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List of defunct retailers of the United States

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For previously listed defunct restaurants and department (and variety) stores, refer to List of defunct restaurants of the United States and List of defunct department stores of the United States respectively.

Template:Use mdy dates Presented here is a compilation of prominent defunct retail chains in the United States.

Numerous regional stores and chain retailers established from the 1920s through the 1950s across the U.S. have ceased operations since the late 1960s. This decline was influenced by consolidations, liquidated closures, mergers, and the widespread large-scale store shutdowns during the 2010s, often referred to as the retail apocalypse. Template:Dynamic list

Automotive

Camping, sports or athletic stores

Catalog showrooms

Clothing, shoe and specialty stores

  • Abby Z.Template:Spaced ndash a plus-size fashion brand launched by Abby Zeichner in 2004.[12] Its flagship store debuted at 57 Greene Street in SoHo, New York in 2008 but closed the following year[13] after the parent company filed for bankruptcy.[14]
  • Anchor Blue – originally established as Miller's Outpost in 1972, this youth-focused mall chain reached about 150 locations primarily on the West Coast. After filing for bankruptcy in 2009, it closed over 50 stores and eventually operated only in California before a second bankruptcy in 2011 led to the closure of all remaining outlets prior to Easter.[15]
  • Anderson-Little – a men's specialty apparel retailer linked to a major Massachusetts-based manufacturer; also known as Anderson Little-Richman Brothers and long owned by F. W. Woolworth Company. The brand ceased operations in 1998,[16][17][18][19][20][21] and was revived as a modest online retailer in 2008.[16]
  • Arden B. Template:Spaced ndash discontinued by Wet Seal in 2014
  • Bob's Stores – filed for bankruptcy in early 2024 and ceased all operations by July of that year.
  • Casual CornerTemplate:Spaced ndash liquidated its assets and closed operations by 2005
  • Chess King – acquired by Merry-Go-Round in 1993; both chains were liquidated together in the mid-1990s
  • Christopher & Banks – declared bankruptcy in 2021 due to financial difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
  • County Seat – launched in the early ’70s with a focus on denim apparel and expanded rapidly during the ’80s to nearly five hundred outlets. The company declared bankruptcy in both 1996 and again in ’99 before shutting down entirely.[22]
  • Cygnet ShopsTemplate:Spaced ndash a women's fashion retailer that ceased operations in the mid-1970s
  • DEBTemplate:Spaced ndash shuttered its physical stores in 2015 but relaunched later that year as an online-only retailer specializing in plus-size apparel
  • Delia's – starting as a juniors’ clothing catalog business in ’93 under the stylized name dELiA*s, Delia’s grew to over a hundred brick-and-mortar locations before competition from more affordable brands led to bankruptcy in late 2014.[23] It attempted an online-only comeback in ’15 but was unsuccessful; since ’18 its brand has been licensed by online retailer Dolls Kill.
  • Disney Store – operated by The Walt Disney Company, this chain shuttered most of its retail locations during the pandemic year of 2021, shifting sales primarily to online platforms and department stores such as Target and JCPenney.[24]
  • Edison Brothers Stores – managed multiple footwear and apparel chains including Bakers Shoes and Wild Pair; the company was liquidated at the end of the millennium though some brands like Bakers survived independently.
  • Fashion Bug – once operating more than a thousand locations catering to plus-size women’s fashion; it was closed by parent Charming Shoppes (also owner of Lane Bryant) early in the second decade of the century.
  • Forever 21 – continues operations internationally with plans to reopen physical outlets
  • Florsheim – mall-based footwear retailer that now operates primarily through e-commerce
  • Gadzooks – founded as a T-shirt shop in ’83 and expanding to about two hundred fifty mall outlets before discontinuing menswear led to financial troubles; acquired out of bankruptcy by competitor Forever 21 in ’05 with many locations converted or closed.
  • Gantos – women’s specialty apparel chain headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan; after filing for bankruptcy reorganization between ’93 and ’94 which included closing fifty stores, it liquidated its remaining outlets by the year 2000.[25]
  • Goody's (store) – ceased operations initially in ’09, revived briefly starting ’10 before closing again permanently in 2020
  • Gordmans – filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy before being acquired by Stage Stores; all Gordmans locations were ultimately shuttered following Stage Stores’ own bankruptcy filing in mid-2020
  • Gottschalks – established back in 1904 as a mid-market regional department store chain and once recognized as America’s largest publicly traded independent department store; declared bankruptcy and closed down entirely by 2009.[26]
  • Hahn's Shoes (1876–1995)Template:Spaced ndash operated primarily around Washington D.C.
  • Harold'sTemplate:Spaced ndash founded in Norman, Oklahoma during ’48; ceased operations through bankruptcy proceedings completed by 2008.[27]
