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18 Once-Mighty Retailers: Where Are They Now?

These iconic stores are (mostly) gone but not forgotten by nostalgic shoppers

By

Laura Petrecca and Stacy Rapacon,

Updated March 07, 2025

AARP

Published November 21, 2021

/ Updated March 07, 2025

toys r us

Michael Siluk/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Many of us love a good shopping spree, but where, when and how we do it may be unrecognizable to our younger selves.

The thrill of eating at a department store lunch counter has been replaced by the excitement of an Amazon package arriving at our front door. Instead of browsing titles at a video rental store, we’re binging shows on streaming sites and scrolling through social media. Also gone are the days of perusing record shop bins for vinyl. Many of us even get our groceries delivered nowadays, instead of shopping at the supermarket.

The result of these changes: Countless once-beloved retailers have disappeared, while others are struggling to hang on.

Here we offer a trip down retail’s memory lane.

Jump to Section

A&P

Big Lots

Blockbuster

Borders

Fotomat

Gadzooks

Gimbels

Hecht’s

Henri Bendel

Joann

Levitz Furniture

Party City

RadioShack

The Limited

The Sharper Image

Tower Records

Toys R Us

Woolworth

A&P

black and white photo from the nineteen forties showing an a and p supermarket store front with cars parked in front

Universal History Archive/Getty

Established: 1859

What happened: The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company — or A&P, for short — helped shape the modern-day supermarket. It offered a wider selection of groceries at typically lower prices than the mom-and-pop grocery stores of the early 20th century. By the 1930s, it had become the world's largest grocery store chain, with nearly 16,000 locations. But it couldn't stay on top forever. The likes of Walmart and Aldi slowly ate into the market share for low-cost grocers. A&P filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and again in 2015, before closing all its stores.

Current status: Shuttered.

Big Lots

https://aarp.widen.net/content/xuryrx2ehy/jpeg/GettyImages-2171028776.jpg?crop=true&anchor=45,214&q=80&color=ffffffff&u=lywnjt&w=1986&h=1141

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Established: 1967

What happened: What began as a seller of closeout deals for auto parts evolved into one of the largest discount retailers in the country, offering everything from patio furniture to cleaning supplies to sofas. The company prided itself on providing a “treasure-hunt atmosphere” that offered surprise and delight. Yet, shoppers were in for one of the biggest surprises in September 2024 when Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Current status: The company is shuttering hundreds of stores nationwide, offering discounts up to 40 percent off. But its final chapter is still being written, with more updates to come, the company says.

Blockbuster

outdoors store front view of a blockbuster video retail store

Andrew H. Walker/Getty

Established: 1985

What happened: In the 1990s and early 2000s, Blockbuster was the go-to place on Friday nights. You’d roam the fluorescent-lit aisles, hoping to nab a rental of the latest hit film. The video rental chain swelled to around 9,100 stores in 2004, crushing mom-and-pop video rental shops as it expanded across the U.S. and overseas. Yet it didn’t keep pace with industry changes. Netflix came on the scene in 1997 as a DVD-by-mail rental service, which took Blockbuster five years to replicate. Then Netflix moved on to streaming, and Blockbuster buckled. It filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and officially shut down in 2014.

Current status: Previously owned by DISH Network Corp., Blockbuster LLC became part of EchoStar Corp. when it acquired DISH in 2024. Blockbuster.com now directs visitors to EchoStar’s streaming service, Sling TV.

Miss the experience of shopping at Blockbuster? One store remains in Bend, Oregon. It operates independently and is not a part of Blockbuster LLC, but it’s stocked with new video releases — including the mega-hit Wicked — and sells Blockbuster-logoed merchandise like shirts and socks, according to its website.

Borders

scene of a shopper walking in a bookstore with a rack of shopping bags in the foreground

NICHOLAS KAMM/Getty

Established: 1971

What happened: Along with Barnes & Noble, Borders brought us the world of big-box book retailers. It crushed independent bookshops with its megastores, until it got crushed itself by an even bigger bookseller: the internet. Borders failed to adapt its business strategy with the rise of e-book readers and online shopping. (Barnes & Noble was quicker to work on developing its website and its own e-reader, the Nook, and so far has survived.) Borders declared bankruptcy and was forced to liquidate in 2011.

Current status: End of story. (Perhaps Borders executives should have read How to Stay in Business.)

Fotomat

old photo of a colorful fotomat kiosk in a parking lot back in nineteen eighty three

Jim Fiora / Alamy Stock Photo

Established: 1965

What happened: Fotomat's business empire seemed picture-perfect in the '70s. Customers enjoyed the efficiency of dropping off their film for overnight development at the company’s pyramid-shaped, golden-hutted kiosks. But one-hour photo processing and digital photography reduced demand for the drive-through developer. By 1990 only about 800 Fotomat huts remained, down from a peak of 4,000. The company officially closed in 2009.

