It's a real shame, they're community institutions and lifelines in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Their fresh produce selection was unparalleled and a godsend in such situations where it would otherwise be a food desert. The changeover in ownership from family ownership to private equity sucked the soul out of this enterprise.
99 cent only got me through a rough patch in my life when I saw my income cut in half overnight. Over a span of decade, I was able to problem solve my way out of that situation and change careers in the process. I now make more money than ever have and alot of it wouldn't have been possible without 99 cent only allowing me to stay within a strict budget. I'll definitely miss this store that allowed me to shop like a millionaire even though I were near broke. Fortunately I'm near several existing locations in California should it's revival be successful.
i am so sad. as a young person living on my own, this place helped me so much with food and decor and just things to make me happy. now that I am a teacher this helped me big time.
I used to work at one of these stores, interestingly enough, it was just before the buyout, so I watched as they rolled in the higher priced items. (It was not fun dealing with all the angry customers over that.) I always thought they were far superior compared to Family Dollar/Dollar Gen. The “deals” there were an udder joke compared to the smokin deals I often found at 99. We would get overstock/old stock of name brand items, or food items close to the date, which is why they had so much great stuff for cheap. There were even times we would get stock from other companies that went under like Rite Aid or clearance items from Walmart. It was really cool to see what sort of surprises would come in from the wear house. We also had a Family Dollar across the street and our store actually ran them out of business. Lol. After I left there, and later started living on my own, these stores were a godsend when I was on a limited budget. I have alot of fond memories of the place, and I really feel for those who are on limited budgets that rely on these stores (or have no other grocery stores available at all). 99, you will be missed. F*** leverage buyouts!
I appreciate this clear-eyed analysis. It’s interesting how much of what we do is affected by machinations from way above the street. Especially in terms of hiding or manipulating debt.
Honestly this didn't surprise me when i heard this was happening. Honestly leveraged buyouts should be illegal but unfortunately it won't happen in this country.
I’m Torn. I’m introverted so social media is like a gift to me but I look around and see how much it has changed the entire social arena. People today just do not go out and socialize like they used to - the younger generations are very guilty of this. There’s almost something wrong when I can sit in my bedroom and I have immediate access to hundreds of tv series/ movies and videogames. Oh and then you have RUclips - I rarely if ever watch cable or satellite
99 cents store were the goat. When the 2008 - 2009 recession hit, my mom would go to these store just to save money. back in the day you were able to buy weeks worth of snacks, canned food, and drinks for around $20; and that was before they had fresh grocery's in their stores.
We lived outta them for a while! They had a little bit of everything and of better quality than competition, even after I left CA, the news they were closing hit me hard...
When I worked at Fry’s Food stores in the late 80s and early 90s. To get the balloons off of the ceiling, we had a long pool pole, and we would wrap the end of it with tape, then just poke at the balloon and it would stick👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Great video! Steve.
This is such a shame! as a doctor, I have had to rely on these stores to barely get by with my rent and insurance payments. Very few places offer the same value.
Forgive me for this comment,but I always assumed Dr's. made excellent salaries,even with today's inflation,it boggles my mind someone in your position would be struggling financially.
We have a couple of these stores in my little corner of Texas. We also have Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Big Lots, and others. So the competition out here is pretty fierce. Fun Fact: Thrifty Ice Cream is probably the last vestige of the Thrifty Drugs Drug store chain that was prominent in California. Drug Stores were kind of the forerunners to the modern "Dollar Stores" by way of the old Five & Dime type stores from decades past.
I dislike seeing any retailers having to close. Growing up in the 60's and 70's my parents took me to a mall and separate stores like Kmart and Sears. All are gone now. It makes me sad that no little kid will walk into the local Sears and be greeted with the smell of buttered popcorn. Yes, our Sears had that.
There’s been one of these stores right outside of my neighborhood forever. I’ve lived in the same town for 41 years, which is my entire life and I’ve never been in it when I read this the other day I wanted to go check it out then I completely forgot until I saw your video just marked it on my list for things to do this week thanks great upload.
@@thegamingendermanactually it means the opposite of what it sounds like. It doesn't mean "these deals are forever". It means they'll be gone before the sun sets, they move in and out fast, better get em now.
I love how they have a "Fresh Baked" sign over the liquor.....I mean if you drink enough on a hot day you'll certainly get baked...LOL great vid as always! ♥
Im really gonna miss these stores. I remember first going to one in late ‘02 and being so fascinated that everything in the store was 99 cents! Those sure were the days! I have one close to my house and I go there anytime I need a thing or two and dont feel like going all the way to frys or when Im in a hurry. It is also so convenient because they sell things like a grocery store would like cheese and veggies.
Here in Canada, there is a very similar chain called Giant Tiger. This is a general discount store with a surprisingly decent selection of fresh food -- vegetables, dairy, and meat. Unlike many other discount retailers, the products are (mostly) from recognizable national brands, just cheaper. Historically, the stores tend to locate in less affluent neighbourhoods (usually in spaces vacated by other retailers), but recent expansions have been into more upscale/suburban areas. I assume that the business is doing well.
Giant Tiger is nothing like 99 Cents Only. Their prices are incredibly high - sometimes higher than Walmart. There is nothing comparable to the dollar stores in the US here in Canada. Discount shopping in Canada is a joke.
I love giant tigre. Their shoes are cheap and decent. And their underwear is even better. The nylon underwear, doesnt hold in the sweat. Nice t shirts too
I went to the one near me a couple days ago and nearly everything is gone. I'm going to miss it. They always had bags of cheap fresh mint that I used for recipes, as well as inexpensive bread!
Dollar General has an upscale version called "DG market" which has more food and fresh produce offered. About 1 out of every 10 DGs in the midwest are turning into DG Markets. The Dollar General that had been in my town for the past 40 years upgraded itself to a DGM a couple years ago, and a DGM was built new in one of the Farm Towns 20min away last year.
