Zayre Commercial 1978

[Paigeshusband]

You wanna know what's wild. My dad still has that white coat at :21.

[kungblao]

OMFG ZAYRE!!!

[robphas]

I don't remember this commercial (I wasn't born yet), but I remember going to the going-out-of-business sale as a kid.

[jrocco36]

Wow Zayer! Shoping for stuff standing in the check out line and everyone has the wrong price.. "Price check on line 2 please" I remember that was how it went every time I went to Zayer. It was sooo frustrating.. I stopped going to Zayer and so did everone elese..

[scottandrewhutchins]

Zayre was awesome because they never put old toys on clearance--they sat there until somebody bought them. You could always find something you wanted but never got that none of the other stores had anymore! I bought a Secret Wars Tower of Doom there for $5 around 1989. It was insane that they still had one.

[ncrdisabled]

I found this video and took me back I was in high school 11 grade looking forward tho the day I went in the NAVY spending 7 years on submarines little did I know at the time but I would end up in the NAVY on submarines . Man I miss those days.

[BIGPLAYCITYBABY]

I REMEMBER STEALING A SHAZAM DOLL..AND THEY TOOK ME BACK IN A ROOM AND TOLD MY PARENTS...I WAS LIKE 7..AND I REMEMBER SEEING THE MIAMISOUNDMACHINE WITH GLORIA ESTEFAN SINGING IN A OUTDOOR CONCERT IN THE PARKING LOT AT ZAYRE LATE 70'S...

[31funsized]

This is stupid, but i do not have a lot of options. My mother worked at a zayres in miami when she met my father. He worked there as well. They called him tito. This sounds bad but my mother does not know his last name and he does not know about me. If anyone remembers working there and knowing him let me know

[JaimeLe50s]

I remember Zayre's but I do not remember commercials for them...who then turned to Ames!!! and now both gone!!! LIFE and TIME go too fast

[3zy]

If you hadn't dated this ad, the sweater at :19 would've given it away.

[jvarela965]

The old Zayre store here in Sarasota FL is now a Dollar Tree. Shopped there once as a child and got mistreated by store security. We came across an open candy box and looked at it and the man jumped out and blamed us for it. He could not have as we did not do it.

[Smithfilmproductions]

I miss Zayre. 

[THECLARENCES]

Totally tubular to the max!

xoxo

The Clarences

[hebneh]

"Christmas shopping at Zayre Is fabulous fun We guarantee there You'll find something for everyone For your mother, your brother And every kid cousin And as you draw near it I'm sure you will hear it That Zayre Christmas spirit is buzzin'! Zzzzzzzayre Zzzzzzzayre It's fabulous, fabulous Zayre Where values are endless And you always spend less That's Z-A-Y-R-E, Zayre!" Radio commercial, Dec. 1970

[Del655]

@hebneh I would love to hear that!

[hebneh]

@Del655 Sorry, I don't have a recording of this radio commercial - it's just in my memory. So I guess it's lost to history.

[elc1960]

In the Springfield MA/Hartford CT area, most Zayre stores were gone by 1975. I used to live literally next door to the Brockton MA Zayre at the corner of North Main and Haverhill Streets (no smartasses, I did NOT live in the dumpster). I saw Bozo the Clown, Major Mudd and Rex Trailer each make personal appearances there when I was very young. For you REALLY old folks out there, once upon a time that store was a Coats Fields store.

[mburchet]

I remember going to a Zayre in Knoxville, TN in the mid-1970s when I was around 10-11 yrs. old. The manager was a mean old man who walked around the store, & when he saw kids my age walking around unattended, rudely ordered them to go back to their parents. I just remember following my mom around the store and being very bored while she looked at clothing, but scared to get more than a few feet away from her. Not one of my fondest childhood memories.

[level242]

I never seen so much polyester.

[MattTheSaiyan]

This looks like a fun store! Way better than Walmart! A heaping load of cat poo is better than Walmart!

[anthrocite]

Zayre's sucked; I miss King's, Ann & Hope, F.W. Woolworth, and Caldor, but Zayre's and Ames were bottom of the barrell.

[elc1960]

@anthrocite Only a couple of Ann & Hopes left now - Warwick RI on Post Road, and off Mendon Road in Cumberland RI. Both of them have heavy emphasis on window fixtures and draperies; they also have cheap off-brand foods and snacks (like "Uncle Snappy's" nacho cheese chips or "Dave's" Cheezy Poofs).

