I agree. I go to Wal-Mart maybe 2-3 times a year, but the last time I went I felt so disgusted with the customers there. I mean, I don't mind going to the mall when it's busy for whatever reason, but going to Wal-Mart is like being ran over by a pack of rabid wolves. People were literally stepping on me or pushing me aside or wouldn't even let me ahead without their carts tapping against me. Also, people would just stop in the middle of the main aisles (and I don't blame them as those aisles are chock full of distracting products that cause even more traffic). I have realised that I will not go there unless it is absolutely necessary.

Now, Target is a different experience. Their aisles are wider, things are organized, the lighting is softer, the customers come off as less annoying. It is far from the maddening crowd that we call Wal-Mart. Plus, they have just as good deals that Wal-Mart have. And the clothes are WAY better - if I don't mind saying :0)


Target has some really cool home furnishings too! :)

For the record, I am not a regular walmart shopper... I go there maybe twice a year, if that.  But that is mainly because I have no patience for overly crowded stores and lack of parking spaces, which are the things that really annoy me about wal-mart.  I'm willing to pay a little more for the convenience of places like 7-11 (I'm at 7-11 almost every day for one thing or another) where there is always good parking and short lines.  But if I were in a bad financial situation, I would shop at places like Walmart, Target, etc.


I go to Target(but stay away from their electronics!) and similar places.  It is Wal Mart that I refuse to
even consider, and it is all social/political.  It has a lot to do with being brought up to respect the
sacrifices of my ancestors that have enabled me to be in the position I am now in.  I vote in every
election, city, state, and federal, because people died trying to excersize their own right. They were
willing to try to vote knowing they could(and many times were) murdered for just trying.  I don't cross
picket lines because I know about labor history and even though I have issues with unions I do know
without them I wouldn't have the standard of living I do today.  When a company such as WalMart
actively chooses to disrespect the working person(Dead Peasants as they would call us), I don't
hand them my money.  The way the multinationals are set up now it is impossible to boycott every
company in such a manner, but there are some companies, and/or logos, that I can avoid.  I am trying
not to have a preachy tone, sorry if it comes across that way.  It is just something I feel very strongly, and I am trying to explain what I feel, about WalMart.

As noted earlier in this thread, Wal-mart (along with other so-called "big box" stores) put Stambaugh's hardware stores out of business in northeast Ohio. Stambaugh's was a stalwart of Mahoning Valley business; they had been around since the 1800's. My dad used to shop there for auto supplies and lumber. In the mid-90s they tried to reorganize as "Stambaugh Hardware and Paint" to compete with Wal-mart and Sears Hardware. Unfortunately, they messed with a good thing and made smaller stores with less of what you shopped there for in the first place! Dumb move, if you ask me...even if they *were* losing money.

I'll never forget the last time my father shopped at Stambaugh's. Irritated that he couldn't find the merchandise that he had come to depend on for years, he confronted the location's manager with his gripe about less inventory.

Dad: (sarcastic tone) "Gee, these sure are some great changes you've made around here."

Manager: "We think so, too".

Dad:"Yep...they're so great I *can't find anything I'm looking for anymore*!"  8)

I hate Wal-Mart.  Them and McDonalds are the lords of Globalization.

As noted earlier in this thread, Wal-mart (along with other so-called "big box" stores) put Stambaugh's hardware stores out of business in northeast Ohio. Stambaugh's was a stalwart of Mahoning Valley business; they had been around since the 1800's. My dad used to shop there for auto supplies and lumber. In the mid-90s they tried to reorganize as "Stambaugh Hardware and Paint" to compete with Wal-mart and Sears Hardware. Unfortunately, they messed with a good thing and made smaller stores with less of what you shopped there for in the first place! Dumb move, if you ask me...even if they *were* losing money.

I'll never forget the last time my father shopped at Stambaugh's. Irritated that he couldn't find the merchandise that he had come to depend on for years, he confronted the location's manager with his gripe about less inventory.

Dad: (sarcastic tone) "Gee, these sure are some great changes you've made around here."

Manager: "We think so, too".

Dad:"Yep...they're so great I *can't find anything I'm looking for anymore*!"  8)





Thats pretty sad. Same thing happened here to the T G and Y stores in the late 80's/early 90s. They "downsized" to try and compete with Walmart and Target, and they lost all their customers by doing so. When they started getting less inventory, they didnt even remodel the inside of the store. You would go in there, and half the store's shelves were empty. Pathetic. They quickly went out of business after that. I think alot of the old stores had no idea what to do when faced with the stiff competition from Walmart and Target. They all overreacted, and lost their businesses in doing so. If they had just joined together and tried to knock Walmart and Target out of business when their takeover started, this country(and the world) would be a totally different place.

I hate Wal-Mart.  Them and McDonalds are the lords of Globalization.

You got that right. ::) I hates 'em too.

