The 80s and 90s were a wonderful time to grow up. It seemed like it was at the peak of pop culture, from fashion to movies to music. You can’t discuss major pop culture moments without mentioning events during these two eras. Whether it was Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Madonna and her reign, the emergence of MTV and the video generation, or the introduction of home computers and other tech gadgets, we wouldn’t be where we are today without this momentous time.
Going to the mall every weekend was the thing to do, and even though I was living on an allowance doled out by my parents, I managed to procure the latest music and styles. Shopping was a huge pastime when I was growing up, and a lot of that was done at old-school stores that are no longer in existence.
In this blog post, I will take you back in time to mall shopping, side ponytails, and neon as I reflect on seven iconic old-school stores that I miss.
Service Merchandise
I loved Service Merchandise. It was a store with a showroom layout that featured all sorts of items (furniture, toys, appliances). You had to order the merchandise first and were given an actual date to pick up the item at the store. Think of it as a catalog where you can see, feel, and test out the product before you order it.
My grandmother, who lived in St. Louis, bought me my first ten-speed bike from Service Merchandise. She was able to buy it in her city, and my family and I were able to pick it up where we lived in Phoenix, Arizona. For 1985, that was pretty advanced.
Circuit City
Before Best Buy took over, there was Circuit City. I loved going there and checking out the electronics. For me, it was all about the CD section, which I stayed in for hours with my friends, looking at the latest releases and trying to decide which ones I would take home with me.
I preferred Circuit City over Best Buy back then–I liked how their stores were laid out better, and I enjoyed my shopping experience there. However, Best Buy ended up being the victor as they survived the rise of digital music, and Circuit City wasn’t. Circuit City still lives online, though.
Venture
If you were born in the Midwest during the 1980s and are of a certain age, black-and-white stripes mean one thing: Venture. Think of it this way: if Target and K-mart had a baby, it would be Venture. A full-fledged department store with clothes, toys, items for your home, and things of that nature. I used to love shopping at Venture and eating the popcorn. A Saturday afternoon wasn’t complete without taking a trip in the family car to Venture.
[Read: One Upon a Time: Throwback to the 80s Mall Era]
Montgomery Ward
In the 1980s, Montgomery Ward was the heir apparent to Sears. My parents had a Montgomery Ward charge card, and we bought many appliances and other items from the store. I even got my Koosa from there (remember those?). Usually located as an anchor to malls, it was a department store that catered to your every need. My folks weren’t Sears people–they were Montgomery Ward people, so I was too.
B Dalton Books
No trip to the mall was official unless my friends and I went into B Dalton to peruse the books. In the 80s, it was fun to read (see the Pizza Hut Book It program). Located in the mall between the food court and the Orange Julius and Spencer’s Gifts, B Dalton was the place to buy your Sweet Valley High books. I got a copy of my VC Andrews “Flowers in the Attic” from B Dalton.
Camelot Music
I bought my first hip-hop tape at Camelot Music—MC Lyte’s “Lyte as a Rock” in 1987. I was also a 45-inch single girlie who copped every New Edition, Bobby Brown, and Al B. Sure! single I could afford with my meager allowance.
Camelot was another mall store I had to visit each time I was in Metro Center. You just had to be there to understand.
KB Toys
Toys R Us was fun, but there was something about KB Toys that I enjoyed. It was smaller, so I felt I could see the selection of toys better and choose between Teddy Ruxpin and My Little Pony. It was also another store inside the mall, making it a favorite since I could shop for a toy or two and visit other favorites without leaving the building.
I go to the mall now and then, but it is nothing like it was back then. I miss those old-school stores, but I am thankful for the internet and being able to buy whatever I want with the click of a button (thanks, Amazon).
What old-school stores do you miss from back in the day? Share below in the comments.
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