Gone but not forgotten, these 20th century staples unfortunately disappeared from shoppers' lives leaving behind tattered receipts and heady nostalgia. Whether you lined up to meet Sarah Jessica Parker at Steve & Barry's or couldn't wait to get your hands on the latest must-watch movie, these stores transformed our lives when they opened their doors and left us at a loss when they disappeared.
From iconic runway style to cult cinema hits, the decades leading up to the Millennium had it all, and most of the decades' best was readily available in person. There's plenty of old stock to unpack in our list of the last century's beloved stores, but don't fret about any late fees, the stern-faced counter clerk at Blockbuster left years ago.
© Getty ImagesBlockbuster offered new releases and popular features on rentable VHS tapes and DVDs
Blockbuster
Iconic video rental store Blockbuster launched in Dallas, Texas in 1985, heading over the Atlantic to UK shores four years later. Just a glimpse of blue and yellow is sure to get you excited for a Friday night film or force a tear for a time forgotten. With many turning to watching films online, a lack of demand had the video rental company filing for bankruptcy in 2010. Any particularly dedicated fans will have to visit the last remaining Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon as the stalwart has otherwise disappeared.
© WireImageAmanda Bynes launched clothing line 'dear by Amanda Bynes' with a signing at the retailer
Steve & Barry's
Clothes that would fit the budget of even the most spend-thrift teens and celebrity signings all in one place? No wonder Steve & Barry’s became an iconic cultural touchpoint of tween fashion. Per Chief Marketer, the business ran on the premise that everything was, broadly speaking, $8.98 or less, and was host to celebrity faces like Sarah Jessica Parker and Amanda Bynes. In the midst of a struggling economy, Steve & Barry’s filed for bankruptcy in 2008.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesWet Seal catered to fashion-hungry tweens
Wet Seal
Mall shopping trips bring up a few familiar names: for the edgier teens it was Hot Topic, while those with preppier taste headed to Abercrombie & Fitch. But teenagers throughout the '80s and '90s all craved affordable fashion, and the trendy, pop music-filled store Wet Seal found its audience. After the company first launched in 1962 as Lorne's, it became a staple in the decades that followed and rebranded as Wet Seal in 1990. Alas, staying fresh in an ever-competitive market isn’t easy, and Wet Seal filed for bankruptcy in 2015, officially closing all of its remaining 171 stores two years later.
© Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagZany Brainy found a winning recipe in combining educational toys and regular in-store events
Zany Brainy
Learning can be fun, kids! Zany Brainy proved that better than most. Their toys, games, puzzles and crafting stock were matched with an equally colourful store design. But it wasn’t just their inventory that got kids talking: the author events, concerts and workshops made the store itself equally a place of play. In its heyday, there were around 187 stores across 34 states. They filed for bankruptcy in 2001, but their issues began the year prior when they bought rival company Noodle Kidoodle, an investment that proved to be more expensive than they’d expected. A lack of a must-have toy meant there wasn’t an easy boost to the toy giant’s fortunes and they closed their stores in 2003.
Jessica Simpson launched her fragrance and body care line Dessert Beauty at Sam Goody
Sam Goody
Sam Goody, like Blockbuster, was the unfortunate victim of an increasingly digital age. Rolling Stone called it “one of the most prominent music, video, and entertainment retailers for much of the 20th century,” and you were likely to find one in any mall across North America. Sadly, in the years since its 1951 inception, most of the stores have either closed or been converted into an FYE store. For those who grew up with the entertainment retailer, the slogan “Goody Got It” was a promise regulars could count on. There's now only one location left standing, and you'll find it in Medford, Oregon.
