Monday, December 29, 2008

Six stores I'd love to see go bankrupt

This year, many businesses will go belly up. It's sad and unfortunate but the economy is in shambles and.... what the fark am I talking about this isn't a god damn economics blog.

Let me dumb this down to my level. Stores are closing. There are stores I hate and I feel serve no purpose in the lives of normal folk. I wish they would close. These are those stores.....(Ed note-got nothing against the people working in these stores. They are doing the work of angels.)

1.) Arby's- Save it Arby's fans, the place is a dump. First of all, I will never eat a product that is simply called 'beef.' The Beef & Cheddar. The Beef & Grundle. Beef is a tricky way of saying 'slices of unknown vermin.' I had a "Roast Beef & god knows what" as a kid and it was like biting into the arm fat of an old Italian woman (except not as slimy).

2.) Abercrombie & Fitch- This store only works in California, Florida or places with year- round warm weather. People don't need to dress like surfers in 40 degree weather. The only time kids in rural Louisiana get to surf is during hurricane season. And the prices are obscene. I don't mind paying good money for clothing but I'm not paying $60 for the same faded polo as the kid in the food court who just took a pic of his junk and posted it on Twitter (what can I say, I am a follower of his). If I wanted 100 holes in my jeans I'd keep stealing them from the homeless shelter (same time I pick up my free lunch). And can we get the open cologne bottle out of the god damn ventilation system for a couple hours? I could smell the store all the way down by Auntie Anne's and frankly it made me so sick I could barely finish my Glazin Raisin.

3.) All Movie Theaters- Name the last time you had an enjoyable movie experience. I didn't ask the last time you saw a good movie. The movie has nothing to do with it. When was the last time you went to the movies, everyone showed up before the movie started, sat down, turned off their cells phones, stuck an overpriced box of Goobers in their 6-month-old kid's mouth, shut the hell up and watched the movie. It's an outdated concept. People can no longer do things quietly in large groups. Except mime orgies. Those still work.

4.) Blockbuster- I am counting the days my friend. It's only a matter of time. Hollywood Video- GONE. West Coast Video-OUT. Movie Gallery-BU-BYE. I will dance on your grave and piss on your three hundred copies of American Pie: Band Camp. Remember that extra $10 you charged me in late fees for not returning Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory even though I dropped it in the overnight box a day early? Payback is a delicious, everlasting Gobstopper of a bitch.

5.) Jo-Ann Fabrics- Somebody wake up the cross-stitchers, scrapbookers, and the old ladies that embellish their own sweaters with pretty buttons and dazzly cat faces, they just passed out at the mere thought of their beloved Jo-Ann Fabrics ceasing to exist. What will they ever do with their time? Oh, how about...have a life! Look, everyone needs a hobby. These aren't hobbies. They are activities invented to shut kids up at summer camp. Those kids never grew up. Dear Aunt Darlene, I don't need a new sweater that has all the New York Giants names and numbers stitched into the back. And it's Manning. Not Manling. Imagine if Jo-Ann did fold and the company had a clearance sale? Quacker Factory broads throwing punches over yards of flowered fabrics. Absolute carnage.

6.) Spencer's- This move could cripple the penis pop manfucturers and naked chick/rock band poster printers the world over but does this store really serve a purpose? Have you ever in your life said 'I just have to run to Spencer's for...' If you have you were probably looking for something obscure like an OLD FART trucker hat for your dad that was funny for the first 11 seconds and now sits in his closet next to his catheter. Spencer's tricked me once by closing my local store for about a year but then it opened up new and improved with double the coin bank/pants dropper statues. I hope the Hot Topic emo workers burn it to the ground in a gang battle.

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26 comments:

Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter) said...

There you go, dissin Jo-Ann's again. Spencer's - I didn't even think those existed anymore, but I am totally with ya on A&F and Blockbuster...really what is the point?

Anonymous said...

HA, I love your list Chris. Arby's needs to die. (not the persons, but the corprate entity) Only thig they got going for them is the potato cakes. May I add a couple to your list? from the atlantic south east I nominate - drum roll.... Hardees, Shoney's and Radio Shack. And dare I say it... JC Penny; Their gonna go the way of Montgmery Ward and Western Auto I fear. Hope you had a great Christmas/Hannukaua ( I sure did, 500+ mile trip by car, and worth every bit of it to be with my extendened family) Say hello to your wife. She must be a saint to put up with the likes of you. ( just kidding, Happy New Year to you Both)
Tom

Mark Skull said...

...but, I LOVE Arby's. There are so few... well, one, actually, in Philly.

Illuminati said...

Heather- The sooner you give up Jo-Ann the better we ALL shall be.

Tom- Good choices. What about Sears too. Ugh. Never a fan.

Mark- Come to the burbs, they are more prevalent than street lights!

Mitch Martin said...

Your point about the "beef" is well taken but I can't let them go just yet. Despite the fact that I only eat them twice a year their curly fries are cash-fucking-money and for me that's enough to let them float.

Illuminati said...

I knew people would defend Arby's.

I might give them a reprive but only after I taste these 'cash fucking money' fries and make my own decision.

I ain't touching that beef though.

Jilletante said...

Get a milkshake while you're sampling he curly fries. You'll change your mind right-quick.