I do not like Walmart and shop there very little. I do not buy groceries there. Reasons I do not like to shop there:

1. Cheaper prices are often brought about by cheaper quality items. A shirt may look good on the hanger but wash it a few times and the difference in quality comes through.
2. Some brand name items at Walmart are not necessarily the same as that brand name elsewhere. Levi's jeans are an example of this if I recall. They are a lesser quality, cut smaller.
3. Dirty stores.
4. Spoiled food items on display on a regular basis. Especially meat. Yuck.
5. Awful store brand.
6. Carts scattered all over the parking lot, hidden cost of shopping there is my car getting door dings I don't seem to get elsewhere.

If I absolutely must have something, and it is 2:00 a.m., I will go to Walmart. For most other things I tend to avoid Walmart.

Now tower records is being driven out of business by that place!

Now tower records is being driven out of business by that place!

oh really? ??? :o I was wondering why I haven't shopped there in ages.

I used to love Steinbachs and Two Guys in Jersey.  When we moved down the Jersey Shore in 1969 Two Guys was the only 'department' store!  Now Brick NJ has every chain in existence.  I think I liked it better in 1969!  We even still had several "drive in" theaters in 1969!

I really miss Tower Records, even though they're usually more expensive than most other places, because of the selection.

I wonder if anybody remembers Ardan? It was similar to Service Merchandise. We used to buy a lot of stuff there. They went out of business about 1986 or so.

Bradlees sucked there store were unkeped and not clean and i can see why then went out


I liked Bradlees.  Before we had a mall in our hometown, we shopped at Bradlees. 
Guess it's all in the way the individual stores were kept...

I used to love Steinbachs and Two Guys in Jersey.  When we moved down the Jersey Shore in 1969 Two Guys was the only 'department' store!  Now Brick NJ has every chain in existence.  I think I liked it better in 1969!   We even still had several "drive in" theaters in 1969!


Was your Steinbach's the same one we used to have in CT, that started out as Howland's?

I really miss Tower Records, even though they're usually more expensive than most other places, because of the selection.



Lately I've been buying my music products at Best Buy or Borders...with my gift cards. I doubt that there's a Tower Records in my area anymore. Haven't seen one recently. :-\\

Was your Steinbach's the same one we used to have in CT, that started out as Howland's?


Don't think so...I  don't remember ever seeing a Howland's...
Ever notice that everytime a store disappears you think you'll just die and then you get so used to its replacement that when that one goes you feel like you'll just die all over again?  I guess it's all in the mind!

But I think there is a race to see which pharmacy, which home improvement, which hamburger joint, which bank will put out all of their competitors.  Who will win?  Rite Aid, Eckhard, CVS?  Home Depot or Lowes?  Burger King, McDonalds, Checkers, White Castle or Wendy's?  Sovereign Bank, PNC Bank, Commerce Bank?  I swear, there is a Commerce  Bank going up on practically every corner here in Jersey!
Oh and of course:  Walmart or K-Mart!?  And:  Sams Club, Costco or BJ's!?

I am beginning to think that years from now we will be back to one giantic "General Store"!

Don't think so...I  don't remember ever seeing a Howland's...
Ever notice that everytime a store disappears you think you'll just die and then you get so used to its replacement that when that one goes you feel like you'll just die all over again?  I guess it's all in the mind!

But I think there is a race to see which pharmacy, which home improvement, which hamburger joint, which bank will put out all of their competitors.  Who will win?  Rite Aid, Eckhard, CVS?  Home Depot or Lowes?  Burger King, McDonalds, Checkers, White Castle or Wendy's?  Sovereign Bank, PNC Bank, Commerce Bank?   I swear, there is a Commerce  Bank going up on practically every corner here in Jersey!
Oh and of course:  Walmart or K-Mart!?   And:  Sams Club, Costco or BJ's!?

I am beginning to think that years from now we will be back to one giantic "General Store"!




Oh, how I hear you.

The drugstores I can hardly keep up with.  First Genovese turned onto Eckerd, not Eckerd's folding in2 Rite Aid.  And as far as the banks go, 86th Stree here in Brooklyn -- which used to be a decent shopping strip -- is turning into, like, all banks.  And it's ridiculous, really, because the times I've gone in2 the Chase there (my bank), it was dead.  I can't see how they won't fold at some point, because the demand just isn't there.

Kinney Shoes, which I had forgotten about until I saw an old advertisement for one in a book about '70s ads, has  been defunct since 1998. I read on Wikipedia that Kinney shoes was once owned by Woolworth, which because of Wal-Mart, went out of business. I still miss Woolworths.

Kinney Shoes, which I had forgotten about until I saw an old advertisement for one in a book about '70s ads, has been defunct since 1998. I read on Wikipedia that Kinney shoes was once owned by Woolworth, which because of Wal-Mart, went out of business. I still miss Woolworths.


I remember Kinney Shoes as a little kid in the 1980's! I'd forgotten all about them until now. :o

I remember Kinney Shoes as a little kid in the 1980's! I'd forgotten all about them until now. :o


I know  :o They just kinda went away without much of a good-bye. We use to go there every so often. I believe I got my first pair of Keds from Kinney's because they were the only store that carried them at the time.

