Key facts
- Blockbuster grew from a single store to 9,000 locations before its decline.
- Thom McAn had over 1,400 stores at its peak in the 1960s.
- Kinney Shoes, founded in 1894, had 467 stores at its peak.
- Warner Bros. Studio Store closed all locations in 2001.
- Zany Brainy closed all its stores in 2003 after filing for bankruptcy.
The retail industry is characterized by its volatility, with popular brands sometimes facing rapid decline due to evolving consumer preferences and market dynamics. This article looks back at several retail chains that were once prominent but have since disappeared or significantly reduced their presence.
Blockbuster, which began in 1985, expanded to 9,000 locations and even acquired music chains to form Blockbuster Music. However, the rise of Netflix led to its downfall, with only one store remaining in Bend, Oregon.
Thom McAn, a shoe store chain, reached its peak in the 1960s with over 1,400 stores. The brand ceased operations by 1996, though its shoes remained available at Sears and Kmart. Kinney Shoes, established in 1894, had 467 stores at its height before all locations were shuttered in 1998.
The Warner Bros. Studio Store, which sold merchandise from properties like Looney Tunes and DC Comics, competed with the Disney Store before closing all its outlets in 2001. Zany Brainy, an educational toy retailer targeting children aged 4 to 13, filed for bankruptcy in 2001 and closed its doors in 2003. Its founder, David Schlessinger, later co-founded Five Below.