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Yeah.. We probably need some definition of "Bombed".. I'd take it to mean a chain that is successful elsewhere, coming into the Greenville/Upstate market and not making it. While remaining at least reasonably successful elsewhere. Meaning the entire chain didn't shut down.
Timeframe of how long before they failed? Did they have to fail? I mean, I would consider Jack in the Box a massive failure here, though there are still some of them around and they've been here.. Probably 15 years now?
Captain D's.. That would be questionable, because they were here quite a long time. Somewhat. I mean, that one in Greenwood is ancient.
Golden Chick is a great example of my idea of what we're talking about. So is Quizno's (Several times)..
K&W and Morrisons... My opinion is they were here too long, but you take just my standards on it.. We'd kill this topic pretty quick.
Schlotzsky's.. I'd have to allow that in because they're like Captain D's and JitB.. Still here, but.. Not like they were.
Po Folks and Ryan's and Quincy's i'd consider cheating.. Because while there actually are a few of them left.. All three STARTED in the upstate(I think.. Not quite sure about Quincy's). And lasted quite a while. And basically the entire chains went down.
And then.. What about Dairy Queen? I mean.. They're almost like Quizno's that they've come and gone quite a bit. Anyone remember the one in Mauldin where.. I think Jimmy John's is now? It seems they never TRULY left tho.. One would shut down, another would open up.
We talked about Checkers/Rally's in the other topic. They left the area.. But they did OK for a long time.
Blimpie would be interesting to debate.. That store on Laurens Rd lasted many, many years. But it seems they just never got a foothold. I know there's one in WalMart in greer or something like that. I guess Steak 'n Shake would fall here as well. Almost like they put that one store and never considered more.
Steak-Out.. that name usually gets people talking. They were here a good 15 years as well I think.
I'd definitely say Jack in the Box bombed here. They initially killed a bunch of locations, including the one on Main Street in Simpsonville, Woodruff Road across from Greenville Mall/Magnolia Park, Laurens Road, and Congaree. They then kept cutting more and more, with the latest one being the Fairview Road location.
Quiznos is another, but they disappeared across the country as quickly as they grew. Steve & Barry's also comes to mind in that regard. They were here for 2 or 3 years.
I'd definitely say Jack in the Box bombed here. They initially killed a bunch of locations, including the one on Main Street in Simpsonville, Woodruff Road across from Greenville Mall/Magnolia Park, Laurens Road, and Congaree. They then kept cutting more and more, with the latest one being the Fairview Road location.
Quiznos is another, but they disappeared across the country as quickly as they grew. Steve & Barry's also comes to mind in that regard. They were here for 2 or 3 years.
Steve and Barry's went bankrupt and bombed everywhere. Forgot about them. That building on Haywood had many lives over the years. Originally Lechmere then Phar-Mor, Rhodes Furniture, Steve& Barry's and now Gabe's.
And don't forget Radioshack and Circuit City. Brick and mortar stores are gone but they both still have an online website. But I have heard there may still be an independent Radioshack franchisee near Williamston or Pelzer. But no more Antennacraft antennas or accessories like they used to have. But if you needed cables, cords, connectors or any type of electronics or antenna accessory then Radioshack was the destination store. Sorry they are gone.
And although it has its own thread, it should certainly be mentioned that BI-LO has finally bombed and the end is near after a nice long run. But still sad that another Upstate legacy brand will soon disappear, and I still am not sure why Southeastern Grocers decided to salvage Winn-Dixie but dump BI-LO. But perhaps they will prop up Winn-Dixie a few more years and then monetize that real estate as well; perhaps sell to other competitors such as Publix, Albertson's or Kroger.
And speaking of Upstate legacy brands, I believe Ryan's has already been mentioned, but they have basically bombed everywhere with only a few locations remaining. Leaving Golden Corral as the dominant player in the buffett/steakhouse sector. But I believe the nearest location for Ryan's is now in Asheville.
And don't forget Radioshack and Circuit City. Brick and mortar stores are gone but they both still have an online website. But I have heard there may still be an independent Radioshack franchisee near Williamston or Pelzer. But no more Antennacraft antennas or accessories like they used to have. But if you needed cables, cords, connectors or any type of electronics or antenna accessory then Radioshack was the destination store. Sorry they are gone.
I can imagine that the whole Universal Postal Union issue had a huge effect in the 2000s and 2010s on any retailer selling cheap electronic doodads. Suddenly with e-commerce, companies in Hong Kong etc could ship cheap little stuff to anyone in America and only pay like a dollar in postage, which was subsidized by the US by global postal union rules. Certainly a positive achievement of the Trump administration to stop that madness.
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