Throwback chains: Korvette, Crazy Eddie, Horn & Hardarts, Two Guys ... but wait, there's more!

Photo credit: Urbanite

Our weekly Throwback Thursday feature shows up Friday morning, but hey, we've got a good one. amNY on Friday takes a look at a story you don't really need our cover to understand -- chain stores are everywhere. Long gone are the days when the Astor Place K-Mart was viewed as some sort of bizarre interloper. (Imagine, a K-Mart visible from the No. 6 train!)

Nevertheless, our intent is not to go on another screed against the mallifacation of Manhattan -- there is always another time for that. Rather, let's, for a moment, remember some chains we didn't mind so much, chains that were distinct parts of NYC's identity, not emblems of the city's suburbanization.

Urbanite put together this handy list of vanished chains. The names may or may not be familiar, but, below, we've included a few commercials to remind you of the chains of yore. And one more thought: If you happen to be newish to the city, and somehow never heard of the antics of Crazy Eddie and his insane prices, well, consider this your lucky blog post.

E. J. Korvette

Here's the story of this lost chain. And below is a jingle that'll have you bopping along all day.

Crazy Eddie

The electronics chain was represented by actor Jerry Carroll, who despite popular perception was not Crazy Eddie Antar.

Two Guys

We save money for you at Two Guys, naturally! Check out commercials here and here.

Horn & Hardart

No commercials for the automats, but here's a frustratingly short but interesting clip of a Horn & Hardart toward the end of its life.

Pergament Home Centers

Here's a visit to a Franklin Square Pergament ... in 1987!

Kleinsleep

We could find no commercials or other video, but we'll leave you with the jingle: Have more fun at Kleinsleep, and have more fun in bed!

M.H. Lamston's

The variety-shop chain vanished in the 1980s. We could find no photos or video of this Woolworth-like chain. Send 'em along if you have any.

Caldor

We refer you to an earlier edition of Throwback Thursday for your Caldor fix.

Alexander’s

Who can resist this commercial for discount chain Alexander's? (One of its locations is now home to the Bloomberg tower, which tells you plenty about how NYC has changed in 20 years.)

Ohrbach's

via tetetetempo on Flickr

Here's the story of the late discount-store chain. It began in Union Square and eventually branched out to Los Angeles.

Your Turn

Please share your memories of these and other New York-area chains.

-- Rolando Pujol

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