Business

Remember Eckerd, Burdines, Spec’s, Levitz and other lost stores of South Florida?

By Miami Herald Archives

Updated September 19, 2025 11:57 AM

It’s shopping day. Maybe we’ll head to Jordan Marsh and Burdines for some clothes and then to Spec’s for the latest LP.

Then we’ll drive to Grand Union and Food Fair to pick up some groceries.

We need a new floppy disk player so we’ll stop by Incredible Universe and then pick up our prescription at Eckerd Drugs. And then we’ll surprise our loved one with a fondue set from Service Merchandise.

If you shopped in any of these stores in South Florida, you remember. So let’s take a walk down memory lane through the photo archives of the Miami Herald:

Blockbuster

Customers visit a Blockbuster south of Miramar Parkway on University Drive in Broward County in 1993. — Customers visit a Blockbuster south of Miramar Parkway on University Drive in Broward County in 1993. Miami Herald File

A customer at Blockbuster in South Florida. — A customer at Blockbuster in South Florida. Jon Kral Miami Herald File

A Blockbuster Video store at Alton Road and 15th Street in 1995. — A Blockbuster Video store at Alton Road and 15th Street in 1995. Miami Herald File

Woolworth and Woolco

Shoppers leave through the back entrance of a Miami Woolworth store in 1994. — Shoppers leave through the back entrance of a Miami Woolworth store in 1994. C. W. Griffin Miami Herald File

Woolworth on Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. — Woolworth on Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. Miami Herald File

Inside a Woolco department store in Miami-Dade County. — Inside a Woolco department store in Miami-Dade County. Tim Chapman Miami Herald

Sound Advice and Incredible Universe

A store manager previews the surround sound experience at Sound Advice in Corla Gables. — A store manager previews the surround sound experience at Sound Advice in Corla Gables. C.W. Griffin Miami Herald File

Customers look at computers at Incredible Universe store near Miami International Airport in 1995. — Customers look at computers at Incredible Universe store near Miami International Airport in 1995. Patrick Farrell Miami Herald File

Levitz and Modernage

We loved it at Levitz. — We loved it at Levitz. Bob East Miami Herald File

A Levitz store.

Modernage furniture store and warehouse in South Florida. — Modernage furniture store and warehouse in South Florida. Albert Coya Miami Herald

Eckerd and Phar-Mor

Eckerd Drugs at 14th Street and Alton Road in South Beach. — Eckerd Drugs at 14th Street and Alton Road in South Beach. Albert Coya Miami Herald

Sally Gomez, manager at Eckerd Optical, at Bayside. — Sally Gomez, manager at Eckerd Optical, at Bayside. Al Diaz Miami Herald

A manager stocks the shelves ay Phar-Mor at Sawgrass Mills mall. — A manager stocks the shelves ay Phar-Mor at Sawgrass Mills mall. Patrick Farrell Miami Herald

Grand Union and Food Fair

A customer outside a Grand Union grocery store in the 1970s. — A customer outside a Grand Union grocery store in the 1970s. Miami Herald File

A Food Fair in Florida, a precursor to Pantry Pride, Hyde Park and Woolley’s.. — A Food Fair in Florida, a precursor to Pantry Pride, Hyde Park and Woolley’s.. State Library & Archives of Florida

Spec’s, Peaches and B. Dalton

Spec’s in the 1950s. — Spec’s in the 1950s. Miami Herald File

Inside Peaches record store in Fort Lauderdale. — Inside Peaches record store in Fort Lauderdale. Miami Herald File

B. Dalton Booksellers in the Omni mall. — B. Dalton Booksellers in the Omni mall. Bob East Miami Herald File

Burdines, Jordan Marsh, Jefferson, Syms, Kress, Service Merchandise

Burdines in downtown Miami.

Jordan Marsh in Fort Lauderdale. — Jordan Marsh in Fort Lauderdale. Miami Herald File

A new South Florida Jefferson store in 1962. — A new South Florida Jefferson store in 1962. Miami Herald File

The Kress store on Flagler Street in Miami at the time it was going out of business in 1980. — The Kress store on Flagler Street in Miami at the time it was going out of business in 1980. Bob East Miami Herald File

Syms at 5300 NW 12th Ave. in Miami. — Syms at 5300 NW 12th Ave. in Miami. Miami Herald File

Jordan Marsh interior. — Jordan Marsh interior. John Pineda Miami Herald File

Service Merchandise in Hialeah.

This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 11:40 AM.