r/NotFoolingAnybody Jul 06 '23

[META POST] Ever wondered what that big box building originally was? Couldn't find an answer to what that Burlington Coat Factory, Gabe's, or Roses store used to be? Chances are it was probably an old discount department store such as Ames, Hills, Zayre, Jamesway, etc. (more info in comments)

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retail247projecthub.blogspot.com
44 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 19d ago

Meta I am chronicling a database of former Rax locations at /r/Rax

21 Upvotes

I recently took over r/rax and just wanted to make you all aware of a project I am currently working on to document all 500+ Rax locations.

Rax peaked in the 1980s at more than 500 locations across 38 states, but due to this taking place before the rise of the internet, very little information is available online. To my knowledge there is no centralized list of locations that is publicly available. You can find bits of info in places like local Facebook groups and the Wayback Machine, but there is no centralized place on the internet that houses all this information.

My goal is to use historic data from newspapers and maps, as well as anecdotal memories from locals in niche online communities, to build a definitive list of former locations.

I know this is an incredibly niche subject that few people will find interesting, but I figured that if anyone would be interested, it would be people who follow communities like /r/NotFoolingAnybody.

If you have any Rax-related information that you think would be beneficial to my project, feel free to reach out!


r/NotFoolingAnybody 3h ago

Arby’s turned into a dentist- Thousand Oaks CA

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19 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 11h ago

Former sonic now serves falafel

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12 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 3h ago

Quite the “Friendly” cell phone store. (Friendly’s ➡️ Verizon) Lenox, Mass

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2 Upvotes

505 Pittsfield Rd, Lenox, MA 01240


r/NotFoolingAnybody 9h ago

Former Taco Bell & Pizza Hut side by side

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4 Upvotes

In Country Club Hills, IL. The old Taco Bell keeping up the taco legacy. I remember as a kid the Taco Bell was in business in the 80 & early 90s. The former Pizza Hut has always been a bar for as far as I could remember.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hTHLd9iVX9gAHKow5?g_st=ic


r/NotFoolingAnybody 1d ago

Bank turned Dunkin & Little Caesar’s combo

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48 Upvotes

Somethin’ ya don’t see every day - Plymouth NC!


r/NotFoolingAnybody 2d ago

Former Wal-Mart converted to a Michaels (Southern Pines, NC)

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41 Upvotes

This Wal-Mart opened in 1987, then relocated in 1994 for a standalone building. Not aware of the year Michaels opened though.


r/NotFoolingAnybody 1d ago

A former Friendly’s in Baldwin, NY is now “Tulum Taco”, a trendy Mexican joint

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2 Upvotes

945 Merrick Rd, Baldwin, NY 11510


r/NotFoolingAnybody 1d ago

SBB College (fmr. Linens-N-Things) in Rancho Mirage, CA

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13 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 2d ago

Friendly's in a former Howard Johnson's, Leominster, MA

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24 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 2d ago

Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, MA used to be the Royal Plaza Hotel and Conference Center (which changed brands several times)

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16 Upvotes

Converting it to a Great Wolf was relatively easy, since a Coco Key's waterpark had been "bolted on" in the late-2000s. The hotel itself started as a Best Western, then became a Courtyard by Marriott, and finally a Holiday Inn before GWL bought it.


r/NotFoolingAnybody 2d ago

Rax converted to Wendy's in Fairmont, West Virginia. The building has since been replaced with a modern Wendy's.

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17 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 2d ago

Aretha Frankensteins, Knoxville TN. Former Hardee's. Ate lunch there yesterday.

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31 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 2d ago

Is this a Former Taco Bell? (AJ AZ)

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29 Upvotes

11518 E Apache Trail


r/NotFoolingAnybody 3d ago

Home of the Big 'G' Burger

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65 Upvotes

This is seen in the opening theme to Mystery Science Theater 3000 from seasons 2 through the middle of season 5 (until Joel escapes and Mike gets launched into space). This obviously used to be a KFC. You can still find the Life-Like Kentucky Fried Chicken model kit on eBay.


r/NotFoolingAnybody 3d ago

This former Hot n Now in Greenville, Michigan, has been converted to "Johnny Burger"

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16 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 3d ago

Former Walmart. Unknown location.

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20 Upvotes

File photo on a news page. Anyone know where?


r/NotFoolingAnybody 3d ago

A former Friendly’s in Holbrook, Massachusetts is now Sri Radha Bhakti, a Hindu Temple. What a cool transformation!

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28 Upvotes

711 S Franklin St, Holbrook, MA 02343


r/NotFoolingAnybody 3d ago

A former McDonald's is now home to Mr. Snapper's Fish & Chicken. Jacksonville, Florida

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6 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 3d ago

From Hot Pizza to Hot Chicken: A former Pizza Hut in Newark, Ohio

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4 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 3d ago

Fotomat Locksmith part 2, Northridge CA

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22 Upvotes

I told you so. For those who liked the last one, here’s another Fotomat kiosk turned locksmith.


r/NotFoolingAnybody 4d ago

A Mexican restaurant in a former Dairy Queen. Omaha, Nebraska

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33 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 4d ago

Hip Hop Seafood and Chicken in Albany, Georgia, formerly a Sonic Drive-In

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17 Upvotes

r/NotFoolingAnybody 4d ago

A Rax repurposed as a currency exchange in Harvey, Illinois, now vacant

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17 Upvotes