Old Businesses

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 12:50 pm

We had letter in the paper today that referenced Sprouse-Reitz, a discount general store. Triggered memories of other stores that aren't around anymore.

Skaggs/Osco
Mayfair (a grocery chain in Las Vegas when I was a kid)
Lucky (grocery)
Woolworth's
Alpha Beta (groceries)

Are there still Yellow Fronts in Tucson?

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:05 pm

mervyn's
radio shack
robinson's may
circuit city

i've never heard of yellow fronts and i've been in tucson for almost 11 years.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:09 pm

Damn, I'm old. Sold camping gear and the like. Had stores like it in Phoenix called Popular.

Checker Auto Parts
Levy's
Broadway
Diamonds
Dillards

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:12 pm

oh well i remember poplar (thought it was poplar?).

that's where we got all of our camping gear growing up.

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:13 pm

gumby wrote:We had letter in the paper today that referenced Sprouse-Reitz, a discount general store. Triggered memories of other stores that aren't around anymore.

Skaggs/Osco
Mayfair (a grocery chain in Las Vegas when I was a kid)
Lucky (grocery)
Woolworth's
Alpha Beta (groceries)

Are there still Yellow Fronts in Tucson?

I don't think so. The one out east on Broadway closed years ago.

Smith's(Groceries)
Goldwaters(like Dillards)
Woolco(like Kmart)

I thought Dillard's was still around?

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:14 pm

Not dead yet.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/popular-outdoor ... scottsdale

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:15 pm

I'm long removed from Arizona. Dillards could very well be around.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:18 pm

Kinney Shoes (evolved into Foot Locker)

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:31 pm

gumby wrote:I'm long removed from Arizona. Dillards could very well be around.

17 stores in az still.

http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... xtLink0212

Post by **UAdevil** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:32 pm

Smitty's. First grocery store I ever saw with a sit down restaurant as a kid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smitty%27s_%28retailer%29

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:33 pm

remember when within a couple miles of my house in mesa there was a smith's, smitty's, fry's, albertsons, basha's, abco and safeway.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:34 pm

Remember the old five and dimes?

Ben Franklins
Woolworths
Kresge
Cornet
TG&Y

My youngest brother worked at Woolco in Tucson when they closed. Not his fault.

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:34 pm

another place i used to go to all the time growing up was the montgomery ward department store.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:38 pm

gumby wrote:I'm long removed from Arizona. Dillards could very well be around.

Yes they are. my wife has worked for them since 1992. They are based out of Little Rock though.

Post by **UAdevil** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:39 pm

LaBelle's (got my first R/C car here)
Mervyn's
Gemco (they had great Robotech ripoff toys in the 80s!)

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:43 pm

Blockbuster Video. Or Hollywood Video.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 1:45 pm

Revco (drugstore)
A.J. Bayless (groceries) used to work there in HS
Service Merchandise (like LaBelle's)
Fedmart

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:13 pm

ABCO Foods
Incredible Universe (lol)

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:19 pm

Kresge's

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:39 pm

ABCO bought Alpha Beta.

I remember Incredible Universe. Did that become Fry's?

The old Montgomery Ward in downtown Spokane is now City Hall. Nice building.

Remembered another: Rexall's. We used to call the guys who dipped tobacco "Rexall Rangers."

PieceOfMeat · Post by **PieceOfMeat** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:39 pm

I know Sears is still around (though doing horribly, apparently), but how about ordering from the Sears Catalog?

I remember that.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:45 pm

PieceOfMeat wrote:I know Sears is still around (though doing horribly, apparently), but how about ordering from the Sears Catalog?

I remember that.

and Roebuck.

Spiegel

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:46 pm

PieceOfMeat wrote:I know Sears is still around (though doing horribly, apparently), but how about ordering from the Sears Catalog?

I remember that.

Used to look forward to the Sears Christmas catalog as a kid.

My vanpool picks me up at the KMart down the street from me where I walk to it. Pretty sad looking store.

Don't have much hope for Sears/KMart to last out this decade.

Reydituto · Post by **Reydituto** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:53 pm

ASUHATER! wrote:another place i used to go to all the time growing up was the montgomery ward department store.

