomePlace, Clover, and probably a few I'm missing.

[fa152]

Grand Union West Babylon & Delhi NY, Caldor West Babylon NY, Ames Oneonta & Liberty NY, Kmart Oneonta NY, Rx Place Copiague, NY, Frank's Nursery & Crafts Copiague NY.  I don't think I even bought anything...

[Caldor1999]

i guss i can redue tis list

Caldor Bedford Hills NY 1999

Caldor Mahopac NY 1999

Caldor White Planes NY 1999

Bradlees Yonkers NY jan 2001 went there on a school trip

Ames Carmel NY 2002

Media Play Middletown NY 2006

Filenes Danbury CT 2006

Franks Nursey 2004

Service Merchandise 1999 store closing sale Jefferson Valley NY

and Service Merchandise Eastchster NY 2002

[d_fife]

I wbent to filene's out of business sale in boston, hancock fabrics in auburn ny, suncoast in malls in oh, nh, ny.

[beachgal26]

Since my all time favorite, Petite Sophisticate, closed their doors earlier this year and I knew about it for about 6 months, I bought a lifetime supply of dress pants, tops, jackets and nice work clothes there before they closed their doors in January.  

I always found great bargains by shopping off season and getting really great clothes at bargain prices and my best buy of all time is the leather jacket that listed for $250 that I was able to snag for only $29!!

:yup: ;) :yup: ;)

[D_mancurrier]

I've been to K-Mart, Ames, Montgomery Ward, Media Play (part of the sam goody chain) and others.

I have a collection of SC and GOB signs from Franks (an outdoor sign), Ames (A GLW consulting sign, Nothing Held Back-Selling to the bare walls.).

If you come across a SC or GOB sign e-mail me (Be sure it can be saved first)! I'm always interested in adding to my collection.

[Zayre88]

Not many for me...  Ames, Kitchen Etc. in the U.S.  and Kmart, Greenberg's, Beaver Lumber and Woolco in Canada.

[Ameskid]

Hey D_mancurrier, what GOOB (Going Out Of Business) store is that picture from?

[D_mancurrier]

I honestly don't know know where that picture was taken.  I forgot to post that was not taken by myself. I typed in "Store Closing" in google image search.

While the picture is still there, the website was gone off line. I do know that was an example picture for a company that produces signs for Micheal's and GLW Consulting (the liqudation company that designs and uses those signs). So I want guess that the picture was taken in a Micheal's or Bed, Bath and Beyond store but I'm not sure.

[Marc82]

I was just curious to find out how many Going out of Business Sales everyone has been to?

I've been to 3 Supermarkets during G.O.B. Sales:

1. A&P - Pine Street - Forestville, CT - Don't remember if we purchased anything or not.

2. Waldbaums - 1235 Farmington Ave Bristol, CT - My mom bought lots of Easter Decorations there. I remember making a mess there. I sprayed fake snow in a can over what was the floral department and dumped a bottle of something over a shelf.

3. Shaw's - 750 Queen Street Southington, CT - This was the stupidest G.O.B. sale. Rather than reducing the prices of the merchandise certain percentages over the final 8 weeks of the store, they continued running their regular sales right up to the final week. Their last regular sale ended Thursday Octiber 26, 2 days before the final day. The began reducing prices of certain merchandise during their last week open, but they began dividing stuff up to ship to the remaining  Shaws. Lots of employees had to work 3 or so days after closing to finish packing the stuff up,

As for non-supermarkets:

1. Caldor - 121 Farmington Ave Bristol, CT - I don't remember if we got anything there, but I remember they had "rent-a-cops" checking everyone's bags as they were leaving the store. - The stupidest thing in the world, if you ask me.

I don't remember going to the Bradlee's G.O.B. Sale in Bristol. I know for a fact we did not go to the KMART G.O.B sale in Bristol or Southington (and a year or two later in Plainville). I don't even think we went to the AMES G.O.B. Sale.

Non-Brick & Mortar Stores:

I bought my digital camera from shopathometv.com while Shop-At-Home Network was holding their G.O.B. sale in June 2006. (It was my first and only purchase from the network). At the time they didn't know they were going to be bought by Jewlery TV and remain on the air.

[powersbt]

I can see why Shaws would continue to run their regular prices when the store is GOB rather than slashing the prices and Liquidating the Inventory. Having the other stores still open, they are able to transfer the Inventory over, and not take a Loss on the Southington Inventory. Compared to something like an Ames GOB, where all of the stores were closing, and the Inventory was being sold to pay off Debts.

You figure if Shaws were to have slashed the prices to move the Inventory out of Southington, you would have had tons of people in there shopping, most you had never seen before stocking up on products, saving loads of money, and then never seeing them again. Especially with a Supermarket, that will run it into the ground quick.

I can see their thinking. Let the Inventory go, as far as no more incoming Loads. Set the closing date. Anything left over, gets put back on the Cube, and sent back to the Distribution Center.

[df559]

I've been to the closing sales for
Best
Super Kmart
Tower Records (Still going on)
Vons
Ames (When they closed the Zayres in Florida in 1990)
Safeway
The Good Guys!
Circuit City

[dmx10101]

I've been to so many going out of business sales over the years its not even funny. Some highlights include several K-Marts, Wards, Service Merchandise, Pic-N-Save Pharmacy, Winn-Dixie, among many others.