Current status: A faded memory in a world of selfies, digital filters and cloud photo storage.

Gadzooks

shot of a gadzooks store in an indoor shopping mall with a few shoppers walking by

RON HEFLIN/AP Images

Established: 1983

What happened: A top stop for teenage mall rats of the '80s and '90s, Gadzooks was a popular supplier of the era's fashion trends, including Doc Martens footwear, baggy JNCO pants and No Fear T-shirts. But as years passed, consumer tastes changed and the store fell out of style. The retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2004 and, in 2005, was acquired by Forever 21, which absorbed its inventory and shut down its stores.

Current status: Defunct

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Gimbels

old black and white photo taken from across an intersection on a roof or through a high level window of a gimbels department store building on a city street showing people and horse drawn carriages in the street

The History Collection / Alamy Stock Photo

Established: 1842

What happened: In its heyday, Gimbels went head-to-head against Macy's, with both retailers boasting famous storefronts in New York City and battling for the title of the nation's largest department store. In 1920, Gimbels sponsored the first Thanksgiving Day parade in Philadelphia, a marketing ploy to drum up holiday sales. That was four years before Macy's started doing the same in New York City. But Gimbels lagged behind its competitors in selling the latest fashions, and it made some strategic mistakes, such as failing to curb shoplifting with security measures. The legendary department store shut its doors for good in 1986.

Current status: A piece of history, though the Gimbels-Macy’s rivalry lives on forever in the 1947 holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street.

Hecht’s

a rainy day street scene of a shopper hidden under an umbrella rushing past a hechts department store

GERALD HERBERT/AP Images

Established: 1857

What happened: For nearly 150 years, the regional retailer served as an anchor store at malls in the mid-Atlantic and Southern regions of the U.S. But amid a wave of retail consolidations, its parent company (May Department Stores) was acquired by Federated Department Stores (now Macy’s Inc.) in 2005. All Hecht's locations were either closed or converted into Macy's stores.

Current status: Closed for business.

Henri Bendel

evening street view of the front of a henri bendel retail store with shoppers lined up outside from two thousand eleven

Charles Sykes/AP Images

Established: 1895

What happened: Known for its signature brown-and-white-striped branding, Bendel’s claimed credit for bringing Coco Chanel’s designs to the U.S. and hiring Andy Warhol as its illustrator. Yet, its high-end goods — which came with corresponding high price tags — didn’t bring in high enough sales. Bendel’s closed up shop in 2019 when its parent company, L Brands, shifted focus to its larger mass-market brands, Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works.

Current status: While the retailer is gone, you can get a glimpse at the company’s legacy through its official Instagram account, which remains active.

Joann

https://aarp.widen.net/content/tt9edghbv3/jpeg/2CB5P3T.jpg?crop=true&anchor=39,13&q=80&color=ffffffff&u=lywnjt&w=2006&h=1153

Alamy Stock Photo

Established: 1943

What happened: A crafter’s paradise, Joann expanded to about 850 stores across the nation, becoming a popular shop for fabric, yarn and other DIY supplies. Through the years, it pursued joint ventures and rebranding efforts, which included shortening its name from Jo-Ann Fabrics. It also worked to incorporate technological advances, such as selling 3D printers. However, it couldn’t withstand economic and financial challenges. In January 2025, the company initiated the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.

Current status: This past Valentine’s Day brought heartache for Joann’s fans, as the retailer announced plans to close approximately 500 stores nationwide. “Right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward,” the company said. Many stores remain open, however, and joann.com is still fulfilling orders.

Levitz Furniture

a for lease or sale sign in front of an empty parking lot and vacant store with the levitz sign on it

Justin Sullivan/Getty

Established: 1910

What happened: In the '60s, America “loved it at Levitz,” as the chain’s popular commercial declared. The furniture retailer popularized the warehouse showroom concept. But in the 1990s, consumers’ affinity for the retailer faded, competition increased and the company foundered. It declared bankruptcy in 1997, 2005 and 2007, before closing all its stores in 2008.

Current status: Three strikes and it was out. (In the end, folks didn’t love it at Levitz after all.)

Party City

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Alamy Stock Photo

Established: 1986

What happened: Party City — once a go-to destination for birthday party decorations, Halloween costumes and New Year’s Eve noisemakers — suffered financially in recent years. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2023, with the hopes that a restructuring plan would stabilize operations, but rising costs and declining sales burst its balloon. In December 2024, the retailer announced it was closing all of its approximately 700 stores nationwide.

Current status: It went out with a bang hosting blowout sales, offering customers storewide markdowns of up to 80 percent off.