I bought my first bicycle with my own money on lay-away when I was a kid from Montgomery Ward's. Good times.

UAEebs86 wrote:Revco (drugstore)
A.J. Bayless (groceries) used to work there in HS
Service Merchandise (like LaBelle's)
Fedmart

No joke, I came here to post those 4 (was going to say LaBelle's instead of Service Merchandise though).
LOVED Fed Mart, it was Target before Target came to Tucson.

My contributions:

Steinfeld's (at El Con, another department store)
Jacome's (a downtown department store BITD)

I was also going to list Spencer's Gifts (Fundies!) and LaVicio's Deli-Mart (inside certain 7/11s in AZ), but those apparently still exist. Farrell's Ice Cream used to be on that list as well, but they were resuscitated somewhere in SoCal.

TheBlackLodge · Post by **TheBlackLodge** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 2:53 pm

gumby wrote:Are there still Yellow Fronts in Tucson?

The one that was on Speedway and Rosemont is now a Summit Hut.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 3:03 pm

LaVicio's ... remember those.

Winchell's Donuts

For gas:
Vickers
Gulf
Shamrock

Reydituto · Post by **Reydituto** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 3:04 pm

I still laugh every time I see a "Standard Oil" with the same "chevron" as Chevron ...

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 3:08 pm

Ice Cream: Swensens

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 3:10 pm

Reydituto wrote:I still laugh every time I see a "Standard Oil" with the same "chevron" as Chevron ...

My fave, though still around.

Union 76 is just 76 now.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:32 pm

Don't forget Thrifty drug stores with their Thrifty ice cream counter!

Goldwater's department stores were owned by Barry Goldwater's family.

Diamond's department stores were bought by Dillard's.

But yes, most of all, Yellow Front. And Revco and Fedmart.

I don't know how much longer Basha's will be around.

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:36 pm

basha's still has 52 locations plus all the food city's and aj's fine foods. over 100 locations. i think they will probably be ok now that they've recovered from their 2009 bankruptcy.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 4:37 pm

Didn't Esso become Exxon?

wyo-cat · Post by **wyo-cat** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 5:20 pm

gumby wrote:Ice Cream: Swensens

The Swensens at Oracle and OG is still around. It's Sullivan's Creamery or something like that. Same food and ice cream.

KaibabKat · Post by **KaibabKat** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 5:59 pm

Merkin wrote:Didn't Esso become Exxon?

Yes. Still Esso in Canada and a few other countries.

Funny story about the name change. Esso paid millions and millions to search for a name that would be easily recognizable, but not offensive, in any language. Once it came about some (employees?) immediately started calling it the sign of the double cross.

Bruins01 · Post by **Bruins01** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 6:12 pm

KaibabKat wrote:
Merkin wrote:Didn't Esso become Exxon?
Yes. Still Esso in Canada and a few other countries.

Funny story about the name change. Esso paid millions and millions to search for a name that would be easily recognizable, but not offensive, in any language. Once it came about some (employees?) immediately started calling it the sign of the double cross.

Totally not on the topic at all, but this reminds me of when Disney asked its employees to stop calling the company "Mouseschwitz" so they immediately started calling it "Duckau" instead.

ASUCatFan · Post by **ASUCatFan** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 9:29 pm

Merkin wrote:Didn't Esso become Exxon?

My Grandpa and his brothers owned a couple of Esso stations in Pennsylvania back in the day. My Dad has the porcelain letters from the storefront in his garage.

Back on topic: Is KB Toys still around?

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:16 pm

Can remember Atlantic Richfield before ARCO. The KBs here went away. We had a Wonderworld department store in Vegas, which housed Big 5 Sporting Goods.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:22 pm

Der Weinershniitzel? Still around? The Long John Silver's closed here. Arthur Treacher's was similar.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 11:00 pm

gumby wrote:Der Weinershniitzel? Still around? The Long John Silver's closed here. Arthur Treacher's was similar.

I just drove past a Wienerschnitzel tonight in Champaign.

