Where did RadioShack go?
From Blockbuster to Pan Am: Remember these 10 giants no longer around?
Image: Sean Benesh
It can be hard to imagine a giant falling, but it happens more often than we might think. Huge companies with thousands of employees, stores across the world, and solid reputations file for bankruptcy every year—some with a loud bang, while others fade away quietly after a long decline. You will likely recognize the following ten names. These companies were once everywhere, only to one day vanish into thin air. Some are gone for good, some were absorbed by other corporate giants, and some still exist but only as a tiny fraction of what they used to be. Do you miss any of these brands?
1
Pan Am
Image: Rob Wilson
If a single name were to represent the airline industry in the 20th century, it would most likely be Pan Am. Founded as Pan American Airways in 1927, the company became an American icon , known for its many airline innovations , its distinctive blue logo, and the crisp white uniforms of its staff.
However, when the airline industry was deregulated in 1978, increased competition set the stage for Pan Am’s downfall. The company declined throughout the 1980s and ultimately declared bankruptcy in 1991.
2
Borders
Image: Araix Rand
Its huge stores were havens for book lovers, who could spend hours wandering its aisles, browsing and perusing its vast catalog of books , magazines , CDs , and more. But, alas, none of these stores had been profitable since the mid-2000s.
In 2011, after the company filed for bankruptcy, every single store was closed. Its trademarks were later purchased by its prominent rival, Barnes & Noble.
3
Circuit City
Image: Austin Distel
Starting its life as Wards Company in 1948, Circuit City became one of America’s most recognizable brands in the consumer electronics retail business . However, the turn of the century brought significant changes and financial difficulties, ultimately leading the company to file for bankruptcy in 2008.
4
Tower Records
Image: Lucía Garó
In a similar vein to Borders, Tower Records was a haven for music lovers who enjoyed the vast selection of music available in its stores. And, much like Borders, music stores have largely gone the way of the dodo.
Managerial blunders and the rise of internet piracy contributed to the company filing for bankruptcy twice—first in 2004 and again in 2006. Its assets were sold at auction to Great American Group, and the last store closed in December 2006.
5
Trans World Airlines (TWA)
Image: Ross Parmly
Pan Am was not the only major airline to disappear. The once-powerful TWA met the same fate, operating from 1930 until it was acquired by American Airlines in 2001 . It was once one of the "Big Four" domestic airlines in the United States, alongside United, Eastern, and the aforementioned American.
6
Blockbuster
Image: Bruno Guerrero
Another demise that hit hard for loyal customers was Blockbuster. While the VHS rental behemoth dominated the market throughout the ’90s and early 2000s —with over 9,000 stores and 84,000 employees—the lethal combination of the internet and piracy proved too much to withstand. As a result, the company gradually closed nearly all its stores, leaving only one remaining today in Bend, Oregon.
7
Amoco
Image: Markus Spiske
The first name on this list to disappear not due to financial difficulties but because of a merger, Amoco was a giant in the oil and gas industry. Founded in 1910, it became the largest natural gas producer in North America by the late ’90s .
In 1998, it merged with British Petroleum in a $61 billion deal. Existing service stations were rebranded under the BP name, and the Amoco brand gradually faded from view.
8
Compaq
Image: ThisisEngineering
In the ’90s, Compaq was a major player in the computer industry and, at one point, the largest supplier of PC systems in the US . However, as the century came to an end, lower-cost competitors like Dell began attracting consumers and chipping away at Compaq’s market share. In 2002, the company merged with Hewlett-Packard, and the Compaq name gradually faded away.
9
Woolworths
Image: Kay Enn
The original five-and-dime store, Woolworths, was a pioneer in the retail industry in the late 1800s . It managed to survive—and even thrive—through most of the 20th century, but by 1989, it had entered a steady decline.
Following a 1993 restructuring that led to the closure of half its 800 stores, the rest gradually shut down. While the Woolworths retail brand and name have disappeared, the company rebranded as the Venator Group in 2001 and shifted its focus to its footwear division. Today, you might know it as Foot Locker.
10
Howard Johnson’s
Image: Francesca Saraco
The last name on our list is a familiar one, especially to travelers. The iconic Howard Johnson’s began as a single ice cream stand outside Boston, Mass., before expanding to over 1,000 restaurants. In the 1950s, the chain introduced motor lodges at nearly 300 of its locations.
Howard Johnson’s was sold to Marriott in the 1980s, and most of its restaurants gradually shut down. The last remaining location, in Lake George, N.Y., closed its doors in 2017.