That's a good concept. I'm 53. I rarely shop in Family Dollar or Dollar Tree but I think major food, snacks, sodas, etc market-field test brands to get lower income people hooked on high sugar, high sodium foods.
How do they profit? Intentional lending money with high interest to small companies but have secret deals with large corporations that want an non arms length hostile takeover? I assume this would violate fiduciary duties. Perhaps the business laws are somewhat exempt since they're private equity?
@@mechanicaltypewriteroperat9885 they don't profit. Corporations buy the companies to dump their bad debt into them & shut them down thru bankruptcy to avoid affecting their overall bottom line.
Such a huge, huge shame!! These were the stores that made my money go so so far!! I felt extremely rich! I could buy anything and AFFORD it!! All their locations had very clean, even modern looking stores! You were never embarrassed to be seen in one. I am sure that they were a life-line to many people and their families. Their closure is going to hurt millions of poor and even middle-class people. Just goes to show what a difference, four years can make!
Thanks for letting everyone know about the liquidation sale. The wife and I went and found a bunch of pegboard hooks and seven purple shopping baskets along with some cans of tea and coffee. We’ve enjoyed your videos for a while and look forward to the coverage they provide of the retail industry. Someone needs to employ you as a secret shopper.
Honestly leveraged buyouts should be considered a crime. So many folks’ livelihoods get wiped out because some execs want to crash companies into the ground to make a few more dollars from the wreckage
From experience of working throughout the closing of our store, the first week was horrible, everyone in town came in, the following week things slowed down until we announced our final day at the end of April, everyone came in the last weekend
It hurts to see the 99 stores close. All the people who were and still going through tough times relied heavily and were able to afford something on a budget. It really is a hard hit on everyone.
if you were ever poor this place was a staple. I don't think I would've survived growing up if this place didnt exist, and even the small toys and bootleg dvds gave me a lot of memories...
I am sad to see 99cent stores go. I stopped shopping there when they started carrying more pricey items tho. I always went as a child with my grandma because we didn't have a lot of money, but at least there we could get tons of stuff for cheap.
I drove by fiesta mall the other day and seeing it demolished reminded me that I’ve been watching your channel that long haha ,since you uploaded the tour video of fiesta all those years ago
Yup youre not going to see many cry over a walmart closing..aa a single disabled parent now senior .im definitely missing the store..when i heard about them closing..i couldnt get to my favorite 1 and say goodbye to workers..it was so sudden like pouff overnight gone. I could count on fresh vegetables there at a reasonable price along with household goods n supplies . Will miss you 99. ..and the good people that worked there. .
Growing up, everything was 99 cents. I was embarrassed to go there as a kid, but the snacks and candy aisle and toy aisle was the best deals around. I'll always remember 99 cent 6 packs of Shasta soda and the 99 cent TVs they had for grand openings.
I never shopped at dollar stores until moving back to California during the pandemic. Every time I looked inside one at other places I lived they always looked incredibly cramped and filled with Chinese junk. Now I regularly go to Dollar Tree and Dollar General for snacks, I've also been going to Big Lots more since they often have better prices on some things. Grocery store prices have gotten insane, my closest store wants $6.49 for a regular sized box of Cheez-Its.
The main thing I like getting from Dollar General is Angel Soft toilet paper 😂. They sell them in 16-roll packs (not sure when this started...sometime after the pandemic, it seems). So, I can have toilet paper for a month just with that one trip. Dollar General in my prior low income neighborhood was my life line during the pandemic, as those with enough money to clear the store weren't going to our neighborhoods and we residents didn't have enough money to buy up everything.
By me in the Chicago area, Dollar General has opened a DGMarket in a former CVS. It has more food, although pricing isn't very competitive with Walmart and similar.
Think of it this way, I live in a small town that just got a DG Market store, and before this to go get a pound of fresh ground beef, Chicken, etc.. if I ran out say in the middle of the week then I would have had to drive almost 30 minutes to Walmart, or Kroger, so with the fuel, and time savings it's more than a fair price.
What's Going To Happen If Or When Kroger Takes Over Albertson's?? And Both Of Those Companies Operate Many Other Stores Under There Banners.This Will NOT Be Good For Customers Or Employees. Prices Are Out Of Control Now. And This Comes From Someone That Did Work For Kroger For 25 Plus Years.
I was too young to remember what it was like when kmart closed down, but it really does feel like that with these shutting down. I used to love going to the 99 cent store, but it hasnt been the same since they priced everything over 99 cent
Thanks for the great video. We dont have 99 cent stores here but just before Dollar Tree turned over to their 1.25 price model, I bought 80.00 worth of stuff. I rarely need to shop there now. I hope you do a vid about them.
These days Dollar General has rebranded a lot of stores to “DG Market” and the vast majority of them (at least where I’m from) all have fresh produce sections now.
My local 99 Cents store closed and was bulldozed to build a super Target around 20 years ago, but to this day I still have my Agumon hand puppet bath toy that my mom let me buy. It closed when I was really young, so my memory of it was foggy. Feels wild seeing footage of what they look like today.
Seeing these dead 99 Cent stores reminds me of the last six months of the Kmart store in The Dalles, Oregon, which closed permanenty the end of February 2020 (this was the last Kmart left in the entire state of Oregon when it closed). You could go to that store on a Friday afternoon when every other store in town had full parking lots and be one of five customers there. It was sad that Sears bought up Kmart so that both would go down together creating a massive tax write-off for Sears Holding Co.
I found out from the the news Thursday night April 5 that I was losing my job and our stores last day is Saturday... They handled this so poorly it's abuse, and we are getting no severance package. I've had an income and great coworkers for almost a decade and now we've got nothing in less than a month. They were no sales and we got the store closing sign a week ago. The higher-ups cam go straight to hell and I'm just stealing what I can before the last day.
