Venture Stores: The Forgotten Midwestern Giant

04/23/22 • 14 min

1 Listener

Venture was a discount department store chain founded by Target co-creator John Geisse and May Co exec Dave Babcock. Borrowing heavily from his former chain, Geisse would start what would become one of the last regional discounters. Their bold black-and-white storefronts and iconic ad campaigns were once commonplace in the American Midwest. So, what happened? Learn about Venture's rapid rise and anti-climactic, yet equally rapid decline in this episode of Post-Mortar.

Watch the History of Caldor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Le-epjD8wo&t=457s

Music

"Branches" - DanoSongs (used with permission)

Hedge Your Bets Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Members Only Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

A Night Alone Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cover Charge Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Watch the History of Caldor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Le-epjD8wo&t=457s

Music

"Branches" - DanoSongs (used with permission)

Hedge Your Bets Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Members Only Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

A Night Alone Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Cover Charge Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Next Episode

Child World / Children's Palace

1 Recommendations

Child World, Inc. was the second-largest toy retailer in the United States for years, right behind Toys R Us. After nearly three decades of prosperity, poor management, outdated stores, and massive debt would kill the company. The retail slump of the late '80s and the 1990 Recession would also have a major effect on the toy market. Today, we take a look at what happened to Child World, Inc.

Music

"Branches" - DanoSongs (used with permission)

Backbay Lounge Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/