We miss these places we used to shop and watch vintage ads.
Do you remember these now defunct stores? Watch vintage ads and read about some of your Long Island stores from the past.
Video: YouTube.
Genoa – Founded in Queens by pharmacist Joseph Genovese in 1924, Genovese Drug Stores was headquartered in Melville in its heyday with more than 130 stores, primarily in Long Island and Queens. In 1998, the chain was acquired by JCPenney and merged into its subsidiary Eckerd. Eventually the name disappeared entirely as all remaining stores were converted to Eckerd and then sold to Rite Aid.
Video: YouTube.
Parchment – First opened in 1935, Pergament closed permanently in 2001, but not before the hardware store proliferated on the island and became known for buying home improvement items. Again, this store fell victim to the bix box store (aka Home Depot).
Video: YouTube.
Kaldor – If you’re not shopping for back-to-school clothing at Caldors, are you really from Long Island? This 1950s department store closed its doors a year before the Y2K bug. (Fair fact: Cladors is a combination of the names of the husband-and-wife team that co-founded, Carl and Dorothy Bennett.) Another regional store can’t keep up with national discount brands like KMart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB4tLoxn6TE
Video: YouTube.
Role model – This sporting goods store also stocks your favorite team apparel. Need a pair of roller skates, football boots or a pair of winter gloves? Must go to Mo’s house! The chain eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and liquidated all of its brick-and-mortar locations.
Video: YouTube.
Invincible Wizards – You probably bought your first portable CD player here. Founded in 1976 on its bicentennial anniversary, The Wiz has become the go to place to go to find electronics on Long Island. The store was acquired by Cablevision in 1998 for $80 million and closed permanently in 2003.
