In malls and shopping centers across North America, the chain became a staple of music, video, and entertainment retailers for much of the 20th century. As with many large physical media companies, its fortunes changed with the rise of the internet, digital downloads, and online shopping.
Located in St. Clairsville, Ohio, and Medford, Oregon, respectively, the chain's last two stores opened in 2022. Both are now expected to close early next year, according to reports.
Despite thinking there were no more Sam Goody's, this saddens me! My Sam Goody stores disappeared a lonnnnnng time ago. Sam Goody was one of my favorite stores in the mall. One of my lasting memories from the nineties is overhearing two workers, perfectly dressed in flannel shirts with band tees underneath, say, "R.E.M. is one of those bands everybody likes," and the other replying, "Yeah, I don't know anyone who doesn't like R.E.M." I tend to agree with them. I wonder where they are now?
Gadzooks and Coach House Gifts were also favorites. Additionally, bookstores like Waldenbooks were nice. I would definitely visit that store again if I were in Ohio or Oregon right now. Another store I liked was Hastings. My family would always say, "Well, kiddos, we're going to Hastings!" or "We're going to the mall!" and we'd all hop in the van excitedly. My final stop was almost always Hastings if I ventured out to any other store. The candy shop was a must-visit for me, and I always tried to make time for Sam Goody.
I haven't been to the mall since before Covid. So much changed after that with social distancing, but I do go out more now. The truth is I haven't needed anything from the mall. Since the pandemic, I've been doing most of my shopping online, and go out for everything else, such as dining, entertainment, errands, and work-related tasks.
While I appreciate the convenience of online shopping, there are times when I prefer to physically visit a store and engage with products before purchasing. A click of a button simply cannot replicate the experience of touching, smelling, or trying on items. In an effort to bridge the gap between in-store and online shopping, some stores have implemented a "virtual shopping experience" where customers can connect their webcam to see how certain products would look on them, such as a new shade of lipstick or a pair of jeans. Others have taken it a step further with virtual shopping carts that allow you to navigate through virtual aisles and browse products. I even came across one with Christmas music playing in the background, adding a touch of holiday spirit to the digital world of shopping.
Instead of Sam Goody and Hastings, we now have stores like EntertainMART and the Movie Trading Company. I've visited the latter, and it reminds me a lot of Hastings in its offerings. Inside, there's a wide selection of DVDs, video games, music, and merchandise to browse through. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. Fortunately, we still have something to anticipate. :)
More on the closure of these Sam Goody stores, please see below.
Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sam-goody-stores-close-1235210208/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0zqfhR3j4TIvWpSaZIIM-Co7NjbcnwoplJCi5x9PTSZyst9p6KfdF7HW8_aem_83DVsqJtnNxhXNY-RV5VIg
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