(And for whatever it's worth, I actually like Arby's sandwiches. I haven't had one in years, but they used to be standard lunchtime cuisine when I was in high school and we could go off campus for lunch.)

Greg Mescall said...

I have to disagree on two fronts, first the Arbys. Can the beef and cheddar be digusting? Definitely. But they have other good things going on there like the Chicken Sandwich or their shakes. They also at one point had bacon and cheese potato bites, i'm not sure how good they were but at least they had the nuts to give it a shot.

Secondly, the movies. I know the cost is ridiculous and I think that is what everyone gets caught up in now. The whole experience hasn't changed much outside of the snack bar offering a ridiculous amount of items and sodas large enough to come with a hand truck. But the price has gone up repeatedly and that along with an occasional bomb at the box office has ruined the fun for some. Personally I'll take my 72 oz pepsi, my 3 pound box of sno caps, and my fast and the furious 4 (coming this summer) and be totally content.

Greg Mescall said...

An addendum to my previous comment, I'd like to add I know people that saw Dark Knight in Imax this past summer and are just now finally losing their erections. That only happens at a theater.

Jennifer said...

May I also add Claire's, Piercing Pagoda, Fashion Bug, Modell's, whatever the little cart/store's are in the middle of the mall with creepy men trying to rub lotion on passing shoppers are call and Easy Pickins.

Illuminati said...

Ok, you people are convincing me to try Arby's once and blog about it. All in favor say YO!

Jen-Yes, I hate those people. I also hate Plumb Gold.

Tracer Bullet said...

I happen to like Modell's. They have the best supply of utterly unnecessary yet completely indispensable Eagles crap of any establishment in the greater Philadelphia area. Did I really need that plastic rain poncho with the Eagles logo or those Eagles logo Xmas lights or that Eagles helmet chip-n-dip holder? Yes, yes I did and I found it all completely indispensable.

MoonDog said...

Bed Bath & Beyond. My God man, you forgot Bed Bath & Beyond. All Hail Home Depot!

Anonymous said...

CLOSE HOT FUCKING TOPIC. GOD, I go in that store just to remind myself of how normal I am.

Shivers said...

Abercrombie! Hahahaha!! So true!!! I went to the A&F in London earlier this year, and lasted about 20mins in the cologne-soaked store, (darkened to the point of being nightclub-esque!) before having to leave for fear of getting an eating disorder from being surrounded by so many girls in size zero jeans.....

Anonymous said...

I think Arby's is OK. I usually go for the chicken cordon bleu sandwich and the mozzarella sticks (yeah, forget trying to count the calories or fat grams in that meal). I don't really dig the curly fries, they get cold and hard as a rock too fast. As for Hollywood Video/Movie Gallery (it's the same company), they can go to HELL as far as I am concerned. I was laid off from their corporate office last year only to be replaced by a cheaper contract worker. They are complete slimeballs and deserve a painful demise for their lack of competence as a business. Of course, I never used their video stores when I worked there, but who does anymore? NetFlix, RedBox or Hulu.com. Good post!

Frank said...

I think we are going to see some big electronic box stores go under, time for me to shop for that new tv.

Jessica P. Wallin said...

My vote is for Hot Topic, though South Park covered that one pretty well.

Anyway, just hopping on here to say Happy New Year's! Hope you and yours have a safe and happy one!

Charlotte said...

Hahahah! This is Illuminati at your finest! I laughed so hard that you made me (made me!!) agree with you. You're like a humor terrorist. This was my favorite line: "The only time kids in rural Louisiana get to surf is during hurricane season. "

Illuminati said...

Jebb- Happy New Year to you too

Char- thank you. You've have made me blush.

Tyler said...

hahaha what a wonderful blog.
excellent, you voice your opinions well and I agree, Movie Theatres, Blockbuster, and A & F are garbage.
I thought I'd post and thank you for this blog.
if you get time, please check out my blog!
http://tylerstunna.blogspot.com/

Beej the Pink Sheep said...

To quote the Bible, "Arby's, have I loved. Carl's Jr, have I hated." ...or something like that. Their curly fries and jamocha shakes are the bomb.
I would like to add lamp and candle shops to the list. Everywhere I turn there is a new candle shop or store that sells nothing but lamps! Don't these people know you can buy both of those at Target already? And for cheaper?

Illuminati said...

Beej- The bible mentions Carl's Jr? You must read it often to know that little nugget of info.

Jon, Juliann, Anna, Andrew said...

Totally LOVE this! I completely agree with you! I also agree with some of the other comments...JC Penny, Mervyn's, KMart...they've all got to go, too!

Juliann Peacock said...

Sorry - gotta add another one:

SIZZLER.

Quiddity said...

Arby's should die because they're slow and expensive. If you're going to eat crap, it should be really, really cheap.

Blockbuster should die because EVERYONE has the same "I know I turned it in early and still got charged a late fee" story. Oh, and because now that they have the "no late fee" program, they spam call your phone to remind you that your movie is due, even though it really can't be because there's no such thing as late anymore, but it's good that they DO call because although it can't be "late," it can be "bought," which you will find out when you keep it too long and see the purchase show up on your credit card bill - the card which they make you update so that they can keep it on file, which is just trouble in waiting and why the hell did I even give it to them in the first place, I HATE THEM!!

Spencer's cannot die, because it is pure entertainment.

But I'll propose a trade - take Circuit City instead. Oh, wait a minute ...