Just taking a trip down 80s memory lane through failed stores and businesses. This might be better if you’re from Maryland, especially Columbia.

  • Montgomery Ward – can’t believe they were around as late as 2001, I don’t remember them that late. I recognize the 92-97 logo though.
  • Service Merchandise – or in my family, Mervis Search-and-Ice. There was a showroom in the Snowden Square area, right when it opened up. I used to love their jewelry catalogs.
  • Britches Great Outdoors – everybody had to have the backpack from here with the flap and pocket. I begged and begged and finally got a purple one. Turns out this was a sub-store of Britches of Georgetown. It was in the mall over by Babbage’s, just outside Hecht’s, lower level.
  • Casual Corner – the mall had one of these, kind of across from the secondary food court near the Au Bon Pain. At least I think that’s what it was. I do tend to get this one mixed up with Calico Corners (“how the smart money decorates”).
  • Hit or Miss – also in the Columbia Mall
  • Kinney Shoes – I totally went to Kinney Shoes as a kid!! I think I got some brown t-straps there but I could be wrong.
  • Merry Go Round – right? don’t I remember this?
  • Thom McAn – shoes! remember this one? I do!
  • Peoples Drug there was one in the Oakland Mills shopping center, wasn’t there? On the opposite end from the Giant?
  • Erol’s – video store over in Wilde Lake – by the Bagel Bin wasn’t it? got bought by Blockbuster? They were also an ISP for a while in the mid 90s.
  • Caldor – over in Chatham Mall
  • McCrory’s – they had everything! I think I still have a pair of shears I got there.
  • Hechinger – used to be one over in Dobbin Center by the Bradlees. I can’t remember if I liked it or not. I was probably bored out of my mind there, just like at Home Depot. It’s a freaking hardware store.
  • Frank’s Nursery & Crafts – only just now learned they were gone. There was one way down route 1 or something, wasn’t there?
  • Museum Company – these stores were SO awesome. you can’t find such a cool collection of jewelry, toys, trinkets, collectibles, etc anymore. I bought my wife a necklace there back in 1999 or so…last time they were around.
  • Sam Goody – music store in the mall by McCrory’s (which was upstairs in the Hecht’s wing)
  • WTF was that place in the mall with the yellow play area? It was a kiddie clothing store. God I loved that play area. My memory is that my mom NEVER EVER let me play there, but she probably did…just only half as much as I wanted to, which was ALL THE TIME. The Children’s Outlet? Was that it?