[regressing2apes]

i loved the beverly mass z a y r e. the big purple neon. the lunchenette. alma cooke manager... the smell, the brown floor, the cheap sneakas......

[djbigpean]

Before Wal-mart came to Connecticut, We had Zayre, Bradlees, Caldors, & K-mart to go to, those stores didn't have as much stuff as Wal-mart does, but they were ok! They were good for picking up sphere of the moment things!

[Kelski1998]

Went to a Caldors once I believe it was Yonkers NY in 1988.

[pekoe]

My 45's were bought at Zayre...dang Old school man

[tallatron]

kids 20 years from now will be looking at Old Wal-Mart ads and saying" Where did this chain go?" Just like we are doing now with Zayre and Kmart ads

[Del655]

We can only hope

[taledarkside]

@Del655

I hate walmart

love venture,kmart, and zayres

[Bodogable]

Remember the cheesy snack bar!!! The lady at my local Zayre, would have a cig in the ashtray, while she grilled your hotdog or processed cheese sandwich!!!!

[Bestclips00]

Grab that clothing.

[Bestclips00]

Take another look at Zayre!

[BoneThugsEternal]

aw man Zayre! i use to LOVE Zayre. Me and my family stayed our asses at Zayre buying light bulbs, and washing stuff back in the 80's. lol

I use to buy records and video games. I remember crying because i wanted a He-Man playset that came with a sword, shield, and He-Man's armor chest thing. lol My childhood was Zayre.

Got a GI Joe train set, and some Captain Power , and Real Ghostbusters toys there for christmas one year too. hahaha

[MISSMISSY2727]

Good Lord, my mom would take us to Zayre's at least 4 times a week, i loved all the crap we bought. I have such fond memories of the Zayre's on Ridge rd. & Denison Ave. in Cleveland, Ohio. It was such a huge part of my childhood.

[jeffpolara]

Remember the Zayres at Snow and W150? My Uncle called it Hong Kong Charlies. Everything we bought there was junk from China.

[believer06]

I used to work at Zayre back in the early 80's :D

[cybersalad]

Zayre! Where I got my ColecoVision for Xmas 1982!

[KidAJonni]

lol, what was the name of the van halen and led zeppelin tapes u stole from there?? When i was a kid i tried to steal a Queen album from Zayre , lol

Some guy who looked like Jeff Lynne from E.L.O. was a floorwalker and he was hiding in the round clothes rack watching me , lol what memories,

[KTMkeesvanderven]

My Aunt worked at Zayre's for 20+ years in Hammmond , Indiana.

[believer06]

I worked at the same one in the early 80s in Columbia Plaza.

[Del655]

Was that a good or bad experience? Thanks for posting.

[believer06]

I enjoyed working there. I worked in receiving and on the floor right after graduating high school. During the holiday, it was non-stop pretty much. during an 8 hour shift, I remember only only getting 2 15 minutes breaks. Never had a hard time falling asleep at bedtime :)

[evilnub]

Perhaps my grandmother's favorite store (North Miami Beach, FL) especially for yarn. She did a lot of knitting & would fill the cart with all sorts of yarn. There was an Icee machine near the checkout stand & I would always ask if I could have one, but she always said no. Still fond memories: late 70s-early 80s.

[edisonranger]

I remember Zayre. We had one in MD off Mountain Road (somewhat near Glen Burnie). I am 26 now, but I remember that around 1989-1990 (2nd grade), my mom and I went in there to shop. When I walked in, they were selling those battery-powered flowers that would sway back and forth when you would put it near music. The ones on display were dancing to "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel. The store was split in half for a PetSmart and a Value City furniture store after Zayre closed.

[Omgitszztop]

I remember Zayre.

There was a Gold Circle and a Zayre in North Olmsted,Ohio.....Gold Circle was better,bigger and cleaner.

Zayre was always looked messy,had dirty floors and had a "rummage-sale like" atmosphere.

I liked the huge red lit up letters above the front of the building though spelling Z A Y R E.

[speakmymind01]

Man, Gold Circle brings back memories,

you're exactly right on Zayre's messiness, there always seen to be a light bulb out on the sign too

[mikeyramone74]

My mom would never buy us toys from Zayre's because everything was taken out of the packages and laying in the middle of the isle. I remember watching a guy pick up a box of candy, open it and eat it as he shopped. I wonder why they went out of business? The one I remember was in Linwood Square in Indianapolis.