Reydituto · Post by **Reydituto** » Thu Feb 26, 2015 11:46 pm

gumby wrote:Der Weinershniitzel? Still around? The Long John Silver's closed here. Arthur Treacher's was similar.

Still a few Der Weiners in Tucson. One or 2 Long John Silvers too.

catgrad97 · Post by **catgrad97** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 12:07 am

Pioneer Chicken
El Pollo Asado
TG&Y
Round the Corner (the original gourmet burger joint)
Sambo's/Seasons/Wag's
The Wherehouse music & tapes
The Boston Store
McMahon's Furniture
Waldenbooks
and....

the legendary Showbiz and Pistol Pete's Pizza parlors.

Puerco · Post by **Puerco** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 2:55 am

Merkin wrote:Remember the old five and dimes?

Ben Franklins
Woolworths
Kresge
Cornet
TG&Y

My youngest brother worked at Woolco in Tucson when they closed. Not his fault.

TG&Y... Damn!

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 7:42 am

catgrad97 wrote:Pioneer Chicken
El Pollo Asado
TG&Y
Round the Corner (the original gourmet burger joint)
Sambo's/Seasons/Wag's
The Wherehouse music & tapes
The Boston Store
McMahon's Furniture
Waldenbooks
and....

the legendary Showbiz and Pistol Pete's Pizza parlors.

Excellent additions. Really liked El Pollo Asado. Add Tower Records and B. Dalton Books.

I pawned my Smith Corona
and I went to meet my man.
He hangs out on Alvarado Street
by the Pioneer Chicken stand.

We had Chicken Delight in Vegas. "Dinner tonight? Chicken Delight!"

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 8:47 am

catgrad97 wrote:Pioneer Chicken
El Pollo Asado
TG&Y
Round the Corner (the original gourmet burger joint)
Sambo's/Seasons/Wag's
The Wherehouse music & tapes
The Boston Store
McMahon's Furniture
Waldenbooks
and....

the legendary Showbiz and Pistol Pete's Pizza parlors.

Still the original Sambo's in Santa Barbara. Right there by the marina, beautiful view, good food, and still great prices.

Pistol Pete's rivaled Peter Piper's as the worst pizza in town. But a large pie was $3.99?

Best was Godfathers. Thanks a lot Herman Cain.

pokinmik · Post by **pokinmik** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:19 am

Some good company names thrown out there. Definitely getting flashbacks.

Especially winchells donuts, popular, montgomery wards, and abco.

Like UAdevil mentioned, I ate at the diner in Smiths or Smittys on Baseline and McClintock (or was it mill and southern? I can't remember) in Tempe a few times when I was a kid, definitely don't see that anymore.

I used to love going to swensens as a kid when we'd visit Tucson. The wafer in the ice cream was solid. I know Pistol Petes basically turned into Peter Piper's...my dad gets a pizza from there every now and then, he likes the cornmeal coating on the bottom.

devilswin99 · Post by **devilswin99** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:25 am

Just for Feet
Lucky's (grocery store)
Braniff (airline)
Winchell's (donuts)
The Good Earth (restaurant)
Lunt Ave Marble Club (restaurant)
PSA (airline)

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 10:36 am

Bennigan's
Houlihan's

All fern bars. Hopefully.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 11:37 am

gumby wrote:Bennigan's
Houlihan's

Both still around. You just haven't been in the wrong place.

gumby · Post by **gumby** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 1:54 pm

Dammit!

"Of all the fern bars in Champaign, she had to walk into mine."

Reydituto · Post by **Reydituto** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 2:37 pm

gumby wrote:
Reydituto wrote:I still laugh every time I see a "Standard Oil" with the same "chevron" as Chevron ...
My fave, though still around.

Love the dinosaur.

catgrad97 wrote: El Pollo Asado

I worked at the one on Campbell & Prince in HS/early college. Good chicken. Mediocre times.

Merkin wrote:Best was Godfathers. Thanks a lot Herman Cain.

I was going to post Goddarher's loved the crust and the sauce as a kid.

Nine-9-Nein!!!

Longhorned wrote:
gumby wrote:Bennigan's
Houlihan's

Both still around. You just haven't been in the wrong place.

Applebee's resembles that remark!

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