We probably grew up in a similar region, Northwestern Ohio?
I know I've been to Children's Palace, but we very rarely went there (maybe two, three times tops) so it doesn't stick out in my memory.
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Defunct retailers you miss the most
- Thread starter Squarehard
- Start date
We probably grew up in a similar region, Northwestern Ohio?
I know I've been to Children's Palace, but we very rarely went there (maybe two, three times tops) so it doesn't stick out in my memory.
EB Games before the Gamestop acquisition/consolidation. I was at my local shop at least once a week either picking up game or chatting with the employees all during high school. Those were some good days.
Oh man, I had one right across the street from me in middle school and I was in there almost daily. I'd say the best analog now is Half-Priced Books in terms of having a place to hang out and read up on and get books.
J&R Music and Computer World in Manhattan. That was a store. I shopped there for everything from video games to specialty video equipment. Even mail ordered from them after moving away for awhile.
As far as chains go, Borders is the big one for me, but I also have fond memories of Toys R Us, Kay-Bee, and others.
As far as chains go, Borders is the big one for me, but I also have fond memories of Toys R Us, Kay-Bee, and others.
north eastern KY (basically the KY, WV and OH tri-state). close enough.
This was my go to gamestore. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, they had free demo kiosks that you could put any games you want into them, and they had a respectable retro selection as well.
Toys R Us, because it was thrilling to take the ticket to the counter and then being presented with a new game.
Also: Babbage's. The place just smelled like software, that's the only way I know how to describe it.
Also: Babbage's. The place just smelled like software, that's the only way I know how to describe it.
Didn't they have a horrible reputation for screwing customers?
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I made a killing on Hastings site back in the day.
That's one online retailer that I dearly miss.
I went to a B&M before when I was in Colorado, but it wasn't nearly the same price wise as their online site.
*sigh...
Toys R Us is supposedly coming back or have those plans been scrapped?
Of ones not mentioned, I guess Children's Palace, got a Sega Master System in the early 90s from there on clearance, only problem was the only game I had was the one preloaded on it. Wish I didn't sell it (and my NES+games for that matter) for cheap back in the day to pay my grandmother for the SNES she bought for when people came over that I was the only one who really played it in the first place.
Of ones not mentioned, I guess Children's Palace, got a Sega Master System in the early 90s from there on clearance, only problem was the only game I had was the one preloaded on it. Wish I didn't sell it (and my NES+games for that matter) for cheap back in the day to pay my grandmother for the SNES she bought for when people came over that I was the only one who really played it in the first place.
I still felt bad for abusing their free rental coupons when I was in college.
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I still feel bad abusing their free returns online.
Should've just lowered my standards a bit more. ~_~
As of this summer they're opening two smaller stores (The Galleria in Houston, and Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey) this November. Dunno if that's changed or not, but the article below says they're still in the works.
However, they signed a deal with Target to handle all of their stock and web sales, which means basically everything you get from Toys R Us is the same shit you can get at Target, it's just sold through the Toys R Us name; https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanve...l-means-toys-r-us-is-a-retailer-in-name-only/
That's a super cynical and depressing turn. TRUINO =(
Futureshop because they were much more willing to price match than Best Buy is now.
Target because of the frequent pricing errors and crazy sale prices on games. New games for 1/3 the price, first party 3ds games for $10.
Good sales or deals are a rarity now in Canada.
Target because of the frequent pricing errors and crazy sale prices on games. New games for 1/3 the price, first party 3ds games for $10.
Good sales or deals are a rarity now in Canada.
Weak... At least the molded rubber/plastic TRU smell will stick with me forever. :(
My man. That place was the most gaudy, late 90s-early 2000s bullshit and I loved it so much.
Man, Bargain Harolds. That really takes me back.
Used to buy toys and games there as a kid. Not video games, mind you but games nontheless! :)
Functionality wise, video rental stores. Redbox works well enough for movies, but you're not going to get shit done with one day game rentals, and they're fucking high. Nostalgia wise, I guess I'd go with Toys R Us.
