American Apparel
Fate: bankruptcy Made in USA basics, two bankruptcies, sold to Gildan
Retail — defunct brands
16Department stores, specialty shops, and mall icons that shuttered—browse timelines, fates, and what led to the downfall.
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Best Buy Mobile
Fate: shutdown Standalone mall stores closed in 2018; mobile departments continued inside full-line Best Buy stores.
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Borders
Fate: bankruptcy Capture 11 bankruptcy in February 2011, followed by liquidation and closure of all stores later that year
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Casual Corner
Fate: liquidated Dressed working women for decades, died with the mall
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Circuit City
Fate: bankruptcy Electronics giant with 700 stores, beaten by Best Buy
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Fry's Electronics
Fate: shutdown Silicon Valley's paradise for nerds, killed by Amazon
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Hollywood Video
Fate: acquired Blockbuster's biggest 1990s rival that vanished in the streaming era.
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KB Toys
Fate: bankruptcy Holiday shopping nostalgia, couldn't compete with Walmart
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Kinney Shoes
Fate: shutdown A once-massive family shoe chain whose most important legacy was launching Foot Locker before the parent company shut the Kinney name down.
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Linens 'n Things
Fate: bankruptcy Bed Bath & Beyond's rival, died in the recession
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Ritz Camera
Fate: bankruptcy One-hour photo labs in every mall, killed by digital cameras and smartphones.
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Sears (Canada)
Fate: liquidated Outlasted catalog era, couldn't survive e-commerce
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Toys “R” Us
Fate: bankruptcy Childhood wonderland crushed by $5B debt and Amazon
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Tuesday Morning
Fate: bankruptcy Discount home goods for 49 years, closed all stores in 2023
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Wet Seal
Fate: bankruptcy Mall-era fast fashion for teens and young women; twice-bankrupt, shuttered stores in 2017.
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Woolworth (US)
Fate: shutdown The five-and-dime that evolved into Foot Locker’s parent company.