18 Stores You Shopped At In Maine But Your Kids Have Never Heard Of

It almost seems like an entirely different lifetime but there was a point when people couldn't order everything from the internet.

During the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's, department stores were all the rage throughout the state of Maine.

Some of those stores were standalones while many of them served as anchors for the state's biggest shopping centers.

The Department Store Wars in Maine Were Serious Business

There are still department stores vying for your business throughout Maine today. Walmart, Target, Kohl's and more continue to operate and in some cases, renovate and expand.

In prior decades, the battle for department store supremacy was fierce and including almost exclusively department store chains that were born in New England. You'll find several of those stores listed below.

Tim Boyle, Getty Images

Unfortunately, none of those New England-based department store chains were able to survive the shopper shift and the growth of massive chains like Walmart.

Mall Chain Stores Had a Big Impact in Maine For Many Decades

In the modern shoppers mind, finding a new music release, a hot new toy or a bestselling book is as easy a swipe on your smartphone.

That wasn't the case just a few decades ago. Instead, music, toy and book stores became vital staples in large and small malls across Maine.

Tim Boyle, Getty Images

Just like with department stores, many of those music, toy and book chain were New England-based and didn't survive the surge in online shopping and growth of major nationwide retailers.

Here's a full look at many stores that you likely shopped at 'back in the day' that your kids have probably never heard of.