I second this. My local one was right behind my high school (although it wasn't a straight-forward walk because there was a big creek between my school and its location, so you had to walk a bit out of the way to get the nearest bridge to cross the creek), and they seemed to know nearly all of their regular customers by name and knew all of our preferences. It was always nice for them to pretty much accurately guess exactly why I was coming in. They also threw some fun little tournaments at the store once in a while, like a Smash Melee tournament and even a Guilty Gear X2 tournament. That latter tournament was the first time I ever heard of Evo, because a few of the people that popped in to play were passing through on their way to Vegas. I wasn't a part of my local FGC or anything, but I came in 6th out of 12 contestants and the guys that were on their way to Evo praised me for having my skill level for my age and then told me they were on the way to the biggest fighting game tournament in the world called Evolution. I think this was in 2004 or so, GGX2 had been out for a year or or a year and a half in the US when the tourney was held, so it wasn't brand spanking new or anything.
... anyway, to end that tangent, I actually never really looked more closely into Evo after meeting those guys, but I remember when it got announced to be livestreamed shortly after the release of Street Fighter IV some years later, I was like "oh I've heard of this, weird." Been a fan of tuning into Evo annually ever since lol.
none actually. Didn't have any that were especially good or bad. They're all the same in my area
Can't believe I forgot Tower Records! They were the best. The Shibuya store was one of my must-visits when I was in Tokyo a few years ago; can't believe they're all closed in the US now.
Hollywood video was pretty much my childhood. Wish I could find any picture or anything of the one I went to when I was a kid, but it doesnt exist online.
Same. The moment I read "decks" I was transported to 1995.
I also miss Toys"R"Us, even though I didn't go there too often as a kid.
I just miss the retail world as it was back when I was younger.
It's probably because I'm getting older, but I've been trying to limit my iPhone screen time (got it down to an hour a day), so that I re-experience what it was like to just have TV or videogames or hanging out outside.
I also miss listening to an entire album of music. I miss MTV and the music videos they would play.
I miss the Disney Afternoon and coming home from school eagerly anticipating reruns of TailSpin, Darkwing Duck, and DuckTales.
I miss the 5 PM edition of Carmen Sandiego. I also miss being made of fun of for watching Carmen Sandiego.
Good times.
Many people say they miss Toys R Us, but honestly, the store wasn't the same after the 2000s redesign.
It might have coincided with me growing up, but I remember the stores feeling more juvenile after the redesign, with the older kids stuff being pushed to the back of the stores.
The video games sections certainly took a dive. I remember the old ones being lined with kiosks and demo units demonstrating Gameboy, N64, and whatever else was hot at the time. After the redesign, it became more and more of an afterthought.
In a way, I don't miss the stores that closed down recently, but rather what the stores used to be.
It might have coincided with me growing up, but I remember the stores feeling more juvenile after the redesign, with the older kids stuff being pushed to the back of the stores.
The video games sections certainly took a dive. I remember the old ones being lined with kiosks and demo units demonstrating Gameboy, N64, and whatever else was hot at the time. After the redesign, it became more and more of an afterthought.
In a way, I don't miss the stores that closed down recently, but rather what the stores used to be.
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Kiddie City. The only Toy store that carried the Neo Geo. Lots of fond childhood memories of that place. Got my first Star Wars, Transformers, and GI Joe figures there.
Yes. Hills was the place! The snack bar along with all the newest toys and video games before anyone else stocked them.
"According to legend little folks know, Hills is where the toys are!"
Yes! The slips were absolutely magical. I vividly remember taking my Toejam and Earl 2 ticket to the counter.
Super nostalgic about my 90s escapades at Software etc and EB Games. Gamecrazy too.
I also remember going to Barnes and Noble to!skim through all the new gaming mags for free
I also remember going to Barnes and Noble to!skim through all the new gaming mags for free
This one in Buffalo that had demo kiosks of all the consoles not many people bought, it may have been Media Play?
