The last two remaining Sam Goody stores in the United States are set to close their doors permanently in early 2025, bringing an end to the iconic music retailer's 73-year history.
Located in the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio, and the Rogue Valley Mall in Medford, Oregon, these final outposts of the once-mighty entertainment chain will shut down around February 2025, according to store officials.
Rick Polanski, manager of the Ohio location which opened in 1980, received the closure news shortly after Thanksgiving. "I put two-thirds of my life into this place. We were a $2 million store at one point, but times have changed," Polanski said.
The chain's decline mirrors the broader transformation in how people consume entertainment. What began as Sam "Goody" Gutowitz's New York City record shop in 1951 grew into a nationwide retail powerhouse, with 320 stores at its peak in 1991. The company made its mark by offering discounted records and knowledgeable staff who could discuss music with customers.
However, like many physical media retailers, Sam Goody struggled to adapt as digital downloads, streaming services, and online shopping became prevalent. Many of its locations were eventually converted to FYE (For Your Entertainment) stores as the brand contracted.
The Ohio Valley Mall location will begin marking down merchandise ahead of its closure. The specific closing date for the Medford, Oregon store has not been announced.
The closures mark the final chapter for a retailer that served as a cultural hub for generations of music fans, introducing countless Americans to new artists and albums during the golden age of physical media.
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