still around???

[bb]

I was watching an old movie I taped off tv back in 1983 yesterday. Came across a commerical for Montgomery Ward ( a now defunct business ), then came a spot for BEST
Products selling the all new Coleco Vision video game system ( remember that, both store and game now defunct ) and a spot for
a soft drink called Like Cola. I assume thats now defuct as I havent seen it in years.

After watching this ( plus the recent news that Hardees and Applebees had closed down in my area ), had me a thinking. Of all the stores, chain restaurants ,ect that were so big when I was a kid. Wonder if they are still around thought not in my area? If not went they did well..bite the dust.

do you remember...
Shakeys Pizza
Zayre ( a discount chain )
Highs Dairy Stores ( an early 7-11 store )
Burger Chef
Tastee Freeze
Grand Union supermarkets
Farrells Ice Cream Palours
Photon ( lazer tag centers )
Ben Franklin stores
Drug Fair ( a drug store that sold records
and clothes too ).

any of these still around? I still remember the Burger Chef & Jeff commericals.

[moofomoo]

Ben Franklin I used to go to a loooooooong time ago. Nice place.

Anyone remember or hear of "Alpha Beta"? No it isn't a college frat...it was a grocery store chain that got bought out by Lucky's and Albertson's...so maybe some of you might remember.

Mac Frugal's is another one.

lol...i feel OLD!

**Gracie**

[Bootsy Whoosh]

Originally posted by bb:
then came a spot for BEST
Products selling the all new Coleco Vision video game system ( remember that, both store and game now defunct )

Ben Franklin stores

I remember BEST Products, I loved BEST when I was a kid, because at my store at least, they had this big conveyor belt that they'd ship the boxes down with inventory in them, and I used to think that was so cool. They also had those air tube things like they have at banks, and I thought that was cool too.

I also remember Coleco Vision, but I never had one.

When you say Ben Franklin stores, do you mean Ben Franklin Crafts? I think there is still one of those in the town next to mine.

[coily2]

Bootsy, Ben Franklin was a dime store, similiar to a WallDrug in certain parts of the country. They were hammered out of business by your Walmart type stores.

Also, bb, I didn't know if you knew this or not, but Hardees isn't actually defunct, they were shut down in many markets and I think they may be under different ownership, but you can still get a Frisco Burger

All the grocery store chains I remembered growing up have been bought out by larger chain stores.

On a similar note, I was watching an old VHS tape last week and saw a commercial for Colgate in the pump. Remember when you can get all the toothpast in the pump, like 10 or 15 years ago? Other than Methodent, has anyone purchased toothpaste in a pump recently?

[Chelsea]

We still got a Hardee's here......

Tastee Freeze too....

And while I have no personal knowledge, alpha-beta tends to get mentioned a lot on the Newlywed Game reruns (circa late 70s) on GSN.....

[Bootsy Whoosh]

We still have a Hardees, and I think we have a Tastee Freeze in the next town over, but I'm not sure.

And no, I have not bought toothpaste in a pump recently. In fact I don't think I have ever bought toothpaste in a pump, though I do remember it.

[Truth]

we hada shakeys pizza here in seattle(Suburb of Seattle to be exact) But it closed down a couple years ago....

[Penny Lane]

My brother worked at Burger Chef in the 70's.We had a Ben Franklin store where I live too. They are still around here in Michigan. Mostly in the small towns. I liked the Best store too! Too much competition I guess!
And I always buy Aqua Fresh toothpaste in a pump.

------------------
Cupcake

[Meg07945]

Originally posted by bb:
I was watching an old movie I taped off tv back in 1983 yesterday. Came across a commerical for Montgomery Ward ( a now defunct business ), then came a spot for BEST
Products selling the all new Coleco Vision video game system ( remember that, both store and game now defunct ) and a spot for
a soft drink called Like Cola. I assume thats now defuct as I havent seen it in years.

After watching this ( plus the recent news that Hardees and Applebees had closed down in my area ), had me a thinking. Of all the stores, chain restaurants ,ect that were so big when I was a kid. Wonder if they are still around thought not in my area? If not went they did well..bite the dust.

do you remember...
Shakeys Pizza
Zayre ( a discount chain )
Highs Dairy Stores ( an early 7-11 store )
Burger Chef
Tastee Freeze
Grand Union supermarkets
Farrells Ice Cream Palours
Photon ( lazer tag centers )
Ben Franklin stores
Drug Fair ( a drug store that sold records
and clothes too ).

any of these still around? I still remember the Burger Chef & Jeff commericals.

We have a Drug Fair near us I think...and there's a Shakeys right near Disneyland..lol it's near my grandma's house...


------------------
MEG
¤Friends don't let friends get mullets!¤

[marmalade]

I vaguely remember Burger Chef. There was one in my area in the early '80s.

Best went out of business about 5 years ago.
The Richmond Virginia Times Dispatch did a very well done story about how they didnt adapt to change and such which in turned forced them out of business.

Same thing with Wards though Wards had horrible customer service played a BIG role for them being defunct. I went to one last year and the sales staff didnt know what Direct Tv was, this was in their electronics
dept.

Drug Fair ( in my area ) became Rite Aid
while Burger Chef became a part of Burger King. Of course this depends on your area.
Jack in the box for example is box out west but they have been history on the east coast for decades now.

Farrells Ice Cream Palours I believe that was the restaurant back in the 70s where a plane crashed into it . Many kids ( and adults were killed- think the death tool was 70 or so. Dont think any Farells are still around.

Anybody remember Sambos Restaurants ( you can see them pop up in Dragnet reruns ).