The 99 cent store has been dead to me ever since they started selling things for over 99 cents. It defeated the purpose of the stores existence imo. I don't need another grocery store that sells things for a few pennies cheaper, although I sympathize for those that had it as their only grocery store.
The 99 cents was what ultimately killed them. It kept the profit margins slim, and they quickly evaporated as inflation took over. Adjusted for inflation, today they would be the 3.20 store compared to when they opened.
@@joewilson3393inflation only applies if the product is the same size,count, or quality. These stores quietly keep lowering 1 or all 3 of these and then raise the price on top.
@@theantiveganchannel3596 It was never going to stay 99cents forever. Just like Dime stores, they couldn't keep selling everything for a dime. It would be very naive to think the store would never sell anything over 99cents in the future
When me and some friends got our first apartment, we did a ton of our grocery shopping at a 99¢ store in East Mesa. (It was also between a Goodwill and Savers.) Sad to see em go
I loved the 99 cents stores. I was so crushed to hear that they are closing. I live inLas Vegas so I don’t hold out too much hope that they will re open like they will in California. I shop everywhere- Costco, Trader Joe’s, Wal Mart Neighborhood grocery Store, and Smith’s. I always took advantage of the fresh produce prices such as cauliflower, broccoli, English cucumbers and whatever else I could find. It was also a good resource for junk food such as popcorn and chips and candy. There was one store that I went to on a regular basis; I will miss some of the people who worked there since I had become friendly with them. They were nice hard working people who were always there.
When I was a teen, I remember getting Hulk Hogan's album from one of these stores for $1. Terrible album, but I'll never forget it. Good times in like 1998
Mesa, Arizonan turned Los Angeles, Californian here. The 99 cent store has been a staple here for me for so long. They have recognizable brands at a good price, cat food for my feral I feed outside, and a good selection of birthday and celebratory decor at such a good price. Especially for something you're gonna use once, then throw away. It's such a huge loss for all of us. Especially my low income lube tech at work, he's had some rough times, getting back on his feet, and that's his everything store. Especially the one by our work which also has a Goodwill next door where he buys clothes. I hope it can be saved or spared. For me, it's also a place to get some great snacks. 😢
I really miss my 99 stores😢. I always found what I needed especially the seasonal dept. Great decorations which I used to decorate at my school . Hope they open one near me in the future❤❤❤❤❤
Thank You for the walkaround im saving this video for when i think of this store in the future i will be able to be there again and see the items that i liked 🛒 also if they dont save this store as they are attempting it will be like watching those Blockbuster movie stores
The one by my work used to be a Payless Cashways. So I get to see a second handy store leave. The checker told me they don't even know when they're closing
for me, the 99 cent only store meant crime, grime, and moldy food. Homeless people always hung around them, they were always run down and nasty looking, and it always seemed like you were going to be robbed or stabbed there. On top of that, the food was always either moldy or expired(and I saw this at over 10 locations) That said, they were perfect for getting stuff like art and party supplies for kids, and I bought a lot of kitchen utensils there
I guess I was lucky then. Never saw homeless people or felt in danger. But of course, that was over four years ago, when life was much better in America!
Thanks as always for the upload! For some background here in SoCal, the 99-cent stores near me were pricing most of their general inventory on parity with Walmart and thus loosing significant business since 2021. Unlike Walmart which has a decent white label selection of value items, 99 cent stores also never offered refunds for any reason; and a lot of their stuff (99 cent stores) was of questionable quality. Even when I revisited back in 2023 just to do some price comparisons for each store, it seemed like everything at 99 cent stores was just priced higher except snack foods; and that's only because they were near expiration or best by date. In any case it seems like Dollar Tree is the last "true" value store in the region, still pricing the majority of their inventory at $1.25 and has really taken in all the 99-cent store "refugees" since.
I think it’s sad they’re closing. Especially, if it’s located in an area that is a food desert. I’ve only been to one in California (back in 2009) in Riverside (my mom’s God mother/aunt lived in Moreno Valley).
For any of you who've ever been to this chain's location which was at Tidwell Road and North Freeway (45) in Houston, fun fact... that building was one of the first two stores in the RANDALLS chain, opened way back in 1966 (both of these two stores were originally MINIMAX food markets built in the 1950s though) This particular Randalls store closed in 1983, after having been "replaced" by the Randalls in Greenspoint (really not that close to the Tidwell/45 store) in 1975! This shopping center at Tidwell and North Freeway surprisingly has never had a major redevelopment project, despite ALL the original tenants gradually closing! Architecturally, this center (Northtown Plaza) is a 1950s time capsule, which is especially unusual by Houston retail standards!
I used to take my mother regularly to the 99 cent store. After she passed away, haven't been there since. They are needed. I hope they are bought out and brought back under a different name. It doesn't make sense to keep the 99 cents name, if most of the items are priced well over that.
Family Dollar and Dollar General have tried fresh produce in my area. DolGen installed a whole section and chilled displays, akin to a mini grocery store. FD set up a rack with oranges, onions, apples and potatoes. None of it sold. The prices stank and nobody going for chips and candy wants oranges. They would rot on the rack until being tossed out. FD tried it for a year and gave up when the store got renovated. 99c Only looks like a neat store. Shame they never went for the benefits of scale from being national.
i must have done my move-in essentials shopping the week before they announced closure or something. it felt like a totally standard (yet too expensive for the place) shopping trip; no signage and extra discounts. felt so strange to see the same store deserted after a month of time passed lol
I found that ever since the pandemic they just haven't been as competitive anymore and aren't able to keep the shelves stocked. I use to fill up a cart but now 2-3 items max for an entire trip!
