Mego Retailers: Stores from the Good ol' Days
This article is the result of the collective knowledge of Mego Museum Message Board members, who contributed their memories in an effort to catalog every retailer that sold Mego toys back in the day! Special thanks to everyone who participated in this project. You know who you are, and you rock.
The following 1979 pie-chart details the different store categories, revealing the overall percentage of toy sales each category accounted for that year.
Here's the breakdown of toy sales in 1979, by category:
27%: General Merchandise Chains (e.g. Sears)
24%: Toy Wholesalers (e.g. Greenman Bros.)
11%: Toy Specialty Chains (e.g. Kiddie City)
10%: Variety Chains (e.g. S.S. Kresge)
9%: Department Stores (e.g. Aldens)
8%: Mail Order and Catalog Sales (e.g. Heroes World)
8%: Other Outlets (I don't know what this means. Perhaps Mark Huckabone's Garage?)
2%: Drug Chains (e.g. Drug Fair)
1%: Supermarkets
Do you remember where mom and dad (or grandma and grandpa) bought all those wonderful toys for you? Hopefully, that favorite store is on the list below. If not, please be sure to let me know!
| Search by Retailer Name: | ||
| 0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ||
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - 0-9 | NOTES |
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2 Guys | See: "Two Guys" |
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3D | In Indiana, 3D was a larger scale version of Danner's Discount Department Store (Hence, "3D"). One particular 3D store had a gumball machine selling Mego Apes stickers, and closed around Christmas 1986. |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - A | NOTES |
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Ace Hardware |
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Alco |
Variety store chain in the Midwest and Southwest. Founded in 1968, a spin-off of Duckwall, a small "dime" store. |
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Aldens |
Chicago-area Department Store. See also: "Aldens Christmas Catalog" |
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Aldens Christmas Catalog |
See also: "Aldens" Available: 1973-1978 Pictured: 1974 Super-Gals (Wonder Woman & Batgirl) |
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Alexander's | New York Department store (1967-1992). |
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American Sales | |
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Ames | Connecticut-based Department store (1958-2002) |
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Armed Forces (U.S.) | See: "BX" |
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Ayr-Way | Indianapolis, IN Discount Chain founded in 1961 by Department store Ayres. Acquired in 1980 by Dayton-Hudson (now Target). |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - B | NOTES |
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Barker's | Pictured: MIB "Solid Box" Batman ($1.99) Related Blog: "Solid Box" Price Stickers |
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Bellas Hess | At least one in Montgomery, AL |
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Belscot | |
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Ben Franklin |
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Best Products | Pictured: MOC ©1975b Spider-Man ($4.95) Related Blog: "Best Products" |
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Big D | Pictured: MIB "Solid Box" Superman ($2.19) Related Blog: "Solid Box" Price Stickers |
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Big N | Pictured: MOC "1st Issue" Mego-branded Penguin card ($2.77) |
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Bradlee's | Discount Department store (1958-2001) |
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Buy Rite | |
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BX | U.S. Armed Forces retailer, also known as "Base Exchange" |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - C | NOTES |
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Caldor | Discount Department store founded in Port Chester, NY (1951-1999) |
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Captain Company | Mail Order Company. Toys were available through Warren Publications (e.g. Eerie, Creepy, Vampirella) |
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Charlie's 5 & 10 | |
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Children's Palace | See also: "Child World/Children's Palace" Pictured: MIB "Old Logo" Lizard ($2.77) |
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Child World | See also: "Child World/Children's Palace" |
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Child World/Children's Palace | Founded in Avon, MA. "Child World" brand primarily used East of the Mississippi, while the "Children's Palace" name prevailed in the West. Pictured: MOC "©1979 Pin Pin (France)" Batman ($2.78) |
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Circus World | Founded by "Rite-Aid"; purchased by Greenman Bros. (early supporters of Mego WGSH, operating small chain of Long Island, NY stores called "Playworld") in 1985, who sold the chain to Melville Corporation in 1990; remaining stores were then converted into "Kay-Bee" locations. |
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Cunningham Drugs | |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - D | NOTES |
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Danner's | |
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David's | |
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Dispenses Castle of Toys | |
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Dominion Playworld | Canada |
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Drug Fair | Pharmacy based in Central New Jersey. |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - E | NOTES |
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Eatons | Canada. Department store. |
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Ed Shocks Toys and Hobby | |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - F | NOTES |
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Falks | Department Store |
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Fedco, Inc. | Pictured: MIB "4-digit/Old Logo" Tarzan ($2.30) |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - G | NOTES |
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Ganway Rally | |
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Gaylords | Similar to "Ames" and "Zayres" |
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Gee Bees | |
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Gee Lumber | Similar to Home Depot |
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Gemco | |
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G.C. Murphy | See: "Murphy's 5 & 10 " |
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Gibbons | |
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Gibson's | |
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Gold Circle | Gold Circle, a discount department store founded by Federated in 1967 (in Columbus, Ohio), went out of business in 1988. See also: "Richway" |
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Grandway | Department store. At least one location in Rome, NY |
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Grant's | Department Store. At least one location in Myrtle Beach, SC |
