Gary T. Mills|Florida Times-Union
In the last 20 years, Jacksonville's retail landscape has changed dramatically. Several notable iconic American brands that served as shopping landmarks across the city have left the region or closed down altogether. Among those: Kmart, Sears and Jacksonville-based Stein Mart.
Here's a look back at some of those big-box, department and grocery stores we used to shop.
Albertsons
The Boise, Idaho-based grocer announced in May 2005 that it would close and sell its six stores in Jacksonville and Orange Park to former Albertsons and Winn-Dixie executive Rob Rowe, who would launch his own chain of stores under his own name.
Borders
Known for its large music selection - complete with listening stations - and children's book events, the popular Southside bookstore closed in Fall 2011 after declaring bankruptcy.
Circuit City
After filing for bankruptcy in November 2008, the well-known Best Buy competitor offering a wide range of consumer electronics items, closed two Jacksonville stores (Youngerman Circle, Oakleaf Town Center) in December 2008, followed by its remaining area locations (Southside Square, Regency) in March 2009.
CompUSA
After announcing the closings of its 103 stores in December 2007, the consumer electronics retailer reopened its two Jacksonville stores (Southside Square, Regency) under new ownership in April 2008. Within two years, the Southside Store - which opened originally as CompUSA competitor Computer City - closed and moved to the St. Johns Town Center. After rebranding as TigerDirect, both stores later closed in the first half of 2015.
Food Lion
After operating 21 stores in Jacksonville in 2000, the North Carolina-based chain announced in January 2012 that it would close all of its stores in Northeast Florida and South Georgia.
Gander Mountain
A decade after its opening at River City Marketplace on Jacksonville's Northside, the outdoor sporting goods store closed in summer 2017, one of 126 shuttered across the country. Marcus Lemonis bought the chain, reopening some stores as Gander Outdoors. Locations in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, however, were not among them.
HHGregg
Following in the footsteps of electronics retailers Circuit City, CompUSA and Sound Advice, Indianapolis-based HHGregg announced in April 2017 that it would close all of its 220 stores, including three in Jacksonville (Regency, Avenues Walk and Oakleaf) by the end of May 2017.
Kmart
After closing its eight Jacksonville stores one-by-one over several years, Kmart shuttered its remaining area store on Normandy Boulevard in April 2017, erasing the storied brand from the First Coast landscape.
Linens 'N Things
The former home decor store (think Bed, Bath & Beyond) closed its two Jacksonville stores (Southside Square and Regency area) in December 2008.
Luria's
The South Florida-based catalog-showroom offering jewelry, gifts and home furnishings closed its two Jacksonville stores (Regency Pointe, Mandarin) in March 1997, two years after the family-run company was sold to investors.
Mervyn's
The moderately priced department store specializing in apparel and housewares (think today's Kohl's), closed its two Jacksonville stores (Southside Square, Argyle Village Square) in April 1997 when the California-based company pulled out of Southeastern U.S. markets.
Rhodes Furniture
The 130-year-old furniture chain founded in Atlanta was bought by Florida-based Rooms To Go in August 2005. Its two remaining Jacksonville-area stores (Orange Park, Avenues) closed in November 2005. (The Regency location had previously closed.)
Sears
After closing its Regency Square Mall store in 2016, the iconic retailer shuttered its store at The Avenues just after Black Friday in 2019. Its last remaining store in the Jacksonville area closed at Orange Park Mall in Spring 2020 during the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic.
More:Sears distribution center in Jacksonville closes
Sound Advice
Like Circuit City, the high-end electronics retailer closed is three Jacksonville-area stores (Regency, Southside, Orange Park) in December 2008 after filing for bankruptcy.
Sports Authority
As competitors Dick's Sporting Goods, Academy Sports, REI and others entered the Jacksonville market, Sports Authority began closing its Jacksonville stores - Orange Park (August 2010), Regency (December 2013) and Southside (2015). The company filed for bankruptcy in March 2016 and closed all of its 450 stores in mid-2016.
Stein Mart
After more than a century in business, Jacksonville-based Stein Mart closed its 279 stores across 30 states, including a half dozen in the Jacksonville area in September 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. The discount department store chain had filed for bankruptcy earlier in the year.
Toys R Us
In the early '90s, the storied chain operated stores near The Avenues, near Regency Square Mall and in Orange Park. Following the opening of its store at The Markets at Town Center in 2008, stores near The Avenues and Regency Square Mall closed, leaving just two locations in the Jacksonville area. On June 28, 2018, however, Toys R Us closed its remaining U.S. locations.