[amme9nowlin]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!­!! THROWBACK!!! Zayre which became Ames and then I remember Venture. when I was finally able to affored to buy my own clothes these places were gone!!! I haven't set foot in a K-Mart in ages either!

[crowamonghens]

our zayre was the one at 87th and harlem in bridgeview, illinois. i remember how the entire front of the store was window, the dark little snack bar in the back with the purple kool-aid machine, and my sisters buying those yarn hair ropes that came in a bunch.

[Comptekhs]

I would take all the other retail stores in the world except crappy walmart I miss all of these retail stores such as Ames, Hills, Zayre etc..... not every retail store looks the same ever walmart chain going down the road. I really miss the popcorn-snack place at Hills-Ames

[jinxkies]

loved the Zayres in North Reading Mass!!! miss those day,,Jesus,,my hub proposed to me in a Zayres parking lot in Woburn back in'88,,how sad is that,,,,Zayres,,,now i miss Bradlees!!!

[chrissylm37]

I use to love Zayre. I actually found one of their plastic shopping bags in my attic.

[mojorisen74]

Zayre was my favorite department store. There was one less than 5 minutes from my house when I was a kid. That's where we got all the toys!

[cutiefrog007]

Take another look at Zayre! I wish I could take another look. :)

[MsTexas73]

I'll NEVER forget Zayre either...My Mom bought my Huffy Sweet Thunder bike from there when I was about 7. It was my first REGULAR size bike *My first bike aside form a tricycle was a purple huffy but it was shorter* We got MOST of my school clothes and summer clothes from Zayre, Gold Circle and Gaylord's....May Company, Sears and JC PEnny were for special occasions like Christmas, Easter, and birthdays.

[vicki822]

I used to go to Zayre after school when I was in early high school to pick up some turquoise mascara (Yes, I was a teen in the '80s) or some orange spray-on hair color. I wonder, what memories can a modern teen make with Target and Wal-Mart?

[44skins]

Great question with a sad answer....not any memories worth remembering!!

[PinkStupidity]

I miss this store!! I remember getting a purple sweatshirt with a brown furry bear on the front, when I was in 7th grade, from Zayre's, back in the late 80's. Then they got bought out by that stupid Ames, and now Ame's is gone too. :(

[bijeto]

I still miss Zayre. I think they were all bought out by K-Mart around '78 here in Missouri. I remember they had a great toy selection and free shoehorns with the Zayre logo on them in the shoe department. Thanks for posting this.

[Del655]

Thanks for the comment. Those shoehorns can be found now and then on Ebay.

[thejoint25]

We still had one in Indiana in the late 80's.

[44skins]

Ya know,nowaday's a store would NEVER give anything away for free.Much less on a regular basis! God,I cant even imagine a store doing that these day's!!! BOTTOM LINE PEOPLE...BOTTOM LINE!!(terrible how thing's are!)

[untakentim]

ahh...what fond memories of this fabulous store...a perfect iconic 70's store...those oranges & that star/astrerik...I found one of their witches brooms I labled my "Minnie Pearl" broon for it STILL had the price tag on it...price back then?...:$1.49...I will NEVER forget this store...ZAYRE FOREVER!!!

[Sorvea]

we had a Zayre and right below it was a Red Food Store. This was in Chattanooga TN. While my dear mom was chekcing out, my older brother would take me up and down that BIG HUGE escalador that conected the 2 stores. He would take me up and down as many times as I liked

[tiradorfranco2]

Wow, the memories! I will always fondly remember Zayre as the discount store where all their merchandise was always all over the floor for some reason!

[Del655]

and at my store the a/c was usually out or turned off. Not pleasant shopping during an Alabama summer. I still miss the dump anyway.

[Sorvea]

they got bad in the last few years. kinda like a big lots or tuesday morning

[gwendolynko]

speaking of other stores, who remembers Railroad Salvage hahah! Now that was one tacky store! My parents dragged us there every now and then when we went down to visit our grandparents in Ct. ugh!!!!!!!!!