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Grants and Roses | Locations in the Carolinas. |
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Grants City | Department store in Clementon NJ; closed around 1976. |
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Great American | Grocery store. At least one location in Rome, NY. |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - H | NOTES |
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Harpers 5 & 10 | |
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Heroes World | Mail Order Company. Distributed comic book-style product catalogs during the 1970s, featuring illustrations from Joe Kubert, as well as students from the Joe Kubert School of Comic Book Art. |
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Hills | Department Store |
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Howards | Department Store |
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Hudson's Bay | Canada. Department Store. |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - I | NOTES |
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(NONE) | |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - J | NOTES |
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Jamesway | Similar to Caldor, based in NY/NJ. Out of business around 2002 |
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Jack's | |
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JC Penney | Pictured: MIB "4-digit/Old Logo" Batman ($2.99) |
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JC Penney Christmas Catalog | See also: "JC Penney" Pictured: Mailer Boxed 1975 "Fist Fighting" Joker (924-2389A) |
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JJ Newberry | |
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J.M. Fields | |
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Juvenile Sales Co. | At least one in Montgomery County, MD Pictured: MIB Comic Action Heroes "Fortress of Solitude" ($11.48) |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - K | NOTES |
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Kay-Bee | Also known as: "K-B Toys" |
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Kanoff's 5 and 10 | Local, family owned 'five-and-dime' in Rome NY |
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Karl's | Pictured: MOC "©1979 Penguin" ($5.99) |
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KC Toys | Pictured: MOC "©1977b" Robin (Price Unknown) |
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Kiddie City | See "Lionel" |
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Kiddie Corner | |
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Kiddie Land | |
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Kiddie World | Pictured: MIB "Old Logo" Green Goblin ($2.99) |
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KIDS | |
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Kids World | |
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Kings | Picture: MIB "4-digit/Old Logo" Batman ($3.27) |
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Kmart | See also: "S.S. Kresge" |
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Korvette's | |
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Kresge | See: "S.S. Kresge" |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - L | NOTES |
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Linicks | |
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Lionel | Lionel (1900-1993) operated some 150 stores, under the names Toy City, Lionel Kiddie City, Lionel Playworld, Lionel Toy Warehouse, and Lionel Toy Town. Pictured: MIB "Fist Fighting" Joker ($1.91) |
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Lionel Playworld | See "Lionel" Note: Not to be confused with "Playworld" (same name, different retailer) |
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Local Grange, The | |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - M | NOTES |
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Macy*s | |
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Mammoth Mart | |
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Master's | |
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Mason's | |
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Mays Drugs | |
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McCrory's | In 1987, Kmart sold its remaining Kresge and Jupiter stores to "McCrory's" (whose founder, incidentally, helped Kresge founder Sebastian .S. Kresge open the very first Kresge store way back in 1897!) |
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Meijer's | Also known as: "Meijer's Thrifty Acres" |
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Mervyn's | Known today as "Mervyn's California. Pictured: MIB "4-Panel" Tarzan ($1.88) |
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Met, The | |
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Models | Grocery Store |
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Monte Mart | |
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Montgomery Ward | |
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Montgomery Ward Christmas Catalog | See also: "Montgomery Ward" Pictured: MIB 1974 Ward-exclusive "Secret Identity" Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson outfits (48-24713) |
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Morgan & Lindsay | |
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Mr. Wiggs | Pictured: MOC ©1976 Aquaman ($3.99) |
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Murphy Mart | |
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Murphy's 5 & 10 | Also known as "G.C. Murphy" |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - N | NOTES |
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Newberry's | Also known as "J.J. Newberry" |
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Nichols | Department store. At least one location in New Hartford, NY |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - O | NOTES |
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Osco Drug | |
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Otasco | Sold auto supplies, appliances, house wares, fishing, hunting and hardware supplies. While Dad had new tires put on the car, Mom could look at new appliances and kids could explore Toyland upstairs! |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - P | NOTES |
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Pielemier's Drugstore | Small, family-owned store in Bloomfield, Ind. |
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Pinnochio's Toys | Canada |
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Playworld | Small chain based in Long Island, NY, operated by stalwart Mego wholesalers "Greenman Bros." Note: Not to be confused with "Lionel Playworld" (same name, different retailer) |
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P.N. Hirsch | |
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Prange Way | Midwest Discount chain with stores in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota. Bankrupted in 1995. Pictured: MIB "Old Logo" Lizard ($2.97) |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - Q | NOTES |
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(NONE) | |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - R | NOTES |
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Rexall Pharmacy | |
