Stores That Are No More in Massachusetts... an Incomplete List

With more and more stores closing down or leaving Massachusetts, I decided I better make a list so that even I don't totally forget them!  These are ones I personally knew, but by no means a complete list. Perhaps you will remember some yourself!

AS OF 10/1/25:

Ames - Department Store (replaced Zayer) - Waltham, MA (2002)
Ann & Hope - Department Store - Arsenal Mall, Watertown MA
Bailey's - Ice Cream & Candy - Belmont Center, MA

Bed Bath & Beyond - (2023)

Ben Franklin - 5&10/craft store - Belmont MA, etc

Bildner's - Food Store - Belmont Center, MA

Bradlee's - Department Store - Burlington, MA (2001)

Bugaboo Creek - Restaurant - Watertown, MA (2016)

Building 19 (etc) - Closeout Items (2013)

Caldor - Department Store - (1999)

Chadwick's - Restaurant - Lexington, MA (demolished)

Child World - Toy Store (1992)

Christmas Tree Shops - (2023)

Circuit City - Electronics, appliances, etc (2009)

Cottage Crest - Restaurant - Waltham, MA

Dandelion Green - Restaurant - Burlington, MA 

Dexter Shoes - Shoe Stores (Maine)

Durgin Park - Restaurant (1827-2019) 

Filene's - Clothing/Department Store  (2006)

Filene's Basement - Discount Clothing

Finest - Supermarket

Fotomat - photo processing 

Granite State Potato Chips - Salem, NH (demolished)

Grossman's - Home Improvement

K-B Toys - Toy Store - (2009)

K-Mart - Department Store (none in Massachusetts)

Heartland - Supermarket

Hilltop Steak House - Restaurant - Saugus MA

Jordan Marsh (became Macy's) - Department Store

Lechmere - Electronics, Appliances, etc (1997)

LeeWards - Crafts (became Michael's)

Lord & Taylor - Clothing

Magic Pan - Restaurant (crêpes) 

Moe Black's - Hardware Store, etc - Waltham, MA

Old Oak'n Bucket - Restaurant - Westford, MA

Papa Razzi - Restaurant - (1 location left as of 2024) 

Paperama - Woburn MA

Pewter Pot - Restaurant 

Purity Supreme - Supermarket (was Heartland)

Radio Shack - Electronics

RiteAid - Pharmacy (10/2025)

Rotman's Furniture - Worcester MA (2022)

Sage's - Food Market - Belmont Center, MA

Sears - Department store (11 stores remaining nationwide as of 2024)

Service Merchandise - Electronics, Appliances, etc - Burlington, MA (2002)

Spag's - Discount - Shrewsbury, MA (2004)

Strawberries - Record Store (sold 1989)

Tweeter - Electronics (2008)

Videosmith - Movie Rentals 

Quarterdeck - Seafood Restaurant - York, ME

Wal-Lex - Bowling Alley - Waltham, MA

You Do It Electronics - (Dec 2024)
Zayer - Department Store - Waltham, MA (1990)

Toys R Us, Winchester MA 7/2/19


Sears, Leominster MA 11/22/22


Bed Bath & Beyond, Leominster MA (2/26/23)

Below are some stores that turned online-only, out of Massachusetts, closing stores, or on their last legs (a shame, too)

Arthur Treacher's - Fish Restaurant - Woburn, MA

Baskin Robbins - Ice Cream (one is in a Dunkin Donuts, Lexington MA)

Bed Bath & Beyond - home goods (now online only)

Bob's Stores - (2024)

Boston Chicken (now Boston Market) - Lexington, MA

Carvel - Ice Cream (shops) - Woburn, MA

Friendly's - Family Restaurant (most Boston area locations closed)

Jo-Ann Fabrics 

Office Depot - Online only

Papa Gino's - Pizza Restaurant... many locations have closed 

Tower Records - Record Store (online)

Toys R Us - Toy Store - Winchester, MA (online, various attempts to get back into brick & mortar sales)

Rotman's Furniture, Worcester MA 12/11/22


Papa Razzi, Concord MA (6/30/23) (DEMOLISHED)

Papa Gino's, Bedford MA 7/26/21 (DEMOLISHED)

Stores That Are No More: Price Tags

Here is a selection of price tags found on some of my Matchbox and Hot Wheels car blister packs.  All are from stores that are now defunct.  I personally find this depressing... Once, we had a selection of stores to go to for everything we needed.  If one store didn't have it, you went next door or down the street.  You got to SEE an item before buying it.  You got to TRY ON clothes before buying them.  You didn't have to wait for items to arrive in an Amazon truck.

If you understand what I mean, read on...

AMES:  Ames took over the Zayer stores here in Massachusetts 

ANN & HOPE:  Our local Ann & Hope was located at the Watertown (MA) Arsenal Mall.  I remember they had people at the entrances who would put a bright sticker on any bags you brought into the store from elsewhere.  That way they would know if you were trying to shoplift!

KB / KAY-BEE TOYS:  I actually don't remember much about KayBee.  There was one in the Burlington (MA) Mall, and I think also right at the Waltham/Lexington line.

TOYS R US:  Another sad one... As a casual collector of diecast cars and various other things that could be found there, I SERIOUSLY miss my childhood heaven.  Our store was in Winchester Massachusetts.  I can still remember the smell of the bicycle section, the huge wall of board games, the ever-moving video game section, and YES, the TOY CAR isle.  It all started to fall apart when they stopped selling model car kits.

I miss them all...