16 Supermarket Checkout Items You Don’t See Anymore
Take a nostalgic stroll down memory lane with these forgotten checkout counter staples.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Supermarket checkout lanes used to be loaded with quirky, random treasures you couldn’t resist grabbing last minute. From peculiar toys to old-school snacks, the aisles once promised more than just gum and tabloids. Let’s revisit the bygone checkout items that quietly disappeared while we weren’t looking.
1. Candy Cigarettes
pcs34560 on Wikimedia Commons
Little sugar sticks packaged like grown-up cigarettes once lined the racks. They were rebellious and sweet—a bizarre combination for kids.
2. Mad Libs Booklets
Tori Behr on Flickr
Quick, silly entertainment for the car ride home, Mad Libs were checkout gold. You could pick one up with your groceries and have the whole family in stitches.
3. Wax Bottles Filled with Syrup
Wes Dickinson on Flickr
Those tiny wax “bottles” with colorful liquid were a checkout classic. Biting the top off felt strangely rebellious and satisfying.
4. Beeper Keychains
Thiemo Schuff on Wikimedia Commons
Mini pagers that lit up or beeped constantly were once impulse-buy royalty. Kids loved pretending they had important calls to answer.
5. Garbage Pail Kids Cards
Jelene Morris on Flickr
Gross-out humor at its finest, these weird trading cards were a must-grab. Each pack promised weird art and silly jokes that horrified adults.
6. Push-Pop Candy
Editor182 on Wikimedia Commons
Plastic tubes you pushed up to get sticky, fruity candy were irresistible. The mess was part of the fun—and part of why they’re a rare sight today.
7. Chiclets Gum
Studio Alijn on Wikimedia Commons
Bright, tiny squares of gum in colorful boxes were everywhere near the registers. One little shake, and you heard that signature rattle.
8. Mini Water Games
Kampus Production on Pexels
Those pocket-sized, water-filled toys where you tried to land rings on posts were addictive. They promised simple, pure frustration and satisfaction in a tiny package.
9. Candy Buttons on Paper Strips
ChildofMidnight on Wikimedia Commons
These were tiny dots of hardened sugar glued to wax paper made for messy, delicious snacking. Half the time, you ate more paper than candy.
10. Big League Chew
Mike Mozart on Flickr
Bubblegum packaged like real tobacco? Only in the ’80s and ’90s could that fly. While you might find it in specialty shops, it’s mostly disappeared from everyday grocery stores.
11. Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum
Dave on Flickr
Hard as a rock but filled with a tiny comic strip, Bazooka Joe was a checkout classic. Prying one open felt like unlocking a secret club.
12. Tootsie Roll Banks
Mike Mozart on Flickr
Giant plastic Tootsie Roll containers filled with candy and coins were popular impulse buys. You’d get candy today and a bank for tomorrow—the ultimate two-for-one.
13. Miniature Travel Games
Kaboompics.com on Pexels
Chess, checkers, or Battleship in travel size, filled tiny rotating stands. They’re perfect for keeping bored kids occupied after shopping trips.
14. Bubble Gum Cigars
mamichan on Flickr
These big, colorful bubble gum “cigars” were weirdly marketed toward celebrations. The taste faded fast, but the novelty lasted longer.
15. Lifesavers Storybooks
rashida s. mar b. on Flickr
These festive packs bundled multiple rolls of Lifesavers in a flipbook case. Grabbing one near the holidays was almost a tradition.
16. Weird Disposable Cameras
bady abbas on Unsplash
Stacks of cheap, single-use cameras tempted parents and kids at checkout. Snapping random grocery aisle moments became its own weird hobby.