[datrain021]

The only one I've been to was as an employee for Big Bear in December 2003 and January 2004

[JimSawhill]

Originally posted by XISMZERO
This might've been the last Ames I walked into in it's final week my senior year in high school. This was also probably the worst Ames I've ever visited in a former Caldor building. The building is now used privately for storage but can still be considered vacant in the retail world.

Xismzero:

     If that is the Caldor/Ames in West Hartford  -- that store was a Star's before it was a Caldor. I went to GOB sales at Mamouth Mart (East Hartford), J.M. Fields (East Hartford), Mars (East Hartford), Stars (West Hartford), Topps (East Hartford), Bradlee's (East Hartford -- and one of their first customers when it opened in 1976), Amazing Stores (East Hartford),  Star's (Torrington), Highway outdoors (East Hartford - a great store at Main and Pitkin), Andy Supermarket (East Hartford) and Sam Crispino's Supreme Foods (Manchester).
     I forgot Top Notch Foods (East Hartford), Popular (East Hartford) and Seapark (East Hartford's department Store). Woolworth and SilverLane Pharmacy, too.


Jim S

[XISMZERO]

Originally posted by JimSawhill
Xismzero:

     If that is the Caldor/Ames in West Hartford  -- that store was a Star's before it was a Caldor.

Yeah I read about that here and on some report done by the Courant (I think). Can you tell me more about "Star's"? I've poked around for info on this [local] department store chain and found nothing. Did Star's own this building originally? If so, did they also own the Southington and New Britain (Farmington Ave.) stores later bought by Caldor? One last question, where was the giant Caldor [rainbow, presumably] logo on the building? I think when it was alive in Southington, it was on the sloped thing in front of the doors... Please shed some light for me!

[JimSawhill]

Originally posted by XISMZERO

Originally posted by JimSawhill
Xismzero:

     If that is the Caldor/Ames in West Hartford  -- that store was a Star's before it was a Caldor.

Yeah I read about that here and on some report done by the Courant (I think). Can you tell me more about "Star's"? I've poked around for info on this [local] department store chain and found nothing. Did Star's own this building originally? If so, did they also own the Southington and New Britain (Farmington Ave.) stores later bought by Caldor? One last question, where was the giant Caldor [rainbow, presumably] logo on the building? I think when it was alive in Southington, it was on the sloped thing in front of the doors... Please shed some light for me!

Xismzero:

     Star's Department Store had about 6 stores. The last Star's went out of business in Torrington in 1999. It had stores in West Hartford, Torrington, wallingford, Southington and Bristol. I'm not sure if there were any others.
     I was young when Star's in West Hartford closed. I don't know any info on Star's.

JimS

[Ameskid]

Just yesterday, I went to Kenwood Towne Centre's Parisian for its GOOB sale.  It closed yesterday, and will be torn down this year for a new NordStrom.

[Ameskid]

Just yesterday, I went to Kenwood Towne Centre's Parisian for its GOOB sale.  It closed about a month afterward, and will be torn down this year for a new NordStrom.

[AmesNewington]

I just visited the A&P Super Foodmart in Newington that is closing August 11. They have posted a sign on their window that states that they are marking selected items 50% off so far. I went in there today (with no money), and looked around. Being that this was my favorite "little" grocery store to go to every week, it was sad. I've never been to a supermaket GOB sale, and it was interesting to see.

The produce department was 3/4 cleared of merchandise, the Deli was still open, the cards were completely gone (they probably shipped them to another Foodmart), the Seafood department is dark and empty, there is plenty of meats left, the dairy department is almost empty, but there is still plenty of milk left. The Bakery is half empty, but they do still have muffins, cookies, and breads.

In the aisles, they condensed their items to the middle of the shelves. The bottom shelves are empty and the top shelves are as well. Being how small this store is, you could peek over the shelves and see the other side of the story clearly from the other end. I do believe half of what they had of non-perishable items were just shipped out to other stores, as they strangly don't have things that never move (like plastic cutlery, cups, etc), but still have perishables out for sale (all of which are fresh).

They too are not slashing prices on many non-perishables, because I'm sure Berlin and West Hartford will snatch everything up for their stores. Not many people were in the store. Those who were at the store were looking to snatch up sale items or collecting America's Choice souveniers!! Everybody looked just out of sorts looking around at empty shelves. One register was open including all of the self checkouts. It was quiet there with music playing. It was just rather sad to see a childhood memory go away.

In closing, they also decreased their hours from 7AM to 9PM every day.

[The Adamantium Elbow]

The only ones I really remember are Leather Limited in Monroeville,PA in 2002 (The whole chain was going out of business) and the K-Mart in Greensburg in 1995 which would later become a Gabriel's clothing store.

[HeatherM]

I have been to:

Children's Palace - Erie, PA
KB Toys - Warren Mall in PA
County Market - Warren, PA
JC Penney's - Warren Mall -sometime in 2000 or 2001
Ames - Erie PA and Jamestown NY - 2002
MediaPlay - Erie, PA
Family Dollar - Warren. PA - 2006 (they re-opened in the middle of town and are flourishing now)
Fashion Bug (moving sale) - Warren Mall - 2007
Hallmark - Warren Mall - 2007
Waldenbooks - Warren Mall - Early 2007
Quality Markets - Warren PA - August 2007
Movie Gallery - Warren PA - 2007

[Caldor1999]

also copusa when they were closing a location in white planes i think its still vacant as of now