I'm in the San Diego area and I absolutely am going to miss my 99 only store 😢 it helped me and my family a lot with groceries and household items and etc when I didn't have much money to spend so yeah it sucks losing that store
The one near me just closed on the 19th, big sign saying 20% off, obviously that stuff went first. Everything else was not 20% off or 99 cents but it was flying off the shelves. End of an era, will you still have Dollar tree 🌲, but they say they're upping their prices in May again. 💵
The previous city we lived in has a 99¢ store and I loved taking my kids there to pick out cheap coloring books and because it was only place in town I could get Faygo and Shasta soda, which i loved as a kid. Losing the 99 store is as sad as losing all the IGAs.
Bummer--I stopped in a lot of these from 2008 on. For the longest time they were the only place I could find chile limon cheetos for the longest time. Lotta people relied on the groceries locally here. And they had cans of Andersen's split pea soup. When things were rough I liked knowing I could get some vegetables and a pack of applesauce. Bought so many gift bags there, and my Legend of Zelda-branded spiral notebooks for my senior year in high school. I remember a family telling me they would not be able to have a Thanksgiving without the groceries there---this must have been 2008 or so and from the parents to their kids they were all excited in their own way. I was always amazed at the variety and quality 99 had. I don't go by like I used to but I remember how great a bag of peach rings and Arizona iced tea on those wonderful warm spring afternoons on my way home from school.
I work at a dollar tree. That place is a lawsuit waiting to happen if there is ever a fire. Every aisle is filled with boxes even at the end of the day.
Gonna miss the 99cents stores, I went into my local one a few days after the announcement and it was barren AF. It felt like I was in some kind of liminal/surreal space. Sad to see it go, shopped there a lot as a kid and bought my snacks and cleaning supplies there frequently.
So I don't go near dollar stores anymore because they're more expensive than the grocery store and the package sizes are small or wonky, I have zero interest in shopping at a discount store that's not discounted, rather higher.
Yeah, the price per ounce for brand name stuff like Tide or Oreos at dollar stores is ridiculous. I still find the home goods, storage/organization, and party sections to be great deals, though.
It looks quite easy for a company like grocery outlet to move into some of the 99 cent store locations & open up a grocery outlet location in that former $0.99 store location. Grocery outlet is also a discount supermarket chain that started in California and spread throughout the Western us
The loss of a local grocery store that carries produce was the first thought that I had when I heard they were closing. My neighborhood 99 cent store is now going to become a dollar tree which is really unfortunate, the next nearest grocery store is a mile away.
So here in Texas, I found 99 cent only stores built out in poorer communities (except for one). These communities became dependent on a catch all store like 99 cent only stores. That said, I've notes that some of these stores became kind of trashy, selling legit awful merchandise. I went into one amd they had a stack of answering machines clearly saying they were all broken.
When I was living in Las Vegas in 2009, I used to go to the 99c store on Charleston. I loved it! But since I didn't have a car and had to rely on the bus or my legs, I rarely went!
The Water store over here in Surprise AZ, sells Thrifty Ice creme by the scoop and cone or half gallon size. Get some Thrifty ice creme and fill your water jugs.
It's a real shame, they're community institutions and lifelines in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Their fresh produce selection was unparalleled and a godsend in such situations where it would otherwise be a food desert.
The changeover in ownership from family ownership to private equity sucked the soul out of this enterprise.
99 cents only stores helped me survive through college in the late 90s/early 2000s. RIP 😢
Same here 😢
That was my go to store to shop in between grocery store runs to help me stretch my budget.
@@DonutsForever24stop being sad, dollar tree purchased the closed stores and is reviving it
99 cent only got me through a rough patch in my life when I saw my income cut in half overnight. Over a span of decade, I was able to problem solve my way out of that situation and change careers in the process. I now make more money than ever have and alot of it wouldn't have been possible without 99 cent only allowing me to stay within a strict budget. I'll definitely miss this store that allowed me to shop like a millionaire even though I were near broke. Fortunately I'm near several existing locations in California should it's revival be successful.
i am so sad. as a young person living on my own, this place helped me so much with food and decor and just things to make me happy. now that I am a teacher this helped me big time.
Your opening jingle had me looking around my room for the Super Nintendo I haven't had in 25 years.
Still have my snes and genesis. Got them to work on my 70 inch tv 👍🏻
Capcom Street Fighter or Zombies Ate My Neighbor?
Super Nintendo was my favourite part of my childhood. Amish households don't have it. They just live in the past.
@@tykat12 it was Street Fighter II in my house! I’d be entering the code during that jingle that allowed same player vs same player
@@blastedmcgraw152Megaman X, X2, X3 sure got me the nostalgia ..
I used to go to 99 cent stores a lot in the valley especially for birthday party supplies. Sad to see they’re going away 😢
I liked this store, much better then dollar tree.
Which valley?
@@MirzaAhmed89 it was the one in PV right near the PV Mall
I used to work at one of these stores, interestingly enough, it was just before the buyout, so I watched as they rolled in the higher priced items. (It was not fun dealing with all the angry customers over that.)
I always thought they were far superior compared to Family Dollar/Dollar Gen. The “deals” there were an udder joke compared to the smokin deals I often found at 99. We would get overstock/old stock of name brand items, or food items close to the date, which is why they had so much great stuff for cheap. There were even times we would get stock from other companies that went under like Rite Aid or clearance items from Walmart. It was really cool to see what sort of surprises would come in from the wear house. We also had a Family Dollar across the street and our store actually ran them out of business. Lol.
After I left there, and later started living on my own, these stores were a godsend when I was on a limited budget.
I have alot of fond memories of the place, and I really feel for those who are on limited budgets that rely on these stores (or have no other grocery stores available at all). 99, you will be missed.
F*** leverage buyouts!
I appreciate this clear-eyed analysis. It’s interesting how much of what we do is affected by machinations from way above the street. Especially in terms of hiding or manipulating debt.