  • Hess Shoe Store (1872–1999) Template:Spaced ndash served customers mainly around Baltimore area
  • J. BrannamTemplate:Spaced ndash division of F.W. Woolworth Company formed in ’79 focused on southern U.S.; closed five years later.[28]
  • J. ByronsTemplate:Spaced ndash Florida-based retail chain sold to Uptons before shutting down permanently in 1996
  • Jay JacobsTemplate:Spaced ndash Seattle clothier founded during World War II era that closed its doors at the end of the millennium
  • Kids "R" Us – launched under Toys "R" Us umbrella in ’83 specializing in children’s clothing; discontinued operations by 2003
  • Kinney ShoesTemplate:Spaced ndash shoe manufacturer and retailer dating back to the late nineteenth century; acquired by F.W. Woolworth Company during the early sixties
  • KleinhansTemplate:Spaced ndash Buffalo-based men’s clothing store operating from late nineteenth century until early nineties
  • Klopfenstein'sTemplate:Spaced ndash men’s apparel retailer serving Seattle-Tacoma area from early twentieth century until closure during early nineties.[29]
  • The LimitedTemplate:Spaced ndash declared bankruptcy and liquidated all stores by 2017; brand rights were subsequently acquired by Sycamore Properties which relaunched products online
  • Margo's LaModeTemplate:Spaced ndash Dallas women’s fashion store shuttered following parent company’s bankruptcy reorganization completed during mid-nineties
  • Martin + Osa – introduced as an upscale alternative to American Eagle Outfitters beginning mid-decade of the millennium; expanded to twenty-eight stores but heavy losses led to closure of all physical locations and website disappearance by 2010
  • Merry-Go-Round – operated over five hundred stores during peak years of the eighties before filing for bankruptcy and ceasing business mid-nineties.[30]
  • Mervyn's – regional department store rooted on West Coast since late forties; aggressive expansion outside core markets just prior to recession contributed to bankruptcy filing finalized during late 2008.[31][32]
  • Miller's OutpostTemplate:Spaced ndash see "Anchor Blue" entry above
  • Payless (footwear retailer) – underwent two bankruptcies culminating with closure of all Canadian and U.S. stores by 2019
  • Raleigh'sTemplate:Spaced ndash also known as Raleigh Haberdasher; Washington D.C.-based men’s and women’s clothing retailer active from early twentieth century through early nineties
  • Robert HallTemplate:Spaced ndash clothing retailer operating between late thirties and late seventies with presence on both coasts; credited with pioneering big-box leasing model where non-apparel departments were rented out separately.[citation needed]
  • Rogers PeetTemplate:Spaced ndash New York City men’s clothier founded circa late nineteenth century noted for advertising innovations such as showing actual merchandise images, labeling fabric types on items, and affixing price tags directly on products; ceased operations during early eighties.[citation needed]
  • Roos/Atkins – San Francisco menswear brand formed mid-fifties that expanded throughout Bay Area during sixties but declined during eighties leading to closure by mid-nineties
  • Ruehl No.925Template:Spaced ndash lifestyle brand created by Abercrombie & Fitch starting mid-decade of the millennium but poor financial performance caused shutdown within five years
  • The SampleTemplate:Spaced ndash Western New York-based retailer launched from Buffalo with founder bringing back samples of dresses from NYC circa late twenties; known for semiannual clearance events called Pup Sales; ceased operations after chairman’s death around early nineties.[citation needed]
  • Sibley's ShoesTemplate:Spaced ndash footwear retailer founded early twentieth century with locations across Michigan and Ohio; closed permanently after management opted not to continue operations circa early two-thousands.[citation needed]
  • Steve & Barry'sTemplate:Spaced ndash value-oriented apparel chain operating nearly three hundred stores across thirty-nine states.
  • Sycamore ShopsTemplate:Spaced ndash Indianapolis women’s clothing chain spun off from L.S. Ayres that filed for bankruptcy leading to liquidation completed before mid-nineties.[33]
  • Thom McAnTemplate:Spaced ndash shoe brand established early twenties with peak presence exceeding fourteen hundred stores during sixties; parent company decided on complete store closures during mid-nineties though footwear continued being sold through Kmart outlets.[34]
  • The Fair Store - retail clothing outlets located in Port Arthur and Beaumont, Texas during seventies
  • Today's Man – men’s suit retailer originating from seventies that expanded rapidly through eighties and nineties but ultimately filed for bankruptcy due to overexpansion issues during mid-nineties.[35]
  • Virginia Dare Dresses, IncorporatedTemplate:Spaced ndash merged with Atlantic Thrift Centers Inc. during early sixties
  • Warner Brothers Studio Store – established as Warner Bros.’ response to Disney Store growth selling branded collectibles and apparel from WB franchises like Looney Tunes and DC Comics; shuttered following AOL-Time Warner merger finalized closures around early two-thousands.[36]
  • Wet Seal
  • Yellow Front Stores – originated as an army surplus retailer during fifties then transitioned into camping gear sales before declaring bankruptcy around 1990.

