Defunct Store Mugs
Description: Filene's opened its famous "Automatic Bargain Basement" in 1909, which became a much-visited tourist attraction. Goods were marked down according to an automatic schedule; an item that had been on sale for 12 days was marked down by 25 percent, after 18 days by 50 percent, after 24 days by 75 percent, and after 30 days it was given away. Famous for the Running of the Brides which was a one-day sale of wedding gowns, garnering local media attention because of the sight of hundreds of brides-to-be scrambling for bargains. The store stocked thousands of gowns for that day and marked them down drastically; gowns were non-returnable. Prices ranged from $249.00 to $699.00, marked down from retail prices as high as $9,000.
Description: Gemco was an American chain of membership department stores that was owned by San Leandro-based Lucky Stores, a California supermarket company which eventually became part of Albertsons. Gemco operated from 1959 until closing in late 1986. Gemco had a version called Memco, also owned by Lucky Stores, that operated stores in the Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., areas.
Description: Remembering Famous Barr Department Store. The Railway Exchange Building in downtown St. Louis was the home to the flagship Famous-Barr store and headquarters of the May Department Stores Company. It was the first air-conditioned department store in the country. Back in the day, this Famous-Barr store was the place to see and be seen. Christmas shopping at this department store was an event, so much so that memories of visiting the store or even just stopping by to check out the elaborate displays in the windows is a happy memory for generations of St. Louisans.
Description: Remembering Meier & Frank Department Stores. Meier & Frank was a prominent chain of department stores founded in Portland, Oregon, operating in the Pacific Northwest from 1857 to 2006. For a time, Meier & Frank reigned as the largest retail outlet west of the Mississippi and one of the largest stores in the nation in the early 1930s. It was considered as one of America’s great stores. Meier & Frank pioneered the concept of a "money-back guarantee", until then unheard-of in merchandising. Clark Gable worked at Meier & Frank selling neckties.
Description: Remembering the Bon-Ton Department Store. Bon-Ton was started in 1898, when Max Grumbacher and his father, Samuel, opened S. Grumbacher & Son, a one-room millinery and dry goods store on Market Street in York, Pennsylvania. Bon-Ton eventually bought other department stores including, Hess's, Elder-Beerman, Carson Pirie Scott (later branded as Carson's), Bergner's, Boston Store, Herberger's, and Younkers.
Description: Our hand-drawn recreation of the iconic Weinacker's design, inspired by an original illustration from a vintage matchbook cover, celebrates the historic Weinacker's department store. Once renowned as "A One Stop Shopping Center," Weinacker's was a beloved Mobile, Alabama landmark located at the corner of Government and Catherine Streets. A staple of the community and a hub of local shopping and events during the mid-20th century, this nostalgic design captures the essence of a bygone era, making it a perfect addition to any collection. Relive the charm of Mobile's past with this unique and detailed artwork!
Description: Celebrate retail history with this Caldor Department Stores 1951 T-Shirt. Featuring a retro‑inspired design that pays tribute to the beloved discount chain, this tee is perfect for anyone who remembers the golden age of American shopping. With its nostalgic style and distressed vintage look, it’s a must‑have for fans of classic department stores, retro fashion, and mid‑century Americana. Whether you grew up shopping at Caldor, collect vintage retail memorabilia, or just love unique throwback graphics, this shirt brings a piece of 1950s history back to life. Ideal for casual wear, retro enthusiasts, or as a conversation‑starting gift for anyone who loves classic American culture.
Description: Two Guys, originally known as Two Guys From Harrison, was a well-known American discount store chain established in 1946 by brothers Sidney and Herbert Hubschman in Harrison, New Jersey. The business began by specializing in major household appliances, including televisions, before rapidly expanding its product offerings. After acquiring the Vornado brand appliance manufacturer in 1959, the retailer grew to more than 100 locations across New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, and even California. Once one of the nation's leading discount retailers, Two Guys experienced a steady decline during the late 1970s and officially ceased operations in 1982.
Description: Ontario Discount Department Store was a chain of discount department stores, which operated primarily in Ohio from the late 1950s into the 1980s. Ontario's parent company, Cook United, discontinued the use of the Ontario brand when it bought the Rink's Bargain Barn chain in 1981. The remaining Ontario stores were rebranded as Rink's or Cooks stores. Cook United closed its remaining stores in 1987.
Description: Fry’s Electronics was an American big-box store chain headquartered in Silicon Valley. Fry’s retailed software, consumer electronics, household appliances, cosmetics, tools, toys, accessories, magazines, technical books, and computer hardware. Fry’s had in-store computer repair and custom computer building services. Fry’s began with one store in Sunnyvale, California, which expanded to 34 stores in nine states at its peak in 2019. Because Fry’s stores were enormous, stocking a wide range of each product category, they were popular with electronics and computer hobbyists and professionals. Almost all of their stores carried a theme that was more than just decor, but built into the architecture of the building, using themes ranging from an Az
Description: Old Town Records was a record label set up by Hy Weiss in New York City. It operated between 1953 and 1966, and was responsible for several R&B and doo-wop hit records. Weiss, who was born in Romania, lived in the Bronx from the 1920s, and began working as a furrier. In the mid-1940s, with his brother Sam, he started distributing records produced in California by Leon René, soon expanding into distributing records by other companies including Modern and Apollo. In 1953, he set up his own label, Old Town, taking its name, and its early stationery, from that of a wholesale paper business in Brooklyn for whom Weiss worked.
Description: In 1906 the first "W. T. Grant Co. 25 Cent Store" opened in Lynn, Massachusetts. Modest profit, coupled with a fast turnover of inventory, allowed the stores to grow to almost $100 million annual sales by 1936. By the time Grant died in 1972 at age 96, his chain of W. T. Grant Stores had grown to almost 1,200. At the company's end, headquarters were atop One Astor Plaza, a prominent building of New York City's skyline on Times Square. Grant's stores were slower than others to adapt to the growth of the suburbs and the change in shopping habits that this entailed, and the attempt to correct this was belated. W. T. Grant's bankruptcy in 1976, which was the then-second biggest in US history.
