Looking over their shoulder Wally World sees Montgomery Ward ghost of retail past.

[CK_John]

Retail has a cycle of about 50-75 yrs. Slow but steady growth. A stage of popular acceptance. Then a slow cycle of bored existence to the finish.

That's why they are openning before Black Friday.

[wercal]

1. Groceries

Wal mart is not an ordinary retailer...around half of their profit is fron groceries. Its a low margin and high volume type of sector - tailor made for Wal Mart. They'll be around long after I'm dead, barring an anti-trust case.

[madrchsod]

2. the great atlantic & pacific tea company

started in the 1859 by 1930 it was the world`s largest retailer.in 2012 a&p emerged from bankruptcy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Atlantic_&_Pacific_Tea_Company

[Benton D Struckcheon]

3. Montgomery Ward only?

As noted, A&P. Sears. K-Mart. Woolworth's.
In NYC alone, Korvette's, Alexander's, Gimbel's (it was Macy's and Gimbel's fighting it out in that Xmas movie with Natalie Woods as the kid), Caldor.
They come and go.

I've never quite understood why retail pays so little to its employees. It's a cash business; manufacturers and wholesalers have to wait for their invoices to get paid, and many wind up resorting to factors who give them a fraction of what they're owed but who also relieve them of the burden of waiting for their money.
Retailers get it up front. No waiting. The credit card companies take a slice if they're involved, but it's nothing compared to what factors take.
Yet retailers pay the least. Very odd.