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Rich's | Department store headquartered in Atlanta, GA (1867-2005), sold to Federated stores. See also: "Richway" Pictured: MIB "4-Panel" Captain America ($3.44) |
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Richway | Discount division of Rich's, later purchased by Federated stores. In 1986, Federated merged Richway and Gold Circle discount stores. See also: "Gold Circle" and "Rich's" |
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Ricos | |
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Rockaway Sales | Department Store |
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Rome Bargain Center | Local, family-owned "bargain" department store in Rome, NY |
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Rosberg's | Canada. Local department store in downtown Niagara Falls, ON. |
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Roses | Sold original "Solid" Box WGSH figures! |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - S | NOTES |
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Sav-On Drugs | |
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Sears | Also known as: "Sears, Roebuck & Co." |
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Sears Canada | See: "Simpson's" |
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Service Merchandise | Also "Service Merchandise Catalog Showrrooms" |
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Shopko | At least one location in Wisconsin. |
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Shoppers Drug Mart | Canada. Pharmacy. Pictured: Comic Action Heroes playset ($3.56) |
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Sibley's | |
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Silverberg | Canada (Grand Toys-branded box). Pictured: Micronauts vehicle ($16.99). |
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Simpsons | Canada. See also: "Simpsons Christmas Catalog" In the mid-1970s, "Simpsons" became "Simpsons-Sears LTD.", which became "Sears Canada" in 1978. Pictured: MIB "4-Panel" Spider-Man ($2.49) |
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Simpsons Christmas Catalog | Canada. See also: "Simpsons" Available 1976-1978 Pictured: 1976 Christmas Catalog |
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Skaggs | Pictured: MOC "©1976" Batman ($3.99) |
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Sprouse Ritz | |
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S.S. Kresge | Pictured: MOC "©1976" Shazam! |
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Stars' Department Store | Department Store. At least one in Rome, NY |
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Sterlings | Department Store |
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Styles |
Department Store |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - T | NOTES |
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Target | Pictured: MIB Human Torch ($2.99) Based in Minneapolis, MN |
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TG&Y | |
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Thriftway | |
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Thornbury's | Pictured: MIB Thor ($3.99) |
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Tiny Tots | Local toy store with locations in Bridgewater, NJ and Plainfield, NJ |
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Toby's Toys | At least one location in Montgomery, AL |
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Topps | |
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Tots to Teens | Clothing store in Rome, NY |
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Towers | Canada. Department store eventually bought out by Zellers. |
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Town & Country | |
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Toy Castle | Pictured: MIB "4-digit" Batgirl ($3.98) |
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Toy City | See "Lionel" Pictured: MOC Isis ($3.93) |
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Toy Town | See "Lionel" |
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Toy Village | Pictured: MOC "©1976" Batman ($4.99) |
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Toy Warehouse | See "Lionel" |
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Toys By Rizzi | Pictured: MIB Conan ($4.29) |
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Toys By Roy | |
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Toys "R" Us | |
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Treasury, The | |
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Tru-Value | Hardware store, also known as "Tru-Value Mercantile" |
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TSW | |
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TV Superstars | Pictured: MOC "©1975a" Conan ($4.22) |
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Two Guys | AKA "2 Guys" Pictured: MIB "4-digit" Batgirl ($2.99) |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - U | NOTES |
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Uncle Bill's | |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - V | NOTES |
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Value Village | Discount Department store |
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The Venture Stores | |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - W | NOTES |
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Wacker's | Pictured: MIB "4-digit" Batgirl ($1.20) |
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Walgreen's | |
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Wal-Mart | |
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Ward | See: "Montgomery Ward" |
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Warren Publications | See: "Captain Company" |
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Wilson's | |
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Western Auto | |
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Weiboldt's | Pictured: MIB "4-digit" Catwoman ($3.99) |
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Woolco | |
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Woolworth | Pictured: Comic Action Heroes figure ($1.88/0.88 Clearance) |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - X | NOTES |
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(NONE) | |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - Y | NOTES |
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Yeager's | Pictured: MIB "4-digit/Old Logo" Mr. Mxyzptlk ($3.19) |
| PRICE TAG | RETAILERS - Z | NOTES |
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Zayre | Pictured: MOC ©1979 (U.S. Purple card) Aquaman ($2.99) |
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Zellers | Canada. Department store currently owned by the Hudson's Bay Company |
Updated May 28, 2008; Originally published May 6, 2008. Chart, layout and photos are copyright © 2008 Benjamin Holcomb and WorldsGreatestToys.com. All rights reserved. May not be republished or printed with express, written permission from the author. |
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related blog categories Mego Retailers, Price Stickers, Articles, Christmas Memories, Daily Mego Adoration, Mailer Boxes, Mego Memories, Mego Packaging
