Forgotten Retail/Restaurant Chains

[kes1111]

Burger Chef was an American fast-food restaurant chain. It began operating in 1954 in Indianapolis, Indiana, expanded throughout the United States, and, at its peak in 1973, had 1,050 locations.The chain featured several signature items, such as the Big Shef and Super Shef hamburgers. In 1982, the General Foods Corporation, then-owners of the Burger Chef trademark and name, divested itself of the restaurant chain, gradually selling to the owners of Hardee's. The final restaurant to carry the Burger Chef name closed in 1996.

 

[kes1111]

Zayre was a chain of discount stores that operated in the eastern half of the United States from 1956 to 1990. The company's headquarters was in Framingham, Massachusetts. In October 1988, Zayre's parent company, Zayre Corp., sold the stores to the competing Ames Department Stores, Inc. chain, and in June 1989, Zayre Corp. merged with one of its subsidiaries, The TJX Companies, parent company of T.J. Maxx. A number of stores retained the Zayre name until 1990, by which time all stores were either closed or converted into Ames stores.

 

[cnc]

Zayre was a chain of discount stores that operated in the eastern half of the United States from 1956 to 1990. The company's headquarters was in Framingham, Massachusetts. In October 1988, Zayre's parent company, Zayre Corp., sold the stores to the competing Ames Department Stores, Inc. chain, and in June 1989, Zayre Corp. merged with one of its subsidiaries, The TJX Companies, parent company of T.J. Maxx. A number of stores retained the Zayre name until 1990, by which time all stores were either closed or converted into Ames stores.

We had Zayre and Venture when I was a kid; right across the street from one another. Caught a public ass whipping from my mother back in the 80s outside of one for talking slick because she wouldn't buy me a gunball out the machine. Memories

 

[woodchuck]

Zayre was a chain of discount stores that operated in the eastern half of the United States from 1956 to 1990. The company's headquarters was in Framingham, Massachusetts. In October 1988, Zayre's parent company, Zayre Corp., sold the stores to the competing Ames Department Stores, Inc. chain, and in June 1989, Zayre Corp. merged with one of its subsidiaries, The TJX Companies, parent company of T.J. Maxx. A number of stores retained the Zayre name until 1990, by which time all stores were either closed or converted into Ames stores.

Used to get my clothes from Zayre back in the back. Is Bennigan's still around?

 

[easy_b]

Zayre was a chain of discount stores that operated in the eastern half of the United States from 1956 to 1990. The company's headquarters was in Framingham, Massachusetts. In October 1988, Zayre's parent company, Zayre Corp., sold the stores to the competing Ames Department Stores, Inc. chain, and in June 1989, Zayre Corp. merged with one of its subsidiaries, The TJX Companies, parent company of T.J. Maxx. A number of stores retained the Zayre name until 1990, by which time all stores were either closed or converted into Ames stores.

Wow Miami 54 Street and 12th Ave. across the street from the PAC jam

 

[Mack1052]

 

[kes1111]

The original iteration of High's was High’s Ice Cream, an ice cream parlor founded by L.W. High in Richmond, Virginia in 1932 and purchased by James R. Gregory, Jr. with two partners in 1938, at which time there were 16 stores and an ice cream plant in Richmond.Until 2010 there was a High's Ice Cream parlor remaining in Portsmouth, Virginia, but it sold Hershey's brand ice cream. At the time of its closing, it still had the original High's interior (though showing its age) including the white and black checkerboard floor tiles that High's Ice Cream stores were known for.

 

[Mack1052]

Not completely gone but on its last legs

 

[kes1111]

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, was an American chain of grocery stores that ceased supermarket operations in November 2015, after 156 years in business.From 1915 through 1975, A&P was the largest food/grocery retailer in the United States (and until 1965, the largest U.S. retailer of any kind). A&P was considered an American icon that according to The Wall Street Journal "was as well known as McDonald's or Google is today" and that A&P was "Walmart before Walmart."Known for innovation, A&P and the supermarkets that followed its lead significantly improved nutritional habits by making available a vast assortment of food products at much lower costs.[5] Until 1982, A&P also was a large food manufacturer.[6] In his 1952 book, American Capitalism, John Kenneth Galbraith cited A&P's manufacturing strategy as a classic example of countervailing power that was a welcome alternative to state price controls.

 

[HellBoy]

Wow Miami 54 Street and 12th Ave. across the street from the PAC jam

Pacjam I went to was off 79th & NE 2nd Ave.

 

[Bumpee]

Not completely gone but on its last legs

I loved their strawberry shortcake. My Moms used to work there part time. I damn near OD'd on their chicken.

 

[easy_b]

Pacjam I went to was off 79th & NE 2nd Ave.

No that's incorrect just do a Google search to refresh your memory and the people from Miami knows this was always on 54th St. and 12th Ave.

 

[fwillia]

Not completely gone but on its last legs

Roy Rogers has the best sweet and sour sauce.

We had a Roy Rogers and a White Castle by my crib when I was younger. Good times.

 

[OmariAmaru]

Wow Miami 54 Street and 12th Ave. across the street from the PAC jam

Yep. My old neighborhood. Now it's a winn-dixie.

 

[OmariAmaru]

No that's incorrect just do a Google search to refresh your memory and the people from Miami knows this was always on 54th St. and 12th Ave.

The man is correct.

