Search found 95 matches

by dooneyt63
18 Mar 2017 11:39
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: Diminishing JC Penney downtown locations
Replies: 2
Views: 6126

Diminishing JC Penney downtown locations

With the latest round of store closings, JC Penney, one of the last major retailers to hold a significant downtown presence, is shuttering six plus downtown locations. Most are in small towns. How many are still open (and, hopefully, viable)? I know they occasionally moved a successful, longtime dow...
by dooneyt63
07 Sep 2016 19:34
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Matawan-style Texacos, and their rarity
Replies: 14
Views: 13032

Re: Matawan-style Texacos, and their rarity

Though not as common as slightly altered Teague buildings, Matawan stations were fairly frequently spotted during their prime in the Southeast. Several survivors come to mind, none of them gas stations...Mobile, AL (church), Panama City, FL (auto repair), and Jackson, MS (Little Caesar's Pizza). The...
by dooneyt63
31 Aug 2016 19:53
Forum: History: Drugstore Chains
Topic: Thrifty (and Other Rite-Aid Legacy Brands) Ice Cream
Replies: 26
Views: 32570

Re: Thrifty (and Other Rite-Aid Legacy Brands) Ice Cream

If indeed, as it appears, the Walgreens merger is approved, I fear for Thrifty Ice Cream whether dipped or prepackaged. Walgreens, especially since the Boots Alliance merger, seems intent on obliterating much of its past. Walgreens itself was well-known for its ice cream which was a centerpiece feat...
by dooneyt63
31 Aug 2016 19:32
Forum: History: USA Southeast
Topic: Old A&P Building Panama City, FL
Replies: 0
Views: 6402

Old A&P Building Panama City, FL

The old A&P building at 300 E. Sixth St. in Panama City, FL, has until a few days ago survived as a number of independent grocers, most recently Grocery Outlet. They have closed the location and are relocating to an old Jitney Jungle/Sunshine/Save-a-Lot location of a later vintage a few blocks d...
by dooneyt63
30 Jun 2016 18:48
Forum: History: USA Southeast
Topic: Retro Chek Sodas
Replies: 1
Views: 5663

Retro Chek Sodas

Those of you interested in historic private brands and their packaging may wish to know that Southeastern Grocers is introducing a retro package Chek Soda product sweetened with 100% real sugar in cans much like the 1965 debut starting July 1. These will be available across all banners: Bi-Lo, Harve...
by dooneyt63
06 Jan 2015 21:37
Forum: History: Restaurant Chains
Topic: White Tower
Replies: 6
Views: 10053

Re: White Tower

White Tower was contemporary with White Castle but wasn't really a rip-off. It was a large chain with operations in various locations in the country including Florida. They did lean a little further toward diner items than White Castle, and later, operated shops called the Buttery that were basicall...
by dooneyt63
05 Oct 2014 16:56
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: Closed Albertsons divisions
Replies: 12
Views: 13833

Re: Closed Albertsons divisions

The Florida Albertsons stores in Pensacola and nearby Fort Walton Beach were sold to Publix and converted to their banner several years ago. The remaining Albertsons stores are on the lower East Coast. The Tallahassee and Panama City (Callaway) stores were just closed. The FWB retains many Albertson...
by dooneyt63
12 Jul 2013 19:31
Forum: History: USA Northeast
Topic: RED&WHITE food stores
Replies: 2
Views: 3608

Re: RED&WHITE food stores

Red & White is still very much around as a private label distributed by the Federated Group, a descendant of the original Flickinger operation. It waxes and wanes in popularity and is often found on commercial/foodservice items as well. It is touted on the Federated Group's website as their orig...
by dooneyt63
10 Apr 2013 21:03
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: Target '90s neon
Replies: 18
Views: 20727

Re: Target '90s neon

I think Target has deleted all garden centers. The ones near me in Northwest Florida that still retained them closed them a couple of years ago. They have some garden items, especially their Smith & Hawken line, in the main store in the outdoor living/patio furniture area. They no longer carry l...
by dooneyt63
01 Oct 2012 19:11
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: KMart Cafeteria and Other Restaurants
Replies: 72
Views: 94480

Re: KMart Cafeteria and Other Restaurants

The Jackson, MS, store started out as an American Fare (the venture with Bruno's). It was fairly short-lived, and the Kmart that had been located slightly south of the American Fare was moved and made a Super Kmart Center. It operated for a while, then closed. It was reopened after community lobbyin...
by dooneyt63
26 Sep 2012 20:18
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: KMart Cafeteria and Other Restaurants
Replies: 72
Views: 94480

Re: KMart Cafeteria and Other Restaurants

Famous Eddie's was generally used in the Super Kmart Centers for the food service located at the front of the store across from the checkstands. It was more like a fast food restaurant than a coffee shop; the cheeseburger and fries I had at one in the old Jackson, MS Supercenter before its first dem...
by dooneyt63
16 Sep 2012 18:18
Forum: History: USA Southeast
Topic: A&P in Louisiana outside New Orleans
Replies: 4
Views: 9473

Re: A&P in Louisiana outside New Orleans

A&P's pattern of geographical distribution, especially following the 1970's meltdown era, really became random. Well into the late 1990's, the stores (almost all relics from the 1950's and 1960's) scattered around rural Louisiana and Alabama remained open as did some in Northwest Florida. The co...
by dooneyt63
02 May 2012 18:41
Forum: History: Restaurant Chains
Topic: H. Salt, Esq.
Replies: 13
Views: 14395

Re: H. Salt, Esq.

There was a location in Birmingham, AL, in May 1972. A scan of a newspaper advertisement is
featured in the This Month in History on birminghamrewound.com this month. This is a great site with many old restaurant, store, and supermarket ads.
by dooneyt63
02 May 2012 18:38
Forum: History: USA Southeast
Topic: Mystery store in Dothan, AL
Replies: 1
Views: 5084

Re: Mystery store in Dothan, AL

It was an A&P. I shopped there several times in its final years. It was among that group of Alabama A&P's that hung on well into the 1990's, though it was one of the first to close. The last holdout was the Evergreen, AL, store. They were part of the Atlanta Division at that time. Nearby sto...
by dooneyt63
10 Oct 2011 19:39
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: KMart Cafeteria and Other Restaurants
Replies: 72
Views: 94480

Re: KMart Cafeteria and Other Restaurants

Today I had the pleasure of dining at an extant and well-run Kmart Cafe in Milton, FL. There were current advertising and signage pieces using the terms Kmart Cafe and Kmart Restaurant. A large stand-up sign at the entry touted tuna and chicken salad sandwiches, a wall sign touted a grilled ham and ...