Honestly this didn't surprise me when i heard this was happening. Honestly leveraged buyouts should be illegal but unfortunately it won't happen in this country.
Not with that attitude.
@@Ranstone😂🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nah never will be illegal if it was noo big company can buy out the smaller company
It should be illegal places like Sears and Kmart should still be around not destroyed for profit @@jake78441
CRAPITALISM
I miss the old world when retail was thriving and social media didn't exist.
ME TOO !!!
I’m
Torn. I’m introverted so social media is like a gift to me but I look around and see how much it has changed the entire social arena. People today just do not go out and socialize like they used to - the younger generations are very guilty of this. There’s almost something wrong when I can sit in my bedroom and I have immediate access to hundreds of tv series/ movies and videogames. Oh and then you have RUclips - I rarely if ever watch cable or satellite
99 cents store were the goat. When the 2008 - 2009 recession hit, my mom would go to these store just to save money. back in the day you were able to buy weeks worth of snacks, canned food, and drinks for around $20; and that was before they had fresh grocery's in their stores.
We lived outta them for a while! They had a little bit of everything and of better quality than competition, even after I left CA, the news they were closing hit me hard...
I grew up with the 99 for a long time with my family and it breaks my soul too see this place go
When I worked at Fry’s Food stores in the late 80s and early 90s. To get the balloons off of the ceiling, we had a long pool pole, and we would wrap the end of it with tape, then just poke at the balloon and it would stick👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Great video!
Steve.
This place fed me when I first moved out on my own.
Definitely reminded me of late 80's grocery stores. Like my childhood local M System grocery.
This is such a shame! as a doctor, I have had to rely on these stores to barely get by with my rent and insurance payments. Very few places offer the same value.
Forgive me for this comment,but I always assumed Dr's. made excellent salaries,even with today's inflation,it boggles my mind someone in your position would be struggling financially.
We have a couple of these stores in my little corner of Texas. We also have Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Big Lots, and others. So the competition out here is pretty fierce. Fun Fact: Thrifty Ice Cream is probably the last vestige of the Thrifty Drugs Drug store chain that was prominent in California. Drug Stores were kind of the forerunners to the modern "Dollar Stores" by way of the old Five & Dime type stores from decades past.
I miss thrifty drug
I dislike seeing any retailers having to close. Growing up in the 60's and 70's my parents took me to a mall and separate stores like Kmart and Sears. All are gone now. It makes me sad that no little kid will walk into the local Sears and be greeted with the smell of buttered popcorn. Yes, our Sears had that.
Agreed. Only one of my two children got to experience a proper Toys R Us.
K-Mart f**ked Sears.
@mcrews77 Back in the day that was a fun store.
@@lainiwakura1776 Why be negative? Both are gone now.
Or McDonald's playgrounds 😢
There’s been one of these stores right outside of my neighborhood forever. I’ve lived in the same town for 41 years, which is my entire life and I’ve never been in it when I read this the other day I wanted to go check it out then I completely forgot until I saw your video just marked it on my list for things to do this week thanks great upload.
“The sun never sets on these deals.” lol 😅💀 4:31
the sun will be setting pretty soon 😂😂
@@thegamingendermanactually it means the opposite of what it sounds like. It doesn't mean "these deals are forever". It means they'll be gone before the sun sets, they move in and out fast, better get em now.
Not in California 😏 I'll come back to this comment in 90 days to see if this aged well, granted the investors deal pulled through.
I love how they have a "Fresh Baked" sign over the liquor.....I mean if you drink enough on a hot day you'll certainly get baked...LOL great vid as always! ♥
Im really gonna miss these stores. I remember first going to one in late ‘02 and being so fascinated that everything in the store was 99 cents! Those sure were the days! I have one close to my house and I go there anytime I need a thing or two and dont feel like going all the way to frys or when Im in a hurry. It is also so convenient because they sell things like a grocery store would like cheese and veggies.
Leveraged buyouts are the retail equivalent of a reverse mortgage.
Here in Canada, there is a very similar chain called Giant Tiger. This is a general discount store with a surprisingly decent selection of fresh food -- vegetables, dairy, and meat. Unlike many other discount retailers, the products are (mostly) from recognizable national brands, just cheaper.
Historically, the stores tend to locate in less affluent neighbourhoods (usually in spaces vacated by other retailers), but recent expansions have been into more upscale/suburban areas. I assume that the business is doing well.
Giant Tiger is nothing like 99 Cents Only. Their prices are incredibly high - sometimes higher than Walmart. There is nothing comparable to the dollar stores in the US here in Canada. Discount shopping in Canada is a joke.
@@dariawells7438giant tiger is kind of like a biway
I love giant tigre.
Their shoes are cheap and decent. And their underwear is even better. The nylon underwear, doesnt hold in the sweat.
Nice t shirts too
If they DO re-open, it'll be the 9.99 stores.
that would actually be a pretty good rebrand imo
But it isn't inflation that caused this , it was the bone head new owners that ran it to the ground.
I went to the one near me a couple days ago and nearly everything is gone. I'm going to miss it. They always had bags of cheap fresh mint that I used for recipes, as well as inexpensive bread!
Dollar General has an upscale version called "DG market" which has more food and fresh produce offered. About 1 out of every 10 DGs in the midwest are turning into DG Markets. The Dollar General that had been in my town for the past 40 years upgraded itself to a DGM a couple years ago, and a DGM was built new in one of the Farm Towns 20min away last year.
That's a good concept. I'm 53. I rarely shop in Family Dollar or Dollar Tree but I think major food, snacks, sodas, etc market-field test brands to get lower income people hooked on high sugar, high sodium foods.
One in my area use to be good but when they added a pop shelf into it the store really went downhill.
