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By Paula Green
When shopping for that special someone, it is fun to come up with a unique gift. There used to be several gadget and home décor stores located in malls and shopping plazas. At these retailers, you could find distinctive items, but unfortunately, many of those stores have closed. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and explore some of those merchants.
Founded in 1965, Brookstone began as a direct marketer with their “Hard to Find Tools” catalog. In 1973, they opened their first physical store in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Brookstone sold unique tools and household goods. Some of their product lines included items focused on travel, leisure, technology, audio, and games. In Pittsburgh, Brookstone stores once flourished at the malls at Ross Park, Monroeville, South Hills Village, the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, and the Pittsburgh International Airport. In 2018, Brookstone filed for bankruptcy and closed its mall stores. The location at Pittsburgh International is still open; the others in the area are closed. Brookstone products are still available via the web.
A similar store that was a go-to destination for innovative gadgets was Sharper Image. Founded in 1977, this chain was renowned for its unique product offerings and stylish items. In the mid-2000s, Sharper Image faced significant challenges, including declining sales, increasing competition, and financial troubles. By 2008, the company filed for bankruptcy, closing its iconic retail stores, including the one in SouthSide Works. In the intervening years, Sharper Image has lived on through a catalog, e-commerce, and branded products sold at third-party retailers such as Target, Kohl’s, and Bed Bath & Beyond. Sharper Image products are currently available via their website.
Things Remembered is another merchant that is etched in our minds. Established in 1967, this company was a leading retailer of personalized gifts and merchandise. They had an engraving site. The store excelled for 55 years, with locations in Greensburg, Monaca, Monroeville, Robinson, Ross, South Hills, and West Mifflin. On December 28, 2022, it was announced that Things Remembered would close all retail locations. On January 10, 2023, 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. announced the acquisition of the Things Remembered brand, allowing the brand to continue as a leading retailer of personalized gifts. Their merchandise is now sold online.
Pier 1 Imports roots date back to 1962. The store was famous for selling quality, unique home furnishings and decorative accessories. The store thrived for 58 years, with stores in Bethel Park, Fox Chapel, Monroeville, North Fayette, Ross, and Whitehall. Pier 1 Imports filed for bankruptcy in February 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all remaining stores in the United States were closed by October 31, 2020. Like many other retailers, Pier 1 Imports products can be found online.
Lechter Housewares was a chain of kitchen supply stores that sold merchandise at bargain prices, often in malls. Founded in the 1970s, during its heyday in the 1990s, it had about 650 stores, including shops at the Century III Mall in West Mifflin and the Ross Park Mall. Lechters filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and closed all of its stores in 2001. Sadly, it does not have an online store; it is permanently gone.
Although these brick-and-mortar stores are shuttered, the majority of them are still available on the web and in our memory banks.
Sources: www.brookstone.com/, www.city-data.com/locations/Brookstone/Allegheny-County-PA.html, tms-outsource.com/blog/posts/what-happened-to-sharper-image/, www.licenseglobal.com/retail-news-trends/retails-latest-revival-sharper-image, www.thingsremembered.com/, www.pier1.com/pages/pier-1-imports-history, www.city-data.com/locations/Pier1Imports/Allegheny-County-PA.html, abandonedonline.net/location/century-iii-mall/