Remember When Store Names Were Different?

I was filling out a survey from Walmart about my latest shopping excursion. I started thinking about the store name. I remember when Walmart used to be Wal-Mart, with the dash in the middle. Kmart was sometimes written as K-Mart, too. I remember being confused—I was never sure whether to include the dash or not. Over time, many well-known stores have changed their names or branding to keep up with trends, simplify their image, or expand their focus. Here are some examples:

• Wal-Mart → Walmart In 2008, Wal-Mart officially dropped the dash and became just Walmart. The change was part of a modern rebranding effort.

• K-Mart → Kmart Although it was often written with a dash in earlier years, the company eventually settled on the simpler Kmart.

• J.C. Penney → JCPenney It used to include the periods, but over time they disappeared. Most people now refer to it as JCPenney.

• Dunkin’ Donuts → Dunkin’ In 2019, the brand shortened its name to Dunkin’ to reflect a menu that goes beyond just donuts.

• Radio Shack → The Shack For a short time in 2009, Radio Shack tried to rebrand as The Shack in marketing campaigns. It did not last.

• Kentucky Fried Chicken → KFC This change happened in 1991. The company wanted to move away from the word "fried" and also position itself as more than just chicken.

• Toys “R” Us → Geoffrey’s Toy Box (briefly) After going through bankruptcy, the company attempted a comeback using the mascot’s name. However, most people still recognize the original name.

• Bed Bath & Beyond → Beyond (proposed) There was talk of simplifying the name to just Beyond before the company closed many of its stores. The change never fully took hold.

• Burlington Coat Factory → Burlington As the store expanded its inventory beyond coats, it dropped “Coat Factory” and became just Burlington.

• Sears, Roebuck and Co. → Sears The original name reflected its catalog business. As retail stores became the focus, the name was shortened to Sears.

• Payless ShoeSource → Payless After store closures and a relaunch, the brand returned with a simpler name.

• Starbucks Coffee → Starbucks In 2011, the company removed the word “coffee” from its logo. The goal was to reflect a wider variety of products beyond coffee.

These changes are not just about logos or names. They reflect shifts in business focus, customer habits, and branding strategies. Some of them stuck. Some did not. However, they all show how much retail has changed over the years. As I started to write, I realized these changes were more widespread than I had originally thought! Hence, some of these examples may be in an additional category below.

Regional and Grocery Chains

Not all store name changes happen on a national level. Some stores changed names as they expanded into new markets or updated their branding to stay relevant.

• Albertson’s → Albertsons The apostrophe was quietly dropped in branding updates, though many still say it the old way out of habit.

• Safeway → Safeway by Albertsons (in some areas) In areas where Safeway was bought by Albertsons, some stores use both names together, depending on the location.

• Publix Super Markets → Publix The official name has always been Publix Super Markets, but branding usually shortens it to just Publix.

• Winn-Dixie → WD (briefly in marketing) Winn-Dixie once tried to use “WD” in ads and signage, but most shoppers stuck with the original name.

• Kroger → Kroger Marketplace (for larger stores) The original name stayed the same, but newer, bigger locations use “Marketplace” to show they carry more than groceries.

• Food Lion → Bloom (temporary rebrand) Food Lion tried a modern rebrand with the name Bloom in the mid-2000s, but it did not last, and stores returned to the Food Lion name.

• Lucky → Save Mart → Lucky (again) The original Lucky chain was bought and rebranded as Save Mart. Later, some stores were brought back under the Lucky name due to nostalgia.

• Vons → Vons, a Safeway Company After Safeway bought Vons, some locations started using a dual name. It depends on the region.

• Piggly Wiggly → PW (on some products) While the store name has not officially changed, some store-brand items now show the initials “PW” instead of the full name.

• SuperValu Stores → Unified Grocers → UNFI These wholesale grocery companies went through multiple name changes after mergers, affecting what independent grocery stores stock.

• Bi-Lo → Food Lion or Harvey’s Bi-Lo stores were phased out, and many locations were converted into other grocery chains.

• A&P (The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company) → Closed Once a giant in American groceries, A&P tried modernizing and even shortened its name, but it eventually went out of business.