A leveraged buyout also killed HILLS/AMES & Big Bear department stores.
and Toys R Us
I remember Ben Franklin. 🛒 the store chain not the guy! 😁
Many companies rack up a load of bad debt then set up a new company to do an LBO with a write off of the original debt...ponzi
How do they profit? Intentional lending money with high interest to small companies but have secret deals with large corporations that want an non arms length hostile takeover? I assume this would violate fiduciary duties. Perhaps the business laws are somewhat exempt since they're private equity?
@@mechanicaltypewriteroperat9885 they don't profit. Corporations buy the companies to dump their bad debt into them & shut them down thru bankruptcy to avoid affecting their overall bottom line.
Such a huge, huge shame!! These were the stores that made my money go so so far!! I felt extremely rich! I could buy anything and AFFORD it!!
All their locations had very clean, even modern looking stores! You were never embarrassed to be seen in one. I am sure that they were
a life-line to many people and their families. Their closure is going to hurt millions of poor and even middle-class people. Just goes to show what
a difference, four years can make!
Back in the 80's when the store started, 99 cents actually was a decent amount and could buy good stuff.
Thanks for letting everyone know about the liquidation sale. The wife and I went and found a bunch of pegboard hooks and seven purple shopping baskets along with some cans of tea and coffee. We’ve enjoyed your videos for a while and look forward to the coverage they provide of the retail industry. Someone needs to employ you as a secret shopper.
Honestly leveraged buyouts should be considered a crime. So many folks’ livelihoods get wiped out because some execs want to crash companies into the ground to make a few more dollars from the wreckage
Wondering if JCPenney is setting up this same shipwreck
From experience of working throughout the closing of our store, the first week was horrible, everyone in town came in, the following week things slowed down until we announced our final day at the end of April, everyone came in the last weekend
It hurts to see the 99 stores close. All the people who were and still going through tough times relied heavily and were able to afford something on a budget. It really is a hard hit on everyone.
Thank you for making this video. I have a lot of fond memories of the 99 cents store.
if you were ever poor this place was a staple. I don't think I would've survived growing up if this place didnt exist, and even the small toys and bootleg dvds gave me a lot of memories...
I am sad to see 99cent stores go. I stopped shopping there when they started carrying more pricey items tho. I always went as a child with my grandma because we didn't have a lot of money, but at least there we could get tons of stuff for cheap.
I drove by fiesta mall the other day and seeing it demolished reminded me that I’ve been watching your channel that long haha ,since you uploaded the tour video of fiesta all those years ago
Does this store still have TP? TP for your...
I grew up in San Diego county and my sister, my dad, and I used to love going here. This one hurts.
Yup youre not going to see many cry over a walmart closing..aa a single disabled parent now senior .im definitely missing the store..when i heard about them closing..i couldnt get to my favorite 1 and say goodbye to workers..it was so sudden like pouff overnight gone. I could count on fresh vegetables there at a reasonable price along with household goods n supplies . Will miss you 99. ..and the good people that worked there. .
My husband on the closeout: "I mean, what are they doing? 98 cents?" 🤣😭
I'm not even broke but the 99 Cent store near Me was the shit, R.I.P
Growing up, everything was 99 cents. I was embarrassed to go there as a kid, but the snacks and candy aisle and toy aisle was the best deals around. I'll always remember 99 cent 6 packs of Shasta soda and the 99 cent TVs they had for grand openings.
I never shopped at dollar stores until moving back to California during the pandemic. Every time I looked inside one at other places I lived they always looked incredibly cramped and filled with Chinese junk. Now I regularly go to Dollar Tree and Dollar General for snacks, I've also been going to Big Lots more since they often have better prices on some things. Grocery store prices have gotten insane, my closest store wants $6.49 for a regular sized box of Cheez-Its.
The main thing I like getting from Dollar General is Angel Soft toilet paper 😂. They sell them in 16-roll packs (not sure when this started...sometime after the pandemic, it seems). So, I can have toilet paper for a month just with that one trip. Dollar General in my prior low income neighborhood was my life line during the pandemic, as those with enough money to clear the store weren't going to our neighborhoods and we residents didn't have enough money to buy up everything.
@icyplay4830 yes! shopping at Target is worth the trip!🍇
By me in the Chicago area, Dollar General has opened a DGMarket in a former CVS. It has more food, although pricing isn't very competitive with Walmart and similar.
Think of it this way, I live in a small town that just got a DG Market store, and before this to go get a pound of fresh ground beef, Chicken, etc.. if I ran out say in the middle of the week then I would have had to drive almost 30 minutes to Walmart, or Kroger, so with the fuel, and time savings it's more than a fair price.
For IL I'd think looters would pick it clean every 2hr.
What's Going To Happen If Or When Kroger Takes Over Albertson's?? And Both Of Those Companies Operate Many Other Stores Under There Banners.This Will NOT Be Good For Customers Or Employees. Prices Are Out Of Control Now. And This Comes From Someone That Did Work For Kroger For 25 Plus Years.
I was too young to remember what it was like when kmart closed down, but it really does feel like that with these shutting down. I used to love going to the 99 cent store, but it hasnt been the same since they priced everything over 99 cent
Your walking through the aisles makes me remember the calm cleaning chemical smells throught most of those discount stores 🥰 kind of soothing
The game of Monopoly game goes on forever, it just morphs into another beast.
Thanks for the great video. We dont have 99 cent stores here but just before Dollar Tree turned over to their 1.25 price model, I bought 80.00 worth of stuff. I rarely need to shop there now. I hope you do a vid about them.
These days Dollar General has rebranded a lot of stores to “DG Market” and the vast majority of them (at least where I’m from) all have fresh produce sections now.
My local 99 Cents store closed and was bulldozed to build a super Target around 20 years ago, but to this day I still have my Agumon hand puppet bath toy that my mom let me buy. It closed when I was really young, so my memory of it was foggy. Feels wild seeing footage of what they look like today.