RadioShack

close up shot from the group of peoples legs moving past a radio shack storefront on a city sidewalk

Spencer Platt/Getty

Established: 1921

What happened: Once the go-to store for CB radios, tape recorders and other gadgets of the day, RadioShack didn’t keep its inventory fresh or its shopping experience up to date, as electronics retailers like Best Buy and Amazon increasingly ate up market share. The company poked fun at itself — and took a shot at regaining relevance — with a 2014 Super Bowl ad featuring '80s pop culture icons such as Dee Snider, Hulk Hogan, Erik Estrada and Mary Lou Retton. Yet, the retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and again in 2017, when it closed most of its stores.

Current status: You can still buy batteries, headphones, robotics kits and other electronics at radioshack.com.

The Limited

exterior view of the limited clothing store as seen in an indoor shopping mall

Paul Sakuma/AP

What happened: The Limited started in the 1960s as a retailer focused on clothing for young women. But in the 1980s and 1990s, the shop broadened its customer base, acquiring Lane Bryant, Victoria's Secret, Henri Bendel and Abercrombie & Fitch. It also launched Express, Limited Too, Bath & Body Works and Structure.

Ultimately, the diversification of the company's brands didn’t pan out. An attempt to refocus its inventory on professional women’s clothing (while Express and Limited Too took on the more casual fashion trends for younger females) failed, and it closed shop in 2017.

Current status: You can still buy The Limited brand clothing at the department store chain Belk. Limited Too shuttered its stores in 2008 but has branded products at retailers such as Kohl’s, Walmart and Amazon.

The Sharper Image

Stuart Ramson/AP Images for Sharper Image

Established: 1977

What happened: If you ever walked through a mall in the '80s, '90s or early 2000s, you probably tried out a massage chair at the Sharper Image. Home to an array of gadgets, such as a floating sports team hover helmet for your desk, a bulletproof raincoat, and a face massager, the niche consumer electronics retailer thrived in the '80s but began foundering in the '90s. Some key products, including the Razor scooter, helped to revive the company over the years. But unsuccessful product launches, including a failed air purifier, took a toll on the company’s profits. Sharper Image declared bankruptcy and closed all stores in 2008.

Current status: You can still buy Sharper Image merchandise online and through third-party partners, including Macy’s, Target and Walmart. And, yes, many products remain as offbeat as ever, such as its toaster for bacon.

Tower Records

photo from the year two thousand six of fans lining up outside a tower records store in a city at night

Stephen Lovekin/Getty

Established: 1960

What happened: Tower Records ruled the retail music business from the 1970s through most of the 1990s, with some of the industry's biggest stars — including Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Elton John — frequenting its stores. The retailer, which promoted the slogan, “No Music, No Life,” had more than 200 locations in 20 states and 18 countries at its peak. But the company was already struggling with debt when record sales began to plunge and consumers increasingly turned to online sources for music. In 2004, it filed for bankruptcy, and digital technology ultimately killed the record store chain in the U.S in 2006.

Current status: A few stores owned by franchisees still operate internationally, including a nine-story Tower Records in Tokyo. In the U.S., Tower Records opened Tower Labs in Brooklyn, New York, as an event space for performances, album signings and artist gatherings. Also, you can buy albums (vinyl and cassette) and merchandise at towerrecords.com.

Toys R Us

the front of a toys r us store showing its sign with a large closing sign under it and two shoppers walking in with carts

Tim Boyle/Getty

Established: 1957

What happened: The beloved toy brand — known for Geoffrey the Giraffe and its "I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys R Us kid” jingle — couldn’t grow fast enough to stay in the game. It increasingly took on debt and had a tough time competing against retailers such as Walmart, Target and online juggernauts like Amazon. Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed its stores in 2018.

Current status: Trying to make a comeback. The company opened a 20,000-square-foot store at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and a 10,000-square-foot store at the Mall of America outside Minneapolis–Saint Paul, and it has a presence in Macy’s stores nationwide. Customers can also make online purchases at toysrus.com.

Woolworth

nineteen sixty seven photo of a f w woolworth store facade with shoppers walking in front of it on the sidewalk

George W. Hales/Getty

Established: 1879

What happened: The original discount retailer, Woolworth sold a variety of items, from drinking cups to purses to baseballs — all in the first store's opening inventory — and offered a lunch counter for hungry shoppers. The five-and-dime stores — so-called because, originally, all items cost 5 cents or 10 cents apiece — closed up shop in 1997, as the general-store business model was taken over by the likes of dollar stores, drugstores, Walmart and Amazon. At the time, the company opted to focus on its footwear stores, Foot Locker (which still hangs on) and Kinney Shoes (now closed).

Current status: A pioneer resting in peace, though it paved the way for the modern retail industry.

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Laura Petrecca is a contributing writer for AARP. She has written for USA Today, Real Simple, Digiday’s WorkLife, Kiplinger, AARP, Men’s Health, Worth, Crain’s New York Business and Advertising Age.

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