No: the forecast that both remaining Sam Goody stores would close in 2025 was only partly right. The Ohio Valley Mall store in St. Clairsville, Ohio, closed that year. The Medford, Oregon, store was still listed as open in July 2026, making it the last surviving Sam Goody-branded location identified by the available listings.
What happened to the two stores named in the forecast?
In December 2024, reports identified the Sam Goody at Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville and the store at Rogue Valley Mall in Medford as the chain’s final two U.S. locations. Both were expected to close in 2025, although only the Ohio store was given an approximate timing: around February. No specific closure date was reported for Medford. Fast Company reported the Medford forecast and its immediate dispute; Newser covered the two-store prediction.
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| 1 |
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Best of Sam Cooke | $10.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sam Goody Samples Minnesota: A Compilation of MN. Musicians [ Audio Compact Disc ] | $23.80 | Buy on Amazon |
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| Store named in 2024 coverage | 2024 forecast | Outcome established by later listings and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Valley Mall, St. Clairsville, Ohio | Expected to close around February 2025. | Closed in 2025. A February 2025 retrospective documents its final period; the Musicland Group timeline also records the closure. Musicland Group timeline. |
| Rogue Valley Mall, Medford, Oregon | Reported as expected to close in 2025; no date was specified. | Did not close in 2025. The mall directory lists the store, and The Musicland Group identifies it as remaining open as of July 2026. Rogue Valley Mall directory; Musicland Group store page. |
Why the Medford closure prediction was disputed
The forecast was challenged within days. Fast Company quoted Medford manager Gavin Culver saying, “It’s not true,” and that the store was “not going anywhere.” Mall representatives also said they had no information about a closure. That response was consistent with the later outcome: the Medford location remained listed after the year in which it had been predicted to close.
Where is the last Sam Goody store?
The surviving Sam Goody-branded store is listed at Rogue Valley Mall, 1600 N. Riverside Ave., space 2089, Medford, Oregon 97501. The mall directory lists Sam Goody and its hours, while The Musicland Group store page says the location remained open as of July 2026. Store status and hours can change, so check the mall directory or contact the store before making a trip.
#1 Best Overall
- Best Of Sam Cooke,The by Sam Cooke (2013-01-14)
How Sam Goody’s name survived the wider store conversion
The Musicland Group timeline says Trans World Entertainment acquired Musicland and its remaining stores in 2006. Most remaining Sam Goody stores were slated to convert to the FYE brand, but the Medford location retained the Sam Goody name. The available timeline establishes this corporate context; it does not establish the store’s exact opening year.
At its peak, Sam Goody had 1,300 locations, according to a figure Rolling Stone was cited for by Newser in December 2024. The cited coverage does not establish the year that peak was reached, so the number should not be treated as a dated count.
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