Seeing these dead 99 Cent stores reminds me of the last six months of the Kmart store in The Dalles, Oregon, which closed permanenty the end of February 2020 (this was the last Kmart left in the entire state of Oregon when it closed). You could go to that store on a Friday afternoon when every other store in town had full parking lots and be one of five customers there. It was sad that Sears bought up Kmart so that both would go down together creating a massive tax write-off for Sears Holding Co.
I found out from the the news Thursday night April 5 that I was losing my job and our stores last day is Saturday... They handled this so poorly it's abuse, and we are getting no severance package. I've had an income and great coworkers for almost a decade and now we've got nothing in less than a month. They were no sales and we got the store closing sign a week ago. The higher-ups cam go straight to hell and I'm just stealing what I can before the last day.
They were larger and nicer than all those over saturated dollar stores you mentioned.
The 99 cent store has been dead to me ever since they started selling things for over 99 cents. It defeated the purpose of the stores existence imo. I don't need another grocery store that sells things for a few pennies cheaper, although I sympathize for those that had it as their only grocery store.
The 99 cents was what ultimately killed them. It kept the profit margins slim, and they quickly evaporated as inflation took over. Adjusted for inflation, today they would be the 3.20 store compared to when they opened.
@@joewilson3393inflation only applies if the product is the same size,count, or quality. These stores quietly keep lowering 1 or all 3 of these and then raise the price on top.
i remember it said never anything other 99 cents EVER
i'm guessing they don't know what "ever" means
@@theantiveganchannel3596 It was never going to stay 99cents forever. Just like Dime stores, they couldn't keep selling everything for a dime. It would be very naive to think the store would never sell anything over 99cents in the future
When me and some friends got our first apartment, we did a ton of our grocery shopping at a 99¢ store in East Mesa. (It was also between a Goodwill and Savers.) Sad to see em go
Are they closed up yet? Greenfield pretty empty. Others already have emptied .
@@KimberlyLuna-x9y I'm not living in the valley anymore so I'm not sure.
@@PiranahKill ok... thank you very much...
I loved the 99 cents stores. I was so crushed to hear that they are closing. I live inLas Vegas so I don’t hold out too much hope that they will re open like they will in California. I
shop everywhere- Costco, Trader Joe’s, Wal Mart Neighborhood grocery Store, and Smith’s. I always took advantage of the fresh produce prices such as cauliflower, broccoli, English cucumbers and whatever else I could find. It was also a good resource for junk food such as popcorn and chips and candy. There was one store that I went to on a regular basis; I will miss some of the people who worked there since I had become friendly with them. They were nice hard working people who were always there.
It really is sad that this place is going, because this place always has unique food items that other places don’t carry.
I agree private equity firms should not be allowed to buy retailers and putting them in allot of debt
When I was a teen, I remember getting Hulk Hogan's album from one of these stores for $1. Terrible album, but I'll never forget it. Good times in like 1998
Mesa, Arizonan turned Los Angeles, Californian here. The 99 cent store has been a staple here for me for so long. They have recognizable brands at a good price, cat food for my feral I feed outside, and a good selection of birthday and celebratory decor at such a good price. Especially for something you're gonna use once, then throw away. It's such a huge loss for all of us. Especially my low income lube tech at work, he's had some rough times, getting back on his feet, and that's his everything store. Especially the one by our work which also has a Goodwill next door where he buys clothes. I hope it can be saved or spared. For me, it's also a place to get some great snacks. 😢
I also miss them and pray that Texas will get another one in the future😢
I really miss my 99 stores😢. I always found what I needed especially the seasonal dept. Great decorations which I used to decorate at my school
. Hope they open one near me in the future❤❤❤❤❤
Thank You for the walkaround im saving this video for when i think of this store in the future i will be able to be there again and see the items that i liked 🛒
also if they dont save this store as they are attempting it will be like watching those Blockbuster movie stores
The one by my work used to be a Payless Cashways. So I get to see a second handy store leave. The checker told me they don't even know when they're closing
They really don't. Although the estimate is by June 3rd, the communication has been sparse from the higher ups.
Sad to see the 99 cent stores closing. I enjoyed them and I also agree with you on the leveraged buyouts!!
for me, the 99 cent only store meant crime, grime, and moldy food. Homeless people always hung around them, they were always run down and nasty looking, and it always seemed like you were going to be robbed or stabbed there.
On top of that, the food was always either moldy or expired(and I saw this at over 10 locations)
That said, they were perfect for getting stuff like art and party supplies for kids, and I bought a lot of kitchen utensils there
I guess I was lucky then. Never saw homeless people or felt in danger. But of course, that was over four years ago, when life was much better in America!
This was a good video. Thanks👍🏻😀
It’s sad when stores just keep closing.
Thanks as always for the upload! For some background here in SoCal, the 99-cent stores near me were pricing most of their general inventory on parity with Walmart and thus loosing significant business since 2021. Unlike Walmart which has a decent white label selection of value items, 99 cent stores also never offered refunds for any reason; and a lot of their stuff (99 cent stores) was of questionable quality. Even when I revisited back in 2023 just to do some price comparisons for each store, it seemed like everything at 99 cent stores was just priced higher except snack foods; and that's only because they were near expiration or best by date. In any case it seems like Dollar Tree is the last "true" value store in the region, still pricing the majority of their inventory at $1.25 and has really taken in all the 99-cent store "refugees" since.
This is super sad, this used to be the best dollar store in town. I live right by one and its been going downhill since the pandemic...
I think it’s sad they’re closing. Especially, if it’s located in an area that is a food desert. I’ve only been to one in California (back in 2009) in Riverside (my mom’s God mother/aunt lived in Moreno Valley).
.99 is fun to go to I will always remember that! Just remind me the good old Sears !
For any of you who've ever been to this chain's location which was at Tidwell Road and North Freeway (45) in Houston, fun fact... that building was one of the first two stores in the RANDALLS chain, opened way back in 1966 (both of these two stores were originally MINIMAX food markets built in the 1950s though) This particular Randalls store closed in 1983, after having been "replaced" by the Randalls in Greenspoint (really not that close to the Tidwell/45 store) in 1975! This shopping center at Tidwell and North Freeway surprisingly has never had a major redevelopment project, despite ALL the original tenants gradually closing! Architecturally, this center (Northtown Plaza) is a 1950s time capsule, which is especially unusual by Houston retail standards!
I used to take my mother regularly to the 99 cent store. After she passed away, haven't been there since. They are needed. I hope they are bought out and brought back under a different name. It doesn't make sense to keep the 99 cents name, if most of the items are priced well over that.
We don’t have any of those stores here in Oklahoma (I think) but it still sucks that people who rely on these places will be out of luck now 😕
Family Dollar and Dollar General have tried fresh produce in my area. DolGen installed a whole section and chilled displays, akin to a mini grocery store. FD set up a rack with oranges, onions, apples and potatoes. None of it sold. The prices stank and nobody going for chips and candy wants oranges. They would rot on the rack until being tossed out. FD tried it for a year and gave up when the store got renovated. 99c Only looks like a neat store. Shame they never went for the benefits of scale from being national.
i must have done my move-in essentials shopping the week before they announced closure or something. it felt like a totally standard (yet too expensive for the place) shopping trip; no signage and extra discounts. felt so strange to see the same store deserted after a month of time passed lol
That 2nd one used to be my local store, sad to see it go, having it in that double thrift store shopping center was great.
This store helped me so much during tough times and it's always packed here... a damn shame.
I found that ever since the pandemic they just haven't been as competitive anymore and aren't able to keep the shelves stocked. I use to fill up a cart but now 2-3 items max for an entire trip!
I'm in the San Diego area and I absolutely am going to miss my 99 only store 😢 it helped me and my family a lot with groceries and household items and etc when I didn't have much money to spend so yeah it sucks losing that store
The one near me just closed on the 19th, big sign saying 20% off, obviously that stuff went first. Everything else was not 20% off or 99 cents but it was flying off the shelves. End of an era, will you still have Dollar tree 🌲, but they say they're upping their prices in May again. 💵
The previous city we lived in has a 99¢ store and I loved taking my kids there to pick out cheap coloring books and because it was only place in town I could get Faygo and Shasta soda, which i loved as a kid. Losing the 99 store is as sad as losing all the IGAs.
It’s so sad to see them go. As a kid I loved going and being able to buy a toy for $1
Bummer--I stopped in a lot of these from 2008 on. For the longest time they were the only place I could find chile limon cheetos for the longest time. Lotta people relied on the groceries locally here. And they had cans of Andersen's split pea soup. When things were rough I liked knowing I could get some vegetables and a pack of applesauce. Bought so many gift bags there, and my Legend of Zelda-branded spiral notebooks for my senior year in high school.
I remember a family telling me they would not be able to have a Thanksgiving without the groceries there---this must have been 2008 or so and from the parents to their kids they were all excited in their own way.
I was always amazed at the variety and quality 99 had. I don't go by like I used to but I remember how great a bag of peach rings and Arizona iced tea on those wonderful warm spring afternoons on my way home from school.
I agree about the LBO. Not sure what can be done about it. I live in NY, so not familiar with this chain.
Long have I waited for this video
I work at a dollar tree. That place is a lawsuit waiting to happen if there is ever a fire. Every aisle is filled with boxes even at the end of the day.
10:22 Oh, man! I better get in on that freshly baked wine before it sells out!
Used to love shopping at the 99 cents only store in Tucson when I lived there
Capcom SNES hardcore fanboy here, love your intro!!! 😂 The themes of my vids are Megaman X2 and X3 based.
Excellent video, great coverage of the end of the 99 cents stores.
Gonna miss the 99cents stores, I went into my local one a few days after the announcement and it was barren AF. It felt like I was in some kind of liminal/surreal space. Sad to see it go, shopped there a lot as a kid and bought my snacks and cleaning supplies there frequently.
So I don't go near dollar stores anymore because they're more expensive than the grocery store and the package sizes are small or wonky, I have zero interest in shopping at a discount store that's not discounted, rather higher.
Yeah, the price per ounce for brand name stuff like Tide or Oreos at dollar stores is ridiculous. I still find the home goods, storage/organization, and party sections to be great deals, though.
It looks quite easy for a company like grocery outlet to move into some of the 99 cent store locations & open up a grocery outlet location in that former $0.99 store location. Grocery outlet is also a discount supermarket chain that started in California and spread throughout the Western us
The loss of a local grocery store that carries produce was the first thought that I had when I heard they were closing. My neighborhood 99 cent store is now going to become a dollar tree which is really unfortunate, the next nearest grocery store is a mile away.
So here in Texas, I found 99 cent only stores built out in poorer communities (except for one). These communities became dependent on a catch all store like 99 cent only stores.
That said, I've notes that some of these stores became kind of trashy, selling legit awful merchandise. I went into one amd they had a stack of answering machines clearly saying they were all broken.
Ohhh the produce is super interesting because every remodeled Dollar General now has a fresh produce section!
9:10 I feel the same way becaause of the way Toys 'R' Us got closed.
When I was living in Las Vegas in 2009, I used to go to the 99c store on Charleston. I loved it! But since I didn't have a car and had to rely on the bus or my legs, I rarely went!
The Water store over here in Surprise AZ, sells Thrifty Ice creme by the scoop and cone or half gallon size. Get some Thrifty ice creme and fill your water jugs.