Fast Food and Restaurant

Some changes were subtle, and others were total rebrands. A few companies went back to their old names after testing something new.

• Kentucky Fried Chicken → KFC The full name was shortened to avoid the word “fried” and give a cleaner, modern feel. The food is the same.

• Dunkin’ Donuts → Dunkin’ The company dropped “Donuts” to reflect that they sell more than just donuts, like coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

• Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits → Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen This change was made to highlight their Cajun-inspired menu. Most people still call it just “Popeyes.”

• Boston Chicken → Boston Market The company rebranded in the mid-1990s to reflect a broader menu, not just chicken.

• Domino’s Pizza → Domino’s They dropped “Pizza” to show they now serve other foods like pasta, sandwiches, and wings.

• IHOP → IHOb (briefly) In 2018, IHOP temporarily became IHOb to promote their burgers. It was a marketing stunt, not a permanent change.

• Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s → Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s (combined branding) They are the same company, but kept both names in different regions. Some marketing materials now show both logos together.

• Jack in the Box → Jack (briefly in ads) For a short time, the company tried to brand itself simply as “Jack,” but it did not stick.

• Dwarf Grill (original name) → Chick-fil-A The original name was “Dwarf Grill” when it opened in 1946. It became Chick-fil-A later as it focused on chicken sandwiches.

• Pizza Hut → The Hut (briefly) Pizza Hut tried using “The Hut” in some advertising campaigns, but customers did not like it, so they kept the original name.

Department Stores

Many of these happened due to mergers, acquisitions, or branding updates. Some names are gone, but the stores still exist under different labels.

Regional Department Stores → Macy’s (2000s Rebranding Wave) In the early 2000s, Macy’s absorbed many beloved regional department stores as part of a national rebranding effort. These stores once carried strong local identities, but all eventually operated under the Macy’s name:

• Burdines (Florida)

• Rich’s (Atlanta – briefly Rich’s-Macy’s)

• Marshall Field’s (Chicago – especially controversial)

• Hecht’s (Mid-Atlantic and South)

• Kaufmann’s (Pennsylvania and Ohio)

• Filene’s (New England)

• Foley’s (Texas and Southwest)

• Hudson’s (Detroit – became Marshall Field’s first)

• Dayton’s (Minneapolis – also became Marshall Field’s first)

This rebranding erased many familiar names in favor of one national chain.

Department Stores That Closed or Changed Format

• Mervyn’s → Closed Mid-level chain in the western U.S., shut down completely by 2009. Some locations became Kohl’s or JCPenney.

• Montgomery Ward → Closed → Online Only Once a retail giant, it closed all stores in 2001. The name still exists as a web-only store.

• Gottschalks → Closed A California-based department store that shut down in the 2009 recession.

• Ames → Closed Popular in the Northeast. Closed in 2002. The brand has made limited online appearances since.

• Bon-Ton → Closed or Online Revival Operated under names like Younkers and Elder-Beerman. Most stores closed after bankruptcy, but some names returned online.

• Value City → Closed or Converted Most stores shut down; some became Big Lots or Burlington.

• Sears → Fewer Stores / Failed Rebrands Tried new formats like Sears Grand and Sears Essentials, but failed to revive the brand. Only a few locations remain today.

• J.C. Penney → JCP (briefly) Attempted a rebrand from 2011–2013 with a new logo and “JCP” branding, but returned to the original name after it failed to resonate.

Pharmacy and Drugstore

• Eckerd → CVS / Rite Aid / Walgreens Eckerd was once one of the largest drugstore chains in the U.S. It was sold off in pieces in the mid-2000s. CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens absorbed many locations.

• Revco → CVS Revco was a major chain in the Midwest and South. CVS acquired it in 1997, and most Revco stores were rebranded.

• Brooks Pharmacy → Rite Aid Brooks was a popular chain in New England. Rite Aid bought it in 2007 and changed the name.

• Longs Drugs → CVS Longs was well known on the West Coast and in Hawaii. CVS acquired it in 2008. In Hawaii, CVS kept the Longs name because of strong brand loyalty.

• Thrifty / PayLess → Rite Aid Thrifty PayLess was absorbed into Rite Aid in the 1990s. Some older West Coast stores still sell Thrifty Ice Cream under the Rite Aid banner.