 

[kes1111]

Sambo's
Date of birth: 1957
Signature move: Naming itself after a derogatory term for African-American men, though founders insisted no harm was implied.
Backstory: By 1977, the Santa Barbara chain was among the country’s largest, however, units in the Albany area were renamed Jolly Tiger, according to the blog Restaurant-ing Through History.
Cause of death: After renaming several units, the company ultimately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 1981. Today, only one Sambo’s restaurant remains — in Santa Barbara, California.

 

[God Dammit]

Woolworth's is the only chain posted that I've ever even heard of...​

 

[The Specialist]

Wow Miami 54 Street and 12th Ave. across the street from the PAC jam

The Original Pac Jam before they moved on the NE side...yessir, I got my first Bike outta Zayre.

 

[yaBoi]

 

[KATDADDY]

I loved their strawberry shortcake. My Moms used to work there part time. I damn near OD'd on their chicken.

now you look like a fuckin chicken. you cluck cluck ass mf.

 

[HellBoy]

No that's incorrect just do a Google search to refresh your memory and the people from Miami knows this was always on 54th St. and 12th Ave.

Pacjam (Luke's teen club) that me and my friends went to every Friday night, was off NE 2 ave. Connected to Luke's LP warehouse.

 

[easy_b]

Pacjam (Luke's teen club) that me and my friends went to every Friday night, was off NE 2 ave. Connected to Luke's LP warehouse.

The old one was on 54th and 12 the one you went to was the new one before they shut it all down

 

[Bumpee]

now you look like a fuckin chicken. you cluck cluck ass mf.

Well at least you tried.......

 

[OmariAmaru]

The old one was on 54th and 12 the one you went to was the new one before they shut it all down

This really takes me back. I grew up off of 15th ave. when the Y was there with cats playing basketball all hours of the night and African Square park was the hang out. Also remember when John Doe ran them corners. Things done changed.

 

[tallblacknyc]

 

[tallblacknyc]

Woolworth's is the only chain posted that I've ever even heard of...​

wow u never heard of roy rogers? that was the black fast food chain compared to mcd's/ bk/wendy's... i use to love their bacon cheeseburger

 

[God Dammit]

I used to love going in Service Merchandise and playing with the Nintendo while my mom shopped.
Fun fact though... the company's headquarters was in Florida and the CEO's lastname was Zimmerman...

wow u never heard of roy rogers? that was the black fast food chain compared to mcd's/ bk/wendy's... i use to love their bacon cheeseburger

Never...
Now I wish I had.
I must be too young at 35.
​

 

[HellBoy]

I remember going to the one on 163rd Street in North Miami, when there was a movie theater back there too. They had that crazy system, where you bought your stuff, then had to wait for it to come down the conveyor belt. Got in trouble so many times in that store.

 

[Mack1052]

Never...
Now I wish I had.
I must be too young at 35.
​

Guess it's regional because some of the others stores posted I never heard of either. There's still about 50 or so left so it's not to late

 

[OmariAmaru]

I remember going to the one on 163rd Street in North Miami, when there was a movie theater back there too. They had that crazy system, where you bought your stuff, then had to wait for it to come down the conveyor belt. Got in trouble so many times in that store.

Used to be in there all the time. Think you had to get your item number off the display item, then put it into a computer with your name. Waited like 10 min for them to call your name and pay. Crazy system. Is that mall still there? KB toys, Chess King. Got me feeling nostalgic as hell

 

[RUDY RAYYY MO]

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, was an American chain of grocery stores that ceased supermarket operations in November 2015, after 156 years in business.From 1915 through 1975, A&P was the largest food/grocery retailer in the United States (and until 1965, the largest U.S. retailer of any kind). A&P was considered an American icon that according to The Wall Street Journal "was as well known as McDonald's or Google is today" and that A&P was "Walmart before Walmart."Known for innovation, A&P and the supermarkets that followed its lead significantly improved nutritional habits by making available a vast assortment of food products at much lower costs.[5] Until 1982, A&P also was a large food manufacturer.[6] In his 1952 book, American Capitalism, John Kenneth Galbraith cited A&P's manufacturing strategy as a classic example of countervailing power that was a welcome alternative to state price controls.

Yep I remember as a kid growing up in Mobile. Be nice if the articles mention the what part of the country the stores are kmown for

 

[RoomService]

after 156 years in business.From 1915 through 1975, A&P was the largest food/grocery retailer in the United States (and until 1965, the largest U.S. retailer of any kind). s.

Chess and checkers.. Walmart, A&P

They refused to change with the times places like Kroger's and Walmart became a one stop shop pharmacy, groceries and seafood

 

[tallblacknyc]

I used to love going in Service Merchandise and playing with the Nintendo while my mom shopped.
Fun fact though... the company's headquarters was in Florida and the CEO's lastname was Zimmerman...


Never...
Now I wish I had.
I must be too young at 35.
​

i'm only a yr older than you

 

[woodchuck]

Sambo's
Date of birth: 1957
Signature move: Naming itself after a derogatory term for African-American men, though founders insisted no harm was implied.
Backstory: By 1977, the Santa Barbara chain was among the country’s largest, however, units in the Albany area were renamed Jolly Tiger, according to the blog Restaurant-ing Through History.
Cause of death: After renaming several units, the company ultimately filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 1981. Today, only one Sambo’s restaurant remains — in Santa Barbara, California.

We NEVER ate there, because my parents didn't dig the name.

 

[tallblacknyc]