[elc1960]

@gwendolynko Yup, here I am responding to a 2 year old YouTube post. I remember Railroad Salvage! Ruby and "Choo Choo" Vine - they did all their own commercials (the absolute height of cheese in New England TV ads). The ads used to end with a cartoon drawing of "ChooChoo" riding a train and the store locations on the screen. Here in RI we have a chain similar now - Building #19, with a lot of the same crap Railroad Salvage used to have.

[gwendolynko]

wow, thanks for posting! I worked at the home office in Framingham in the late 80's while they were knocking our building down and putting up the TJMaxx building up! Cool to see the commercial! Seems sooooo long ago! lol!

[msmith6477]

for the guys reading this, do you recall the mindblower car speakers they sold in the automotive dept?

[jimtodd]

Oh the horror, I was a stock boy at Zayre in the late 80's. I'll never forget the repulsive orange vests we had to wear.

[heine71]

Zayre envolved in Ames in 1988-1990.

[mthivier]

Anyone else over 40 remember Mammoth Mart?

[garymc310]

I'm not even 40 and I remember Mammoth Mart!

[werewolfantipaladin]

Oh Lord Mammoth Mart....bought out by Kings in the late 70's if I remember right. I used get my Atari 2600 games there

[Decutta]

Man this brings back memoriesssss!!! Who rembers Richway damn I remember getting my Atari 2600 games frome there.

[mokos23]

Why did Zayre and Venture in the 70s have that ugly orange wallpaper and orange carpet?

[spjunkie]

"Earth Tones" were the rage in the 70's. Tons of chains used them.. Howard Johnson's, Denny's, Caldor, etc.

[KidAJonni]

maybe the orange color was a big thing in the 70's,, the Brady Bunch had an ornage wall in their kitchen and that was in the 70's, lol

[RoverDaddy]

Burnt orange and avocado green were both big in the 70s, sometimes even in the same decor (yuck!)

[KidAJonni]

hey i think people in the UK have their walls orange and green now, lol

[KidAJonni]

hey does anyone know why the videos on here arent viewable? The screen is black and the bar isnt there??

[bassrocker35]

Remember Zayre's Shopper's City when I was a kid. Wish there were still places like that

[Joelomite]

There used to be one 8 minutes from my house in Miami, FL. Now it's a Home Depot & Office Max. I'll never forget the 3 spires it had on the ugly brown facade. There was a bar, arcade and about 3 other mini restaurants in and around the actual store. By the checkout counters, they had about 5 arcade games and a few of those coin-op pony ride machines. My mom got me a TON of GI Joes and Ectoplasm from Zayre's back in the day....Memories.

[chabba77]

We had Zayre in Minnesota back in the 70s, only the ones here were huge. They were like the Super Walmarts of today, with groceries, automotive service/gas, furniture, and a barber shop. By 1980, they closed all their Minnesota stores.

[beatlegirl9977]

Oh my god, we just about lived at Zayre when I was a kid. My mother dragged me there almost every weekend.

[sych0]

I used to go to the Zayre in or around Weymouth MA as a kid. I loved all those department stores. Now theyre all walmarts :(

[KidAJonni]

hey i lived in weymouth , now im in Attleboro. I think the Zayre in Weymouth was on rte 18. I know in the 90's there was an Ames on rte 18 so i assume thats where Zayre's was. Now its a different store name in that spot. Rte 18 in that area has changed alot in the last 3 years. They widened rte 18 road off the rte 3 south exit.

[AsBaile]

Worked there from 1985 to 1988. Went back when it was bought out by Ames. They sucked after that.

[weatherguru76]

Wow, a Zayre ad. I thought they'd only be a part of my memory! Had a few Zayres in Tampa. One's now an unemployment office, the other two I know of are grocery stores. Another Zayre or Woolco-like store to compete with Walmart would be nice nowadays.

[Del655]

My local Zayre was in Hoover,Al. and is now a Burlington Coat Factory. Used to love those Midnight Madness sales Zayre would have. Thankfully they're building a Target close to my home so finally we'll have an alternative to Wal-Mart. Of course there is always Big Lots too.

[70s80s]

I used to love the "disco" versions of the Zayre ads so much! But my mom would never take me there. Guess she was more of a Marshall Field's person. :(

[4071104]

The place where Zayre used to be in Cleveland is now a church, I would love to have Zayre around for Christmas...

[drmagic]

i had a Zayre around the corner from my house...now it's a ghetto shopping mall

[ofucup]

i worked for Zayre!! Great Store!