Department and discount stores

Template:Main article

A–M

N–Z

Electronics stores

Five-and-dime; variety stores

Furniture stores

A–M

N–Z

Home decor and craft retailers

Home improvement

A–M

  • B. Dalton – ceased operations in 2010
  • Blockbuster Music – sold to Wherehouse Music in 1998; some stores rebranded as Wherehouse Music while most were closed
  • Blockbuster Video – acquired by Dish Network in 2011; all corporate-owned outlets closed by January 12, 2014, though one franchise remains open in Bend, Oregon
  • Bookstop
  • Borders Books – filed for bankruptcy in 2011; select locations acquired by Books-A-Million, with borders.com purchased by Barnes & Noble Booksellers
  • Camelot Music – transitioned into FYE stores
  • CD World – converted into FYE outlets
  • Coconuts Music – became FYE stores
  • Crown Books – founded by Robert Haft in 1977; underwent liquidation following a second bankruptcy filing in 2001
  • Disc Jockey – converted to FYE stores
  • Encore Books – permanently shut down in 1999
  • Family Christian Stores – declared bankruptcy in April 2015 and liquidated all locations by 2017
  • Harmony House – based in Michigan
  • Hastings Entertainment – filed for bankruptcy in June 2016; remaining stores closed by October 31, 2016
  • Hollywood Video – ceased business operations in May 2010
  • Incredible Universe – several locations acquired by Fry's Electronics
  • J&R – New York City-based retailer; music store closed at the start of 2014
  • Kim's Video and Music
  • King Karol – New York City chain
  • Kroch's and Brentano's – Chicago bookstore chain that filed for bankruptcy in 1995
  • Licorice Pizza – Southern California chain founded by James Greenwood in Long Beach in 1969; acquired by Record Bar in 1985, then by Musicland in 1986, later rebranded as Sam Goody. In November 2021, director Paul Thomas Anderson released a film named after this chain inspired loosely by it.
  • Media Play – media superstore concept offering books, music, and video launched by Musicland in 1992; dissolved and closed by 2006
  • Movie Gallery – operated under Hollywood Video, Movie Gallery, and Game Crazy brands; liquidated and shuttered all stores in 2010
  • MovieStop – acquired shortly before bankruptcy by Hastings Entertainment
  • Music Plus – Southern California-based chain bought and converted by Blockbuster
  • Musicland – established in Minneapolis in 1955; purchased by American Can Company in 1977. The Musicland Group acquired Sam Goody in 1978 but maintained the brand separately until rebranding all Musicland stores as Sam Goody in 1997. Best Buy acquired Musicland Group in 2001 before eventually selling it to Trans World Entertainment.

N–Z

Jewelers

Office-supply stores

Pet stores

Toy stores

Video games and personal computing software

Warehouse clubs and membership department stores

  • E.J. Korvette – entered bankruptcy and was gradually phased out by 1981[67]
  • Fedco
  • GEM – originally named Government Employees Mutual Stores, then Government Employees Mart, before adopting the G. E. M. Membership Department Stores brand; it targeted government workers and opened its first location in Denver in 1956;[68] after expanding, the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1974[69]
  • Gemco – purchased by Lucky Stores in 1961;[70] ceased operations in 1986 with properties sold to Target;[71] known as Memco in the Chicago and Washington, D.C. areas
  • Pace Membership Warehouse – established in Denver in 1983 and rapidly expanded to the East Coast;[72][73] acquired by Kmart in 1989;[74][75] subsequently sold to Sam's Club in 1993 and rebranded[76][77]
  • Price Club – merged with Costco in 1993 and underwent rebranding[78][79]

See also

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References

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  3. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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