1). What was originally located in the building where Goody's on Highway 31 at 459 is?
 
2).  Was there ever a toy store in Hoover that looked like a big castle from the outside?  I seem to remember a store like that when I was 4 or 5 but then it could've been my imagination.
 
3). What all used to be in the shopping center where Bruno's and Petsmart are now?

Quote from truthseeker on 07/13/07 at 6:08pm:

 
 
1.  The store was called Loeman's.  It was a store similar to Circuit City based in Boston, Mass. that went out of business six months after it opened (if that long).  They opened in 1990 and closed the same year.
2.  Yes, it was a toy store located in the Riverchase Plaza where Circuit City used to be.  They went out of business in the early '90s.
3.  A Barnes and Noble and a Service Merchandise.  B & N moved to Patton Creek and Service Merchandise went out of business.
 
 
Wow!  I can't believe I remember all that!  The Loeman's I remember because I was a manager for Circuit City back then and they came in with tape recorders to get all of our prices...

Quote from superdolfan on 07/13/07 at 6:24pm:

 
After digging around, it seems you're thinking of Lechmere.  They actually stayed in business in the Northeast until about 1998 or so.  I'm real surprised that they even had a location here in Alabama.  Also, I'm not sure why but for some reason I heard that the Sam's Club by the Galleria used to be something else.  Any truth to that?
 
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Lechmere-Inc-Company-History.ht ml
 
In fact, it says that 2 Lechmere's were opened in the Birmingham area.  Anyone recall where the other location was?
 

Quote from truthseeker on 07/13/07 at 6:33pm:

 
You are good!  It was Lechmere.  Yes, they did stay in business up north, but couldn't hack it in the south.  Circuit City was too much for them back then.  Unlike today, back then Circuit City was awesome!
 
The Sam's used to be a Home Quarters, which opened in 1989  It stayed around until 1994 when the company could not compete with Home Depot.  Sam's moved in after they closed shop.  The Fairfield and Center Point Home Quarters stayed open until 1994.

Quote from LawMom on 07/13/07 at 6:39pm:

 
To kill 2 birds with one stone, seems that Loehmann's is still around and they're using the old Zayre logo: http://www.loehmanns.com/intro-flash.cfm

Quote from truthseeker on 07/13/07 at 6:44pm:

 
 
No, Home Depot was an original anchor tenant there.  The Lechmere's was located directly across from where the old Campo store is now.  I forget what's in there today.

Quote from truthseeker on 07/13/07 at 7:03pm:

 
I started working for Campo in 1994 when the stock was $17/share.  I helped open up the Wildwood store (where Old Navy is now)  Toward the end in 1997 it was barely at $1.00, having gone as low as $0.10.  They finally went belly up in late 1997.  They expanded too quickly from New Orleans into Alabama, North Florida and Tenn.
 
We had two stores in Birmingham, one in Huntsville, one in Tuscaloosa, one in Dothan, one in Mobile.  We also had Pensacola and Chatanooga.  Of course that's not counting the Mississippi and Louisiana stores that were there before the Alabama, Florida and Tenn. markets opened.  Ah, memories...wait, I'm sorry, I meant nightmares!
 

Loehmann's was primarily a discounted designer clothing store for women. The store in Hoover closed in the early nineties when the entire shopping center was bulldozed.

Quote from synergis1 on 07/13/07 at 8:36pm:

 
So if I follow:
Lechmere and Phar-Mor were both in the same shopping center(where Goody's, Marshalls, and Toys R Us are today),  
Loehmans and Service Merchandise were where Petsmart, Bruno's, and Best Buy are today
Children's Palace was where Staples and Guitar Center are today
Sam's Club used to be a HomeQuarters
 
I think I got all that right.

Thought I would pipe in now that I am warm with nostalgia : )  
 
Okay- the Goody's space - I beleive it was Phar-moor when it was built. That entire shopping center was built after the Galleria. It had the Toys R' Us when it was built. I remember there being a children's clothing store called Kids R'Us too. I don't remember if Marshalls was there in the beginning or if somethig else was there.  
 
Big Castle = Children's Palace = current Staples site ( I think ). There were little turretts (spelling?) on the corners of the building. It was gray.  I think it came after the Galleria, but before Toys'R Us but I am not positive.  
 
Loehmann's village -existed before Galleria had Mr. Gatti's, Service Merchandise, a place that sold Hello Kittie stuff an ice cream stuff. It was kind of the "Berry High School" style of malls- little separate buildings with walkways and hallways in between - open hallways, etc... I think one gift shop type store was called Mitzi's Place or something.  
 
There was also a K-mart across the street and the Hoover Public Library was over behind Gabriel's in that shopping center. Lots of new and ice apartment complexes were going up on Lorna Road. 150 was a desolate 2 lane road back to Sulfer Springs ( I think it may not even have gone all the way at one point).  
 
This is fun, somebody ask some more!