Final Two Retail outlets to Shut Subsequent Yr

Sam Goody, some of the file retailer giants from the golden age of bodily media, is about to in any case shutter its final closing brick-and-mortar retail outlets. 

The chain was once one of the crucial outstanding track, video, and leisure outlets for a lot of the 20 th century, changing into a staple in shops and buying groceries facilities throughout North The united states. However like many huge purveyors of bodily media, its fortunes grew to become with the upward push of the web, virtual downloads, and on-line buying groceries. 

Since 2022, the chain’s final two retail outlets had been situated within the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, and the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford, Oregon. In line with experiences, each are actually set to near early subsequent yr. 

In line with The Instances Chief (an area Ohio newspaper), the chief of the Sam Goody on the Ohio Valley Mall — which opened in 1980 — realized in regards to the retailer ultimate after Thanksgiving. A precise ultimate date wasn’t introduced, however it’s anticipated to shutter in February.

“It’s modified through the years, and it [stinks],” stated supervisor Rick Polanski. “I put two-thirds of my existence into this position. We had been a $2 million retailer at one level, however instances have modified and there’s not anything I will be able to do about it.”

Joe Bell, company communications director for Cafaro Co., which owns the Ohio Valley Mall, was once stunned by way of the inside track. “They’re ultimate the final two Sam Goody places in the US,” he stated. “We don’t know a lot at this level, rather than the truth that they’re going to be finishing their time period as a tenant on the Ohio Valley Mall.”

It’s unclear when the Sam Goody retailer in Medford will shut. The mother or father corporate for the Rogue Valley Mall didn’t right away go back Rolling Stone‘s request for remark. Sam Goody’s mother or father corporate, FYE, additionally didn’t right away go back a request for remark. 

Sam Goody’s eponymous founder, Sam “Goody” Gutowitz, started his retail occupation operating a toy and novelty retailer in New York Town, however all over the past due 1930s he struck up a profitable aspect gig promoting uncommon 78 rpm information (in keeping with the roots track magazine, No Melancholy). As vinyl changed shellac within the Nineteen Forties and 1950s, he threw himself absolutely into the file trade: He opened a flagship retailer on forty ninth Boulevard (the place he employed gross sales individuals who may in truth talk about and suggest track), expanded his succeed in with mail-order services and products, and particularly introduced information at discounted costs. 

Goody grew the trade into a countrywide chain and in the end offered it to the American Can Corporate in 1978. Over the following couple of a long time, Sam Goody persisted to develop, in the end merging with the outstanding leisure retail corporate, Musicland. When Gutowitz died in 1991, there have been 320 Sam Goody Retail outlets around the nation, maximum of which have been opened after he offered the trade.