• Genovese → CVS Genovese was a family-run chain in New York. CVS acquired it in 1998 and changed the signs shortly after.

Grocery Store Rebrands and Changes

• Food Lion → Delhaize / Ahold Delhaize (corporate owner) The store name "Food Lion" stayed the same, but the parent company changed over time. Originally called Food Town, it became Food Lion in 1983 to avoid name conflicts as it expanded. Owned by Delhaize (a Belgian company), which merged with Ahold in 2016.

• Albertsons → Various Albertsons has absorbed or sold many chains over the years. Some stores became Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, or Shaw’s, depending on region.

• Safeway → Albertsons (corporate parent) Safeway stores still exist under their own name, but Albertsons owns them. The names remained because of regional recognition.

• Lucky → Albertsons → Lucky (again) Lucky was a grocery chain that Albertsons took over and renamed. Later, some stores reintroduced the Lucky name in California due to nostalgia and strong brand memory.

• Winn-Dixie → Still active (but many closed or sold) Winn-Dixie had a large presence in the South. It never changed names, but it filed for bankruptcy more than once. Many locations were closed, sold, or absorbed into other chains.

• Piggly Wiggly → Franchise Model Still active in some areas, but many locations closed or were sold off. Some were rebranded under other chains like Bi-Lo or Food Lion. It was one of the first self-service grocery stores in the U.S.

• Bi-Lo → Harveys / Food Lion / others Bi-Lo was a Southern grocery chain that slowly faded after mergers and buyouts. Some stores became Harveys, some became Food Lion, and others closed.

Toys and Kids Stores

• Toys “R” Us → Closed (U.S. retail) → Online comeback Toys “R” Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and closed all U.S. stores by 2018. The brand was revived online and has small locations inside some Macy’s stores now.

• KB Toys → Closed Once a popular mall-based toy store chain, KB Toys shut down in 2009. There were talks of a comeback, but nothing permanent has returned.

Electronics Stores

• Circuit City → Closed → Online Only Circuit City closed all its stores by 2009. The brand name now operates only as an online store with no physical presence.

• CompUSA → Closed → Acquired by TigerDirect CompUSA was once a leading electronics retailer. It closed stores and was absorbed into TigerDirect, which also later shut down its stores.

• RadioShack → Closed Most Stores → Online Only (mostly) Once everywhere, RadioShack went through multiple bankruptcies and closed most locations. It still exists online and as a brand licensing name.

• Fry’s Electronics → Closed Known for huge themed stores across the West Coast and Southwest. Fry’s shut down all locations in 2021.

Office Supply and Bookstore Chains

• OfficeMax → Merged with Office Depot OfficeMax and Office Depot merged in 2013. The OfficeMax name still appears in some locations, but it is mostly branded as Office Depot.

• Borders → Closed Borders was a major bookstore chain that went out of business in 2011. Some former locations became Barnes & Noble or other stores.

Clothing and Shoe Stores

• Payless ShoeSource → Closed U.S. stores → Online + some international Payless shut down its U.S. operations in 2019, but returned online and opened a few stores.

• The Limited → Closed physical stores → Online Only The Limited closed all stores in 2017. The brand still exists as an online-only business.

• Wet Seal → Closed → Limited Online Presence Closed all stores by 2017. The brand name has been used for limited online clothing sales.

• Delia’s → Closed → Relaunched as Online Brand Popular in the ’90s and early 2000s, Delia’s stores shut down. The brand was later revived online targeting nostalgic customers.

• Charlotte Russe → Closed → Relaunched Filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2019, but reopened some stores under new ownership.

Conclusion

It started with a simple memory about Wal-Mart and Kmart, and turned into a much longer list than I expected. There are many other categories of store name changes and closures that I have not covered—such as sporting goods, pet stores, furniture retailers, music and video chains, and mall-based specialty shops. The more I looked, the more I found. Many of these changes took place during the time I was not leaving my house.

Some stores quietly disappeared, others rebranded, and a few tried to reinvent themselves and failed. Retail history is filled with familiar names where I used to shop which does not seem like it was long ago. Consider how long this list would be if I included all the childhood stores I remember that once thrived, but have since vanished!

Proverbs 22:1

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold."