I grew up in a small town in the 1980s and loved it.
Lets take a nostalgic journey through these once-familiar fixtures and see whats become of them today.
I thoroughly enjoyed writing this and taking a brief trip down memory lane.
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It was easy because these are the things I grew up with but arent really a thing anymore.
In my day the cassette reigned supreme.
Visiting record store was a ritual part of our trip to the mall.
Today, most small-town record shops have disappeared due to digital music consumption and streaming services.
The few survivors typically focus on vinyl records, catering to collectors and enthusiasts in a niche market.
Record Store Day has helped revitalize interest, but these shops remain specialty businesses rather than mainstream retailers.
They were affordable entertainment for families and popular date spots for teenagers.
Our town did not have a drive-in during my day but many towns did.
Interestingly, some have seen resurgences during the pandemic and as nostalgia attractions.
A few communities have even built new drive-ins to recapture that lost communal experience.
Local Newspapers
The local newspaper was the information backbone of 1980s small-town life.
The newspaper office was often a downtown fixture.
Not only did our family get the local paper, I delivered it.
Delivering the local paper was one of my first jobs.
Today, thousands of local papers have closed due to declining advertising revenue and readership.
Many survivors have drastically reduced staff or shifted to digital-only formats.
In fact, I had many friends who had great part-time jobs in high school as a gas-jockey.
Today, full-service stations have been largely replaced by self-service pumps and convenience stores.
Family-Owned Department Stores
Downtown department stores were anchors of small-town commerce in the 1980s.
I remember spending many afternoons with my siblings and mom shopping for school clothes or whatever we needed.
Today, most small-town department stores have closed, unable to compete with big-box retailers and online shopping.
Families and teenagers would browse the aisles, debating choices while employees offered recommendations.
By the late 1980s, practically every small town had at least one video store.
It was fun; it was part of a movie night.
Today, these once-thriving businesses have virtually disappeared, victims of streaming services like Netflix and digital distribution.
Everyone from teenagers calling for rides to travelers keeping in touch depended on them.
Today, pay phones have nearly vanished from the American landscape.
The few remaining examples serve areas with poor cell coverage or exist as historical curiosities.
The ubiquity of cell phones has made this once-essential public utility obsolete.
While much on this list I miss, public phones are not one of them.
Milk Delivery Services
We enjoyed delivered milk during my younger years.
Ours was delivered in sturdy one-liter bags in the aptly named milk crates.
By the 1980s, home milk delivery was already declining but still existed in many small towns.
These services were particularly valued by families with young children and elderly residents who appreciated the convenience.
Today, traditional milk delivery has virtually disappeared, replaced by supermarket shopping.
These establishments often included arcades and snack bars, making them one-stop entertainment venues.
While I never was an avid bowler, our town had both five and ten-pin options.
I went a few times.
they were a town staple for many.
Today, many small-town bowling alleys have closed due to changing recreation preferences and maintenance costs.
Today, many independent diners have closed, replaced by fast-food and chain restaurants.
I spent many summer afternoons at the local outdoor pool.
It was a highlight of my summers.
Today, many community pools have closed due to maintenance costs and liability concerns.
Those that remain often operate with reduced hours and higher fees.
These theaters drew everyone from teenage couples on dates to families for weekend matinees.
Our town had one theater with four screens.
It was a regular Friday night outing for many years.
Today, most have been replaced by multiplex theaters in larger towns or have closed entirely.
These institutions were particularly important to local business owners, farmers, and families seeking mortgages.
To make matters worse, many bank branches no longer have tellers.
It happened to my local branch and its very annoying.
These establishments were popular with teenagers showing off cars and families looking for casual dining experiences.
Today, traditional drive-ins with carhop service are rare, though chains like Sonic maintain the format.
The owner knew everyone.
While Im not terribly handy, I enjoyed checking out all the stuff the store had to offer.
Survivors often focus on specialized service, convenience, and community connections that larger competitors cant match.
I was a kid growing up in the 80s so too young to partake of this dying institution.
Those that remain often serve as important community anchors, especially in small towns with limited social venues.
Even small towns often had an arcade, either standalone or within a bowling alley or mall.
While I was too young for the pub, I certainly wasnt for the arcade.
The arcade was the after-school place to go.
I wasnt never a big video game nut but enjoyed the social scene.
Today, traditional arcades are rare, with most surviving examples located in larger cities or tourist areas.
Malls quickly became teenage hangouts and weekend destinations for families.
Id have just enough money for a lunch.
Once in a blue moon Id have extra for some shopping.
It was the place we socialized and hung out.
And wow, did I have some great Saturday afternoons at our local roller rink.
If lucky, one of our parents drove us.
If not, we biked or took the bus.
The few that remain often survive by diversifying their offerings or capitalizing on periodic skating revivals.
Independent Bookstores
Small-town bookstores offered curated selections and personalized recommendations before the era of online algorithms.
These shops served avid readers, students, and professionals seeking specific titles.
In my later teens and early twenties, I discovered reading.
In no time flat, I traded in the roller rink for bookstores.
For six or seven years I spent hours and hours and hours in local bookstores.
Local bookstores were also my number one destination when traveling.
Today, many independent bookstores closed following competition from chain retailers and then Amazon.