I know  :o They just kinda went away without much of a good-bye. We used to go there every so often. I believe I got my first pair of Keds from Kinney's because they were the only store that carried them at the time.

I can't remember if I got any of my little-kid shoes from there (although I probably did)... but these places come and go. :-\\ It's a shame that Walmart had to put 'em outta business.

I can't remember if I got any of my little-kid shoes from there (although I probably did)... but these places come and go. :-\\ It's a shame that Walmart had to put 'em outta business.


I agree. I was in downtown Martinez over the weekend and it was fun to see the old signs they still had. Us Americans have a hard time just keeping something old and leaving it that way, lol

Kinney Shoes, which I had forgotten about until I saw an old advertisement for one in a book about '70s ads, has  been defunct since 1998. I read on Wikipedia that Kinney shoes was once owned by Woolworth, which because of Wal-Mart, went out of business. I still miss Woolworths.


Woolworths is still alive and well in the U.K.!  I just used to love their pizza....but I was a kid and everything is great tasting when you're a kid, right!  But I also loved sitting at the counter and ordering a good old hot dog with kraut and mustard!...Everything that was great is gone:  egg creams at the soda fountains in "non chain" drug stores.....drive in theaters.....thank God we still have Dairy Queen! (in Jersey that is!)

Do you guys remember PharMor?  We used to have a few of them near us. They used to have a great video rental store there....real cheap, good selection.

Its ironic how the people who get all nostalgic for these stores that Wal Mart put out of business are the same people who put those stores out of business by shopping at Wal Mart so they could save a dime or two.

Not meant as an insult to anyone in this thread. I have also shopped at Wal Mart.

This irony dawned on me a few days ago while having a conversation with my grandma. She was talking about how much she missed T G & Y. She shops at Wal Mart all the time.


What was accomplished by everyone shopping at Wal Mart to save a mere bag of shells and putting their favorite stores out of business?

Terrible service from a store that sells inferior products for a slightly cheap price, most of it shipped here from China. Last but not least, the massive amount of lost jobs, income, and a manufacturing base that is literally extinct and will never return.

Way to go America! :-\\

As our country digs its own grave, we most certainly cannot accuse someone else of digging that grave. We used the shovels ourselves, which miraculously didn't break considering the fact the shovels were made by 10 year old kids in chinese sweatshops.

I used to love Steinbachs and Two Guys in Jersey.  When we moved down the Jersey Shore in 1969 Two Guys was the only 'department' store!  Now Brick NJ has every chain in existence.  I think I liked it better in 1969!  We even still had several "drive in" theaters in 1969!



I remember both and we loved them.  We visted the stores in Woodbridge.
i recall Orbachs?  Was that the name?

Only 20 years ago, we were excited to get Pizza Hut and only half the island had cable.
Now we have 3 home depots and millions of Walgreens!  CVS is getting outta hand too.

Kinney Shoes, which I had forgotten about until I saw an old advertisement for one in a book about '70s ads, has  been defunct since 1998. I read on Wikipedia that Kinney shoes was once owned by Woolworth, which because of Wal-Mart, went out of business. I still miss Woolworths.


Did you know that Woolworth's still exists in England?  I used to love their pizza!  But I was 10, what do kids know about good pizza!  It was the Woolworth's on Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ I used to visit frequently for the pizza and of course to take pictures in those little picture booths they had for 25 cents!  Remember that!?

clover,  heckengers

I remember Phar-Mor...which was a pretty good store, until they became a "super" store...they got rid of their video rental dept..and didn't have much of anything...and then they went out of business.



Erin :)


I also remember Phar Mor. It went out of business and then became an F&M. Then F&M went out of business and became a Drug Emporium which eventually went out of business. All we have are mostly Walgreens and a few CVS stores.

We have a chain of stores cross-Canada called "Zellers" and I fear that in the near future, they might fold becuase of Wal-Mart.  The local Wal-Mart superstore here opened last year, and it is located just up the block from the Zellers store here.  Becuase of this, the Zellers here had to update their look, and even add in extra aisles for Dairy Products and Frozen Food.  I can't speak for other Zellers locations, but the local one here has never sold frozen or dairy food in the 20+ years they have been here

http://www.dawsonmall.com/zellers.gif

same here where I'm at. There use to be 2 zellers now there's one a it barley stays a float. The wal-marts a block away and allways packed to the point the intersection there is always jammed

Did you know that Woolworth's still exists in England?  I used to love their pizza!  But I was 10, what do kids know about good pizza!  It was the Woolworth's on Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ I used to visit frequently for the pizza and of course to take pictures in those little picture booths they had for 25 cents!  Remember that!?




I LOVED those little photo booths, we have a few strips of photos taken in one over the years.  Now I doubt I could fit into one of those booths now.  ;D