There have been many stores that have gone out of business over the years. Some never really had a chance. Many others couldn’t adapt to changes in consumers' tastes, or the Internet, and had to liquidate before closing their doors. Many of the stores were household names that were around for many years.
I thought it would be interesting to list a few of these now defunct stores just to see how many of them you remembered. With that in mind, here is a list of five of the top stores that have gone under in recent years:
5. Borders. At its peak, the bookstore chain had 511 locations. Founded in 1971, all locations were shuttered when the company filed bankruptcy in 2011.
4. KB Toys. Founded in 1922, this toy retailer had 1,324 stores in all 50 states. The company closed all its stores in 2009.
3. Sports Authority. Founded in 1928, the sporting goods store had 460 stores across the USA. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2016.
2. Service Merchandise. The catalog showroom retailer began operations in 1934. At its peak it had 400 stores. The company shuttered all stores in 2002, although it has launched an e-commerce store since then.
1. Radio Shack. Ah yes, everyone has heard of Radio Shack. You probably still have a piece of electronic equipment from the retailer still hanging around in your basement! Founded in 1921 with 7,300 locations, the company was a major force in the electronics industry. Hard times hit the company and it filed for bankruptcy in 2017. Technically still in business, it is no longer a major retail player that it once was.
So, how many do you remember? Are there any others you want to throw out there? I’d love to hear from you!