17 Companies We Thought Closed Their Doors but Are Still Open Today

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In an era when it’s common to see businesses close up shop after only a few years, the companies that stand the test of time are all the more impressive. There’s arguably nothing more important than a company with staying power! Recently, people revealed the companies they thought closed their doors long ago but are still chugging along in 2023.

1. The Yellow Pages

Against all odds, the ubiquitous Yellow Pages is still going strong today! Conventional wisdom suggests that thanks to the advent of the internet, the Yellow Pages wouldn’t have a place in modern society. However, millions of homeowners still use these gigantic yellow books that are dropped off on their doorsteps every year. It goes to show that sometimes, legends never die!

2. Sears

Sears has recently experienced a severe fall from grace, as it is currently down to 12 locations in the United States. This number is far from the company’s peak in 2010 when it boasted 3,500 physical retail stores. Once a staple in thousands of American malls, the company struggles to find footing in an online-centric marketplace. Here’s to hoping that one of the most respected American companies can weather their economic storm!

3. Pinkerton Detective Agency

Once known as violent union-busters in the early 1900s, Pinkerton Detective Agency has modernized its business to adapt to a changing world. However, their reputation still follows them in 2023, as one man expertly explains. “They’re currently part of a larger security conglomerate, but these guys built their reputation on breaking strikes and generally being corporate thugs for hire a hundred years ago or more,” he reveals. Kudos for adapting to changing times! You can’t just break kneecaps forever!

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4. BlackBerry

BlackBerry was, at one time, the most innovative smartphone company in the world. Many of the company’s innovations were “borrowed” by Apple and Google to create the high-tech mobile phones we use today. Although BlackBerry isn’t in the smartphone business anymore, it’s now primarily a cybersecurity firm, working hard to ensure our data is protected through innovative hardware and software solutions.

5. Nokia

Add Nokia to the list of one-time smartphone manufacturers that have successfully transitioned into different industries throughout its history. Nokia has a fascinating history, as one woman puts into perspective: “Nokia started off as a paper mill, then moved into rubber, then started making things with the paper pulp (like toilet paper and tires), then moved into computers, then mobile phones, and now produces networking equipment,” she attests. Talk about a company constantly reinventing itself!

6. AOL

Shockingly, AOL is still around in some shape or form. Acquired by Yahoo in 2021, it still provides software, support, and content for a few hundred thousand users. Millions of people still use their original AOL email address from when they first signed up for the service in the mid-90s! While AOL is far removed from relevance in 2023, we’re glad the brand name still exists to remind us all of the “good old days” of the internet, when it was all about chat rooms and downloading photos very, very slowly.

7. Mary Kay

This multi-level marketing company/pyramid scheme still exists today, offering cosmetic products to millions of Americans annually. I thought the world moved past these quasi-scam companies years ago, but Mary Kay still has an impressive hold over countless men and women. My girlfriend’s mom still buys Mary Kay products, and I have to bite my tongue whenever the topic is brought up around her family!

8. McAfee

Back in the day, Windows PC users had two choices for antivirus protection: McAfee and Norton software. McAfee is shockingly still chugging along in 2023, even though superior (and free) security software exists for our computers. “I’m really surprised most antivirus vendors still exist nowadays,” one savvy computer user confesses. Windows Defender does a pretty good job as a McAfee replacement, and it’s free, too.”

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9. Wells Fargo

How many times can an FDIC-insured bank get caught breaking the rules by the government without being shut down? Whether opening customer accounts without permission, falsifying financial statements, or generally having the worst customer service ever, Wells Fargo has behaved inappropriately for years, and many Americans are shocked it’s still in business! What will it take to protect customers if Wells Fargo can still operate with impunity?

10. Radio Shack

In the 1980s, a Radio Shack was on nearly every corner of every American town. However, in 2023, the company is still hanging on despite being close to extinction on multiple occasions. “I know they’re almost gone, but honestly, I expected them to be out of business over a decade ago, especially given all the former employee accounts of how poorly the average store was run,” reveals one man. I can’t comprehend how Radio Shack is still in business; they are a relic from a bygone era.

11. Classmates.com

Move over, Facebook; you technically don’t win the “Most pathetic way to stay in touch with friends and family” award in 2023. Classmates.com is still alive and well, although due to a dwindling user base, I don’t expect it to survive much longer. The predecessor for most modern social media sites is somehow still operational, although, to be fair, most of the website seems to be advertisements at this point.

12. Redbox

With high-speed internet available for most of the United States, you’d expect Redbox, the DVD rental platform that put Blockbuster out of business, to be extinct in 2023. But while streaming movies are exploding in popularity, some areas of the country still don’t have access to high-speed internet. Thus, Redbox is still a desirable service for anyone rocking an old-school DVD player.

13. Playboy

Before the internet age, Playboy was a rite of passage for millions of young men. Predictably, the internet age quickly made Playboy obsolete, for obvious reasons! Somehow, Playboy is still in business today, focusing primarily on its online content after ceasing the publication of its print magazine a few years ago. In my opinion, Playboy will go out of business any moment now; what are they doing better than any other adult-oriented website at this point?

14. Long John Silvers

Long John Silvers was founded in 1969 in Lexington, Kentucky. It has since become an international seafood restaurant specializing in fried fish. Long John Silvers is likely a guilty pleasure-type restaurant. There are many memes on TikTok about “a secret society of people living amongst us keeping Long John Silvers open.”

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15. Edible Arrangements

In The Fall of the House of Usher, Edible Arrangements was described as the gift you would buy for your enemies. This is a tongue in cheek remark that was likely not meant to be taken seriously, but there is a kernel of truth to it. Who actually enjoys eating an Edible Arrangement fruit basket?

16. Travel Agents

With the creation of online booking sites, travel agents have become less of a necessity and more of a choice when planning travel to unfamiliar areas.

The reality is that travel agents will be around for a long time because they provide a useful service of arranging itineraries, planning events, and essentially doing project management for travel. Their compensation is almost always through commission from the bookings, so there is not a whole lot of downside for a consumer to use a travel agent.

There are, however, plenty of upsides. One upside is the ability to get complimentary upgrades and room credits. You may be able to get the same upgrades by calling. The travel agent is used to making that request and knows what works and what does not.

17. X, Formally Known as Twitter

While it does make sense that Twitter is still in business, its rapid decline since Elon Musk took it over is alarming. By changing ownership, and rapidly changing policies, the realization of how political the platform is has been brought to the front of people’s minds.

 

Source: Reddit.

We Ranked All of Taylor Swift’s Acting Appearances

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We’ve ranked her nine acting performances. See if you agree with our reviews!

We Ranked All of Taylor Swift’s Acting Appearances

 

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