Hodge Army Navy, a Marietta mainstay for nearly 70 years, is signing off. The store, currently located at East Marietta Commons - 1477 Roswell Road - behind Williamson Bros. BBQ, is currently liquidating all in-stock merchandise ahead of what is advertised to be its last day January 28. The store is currently offering 25 per cent off basically all in-stock merchandise with select seasonal and specialty items reduced even further.
Hollywood came calling in June 2021 when portions of season 4 of the hit Netflix show Stranger Things was filmed at the store, renamed "War Zone" for the production. ToNeTo Atlanta was first to report in 2018 that the show also filmed at Gwinnett Place Mall for season 3, rechristening the mall "Starcourt Mall."
Already widowed, Latrelle C. Hodge, passed away in April 2014 at age 78. The Hodges' daughter Gay Earls and son-in-law Paul have operated the store since, and spearheaded the store's November 2021 relocation to its current space.
There was no specific reason cited for the store closure but one can surmise that the concept has simply run its course and as with most independent retail, times have changed and it's become increasingly difficult to compete with Walmart and Amazon, among other would-be competitors.
Interestingly, rather than operate the sale as a closing sale, ownership instead hired an estate sale firm - Lott's Treasures - to run the sale, promoting it instead as an "estate sale."
Have you ever been to Hodge Army Navy? If so, what is your fondest memory of the store? What is your favorite Marietta area business?
Please share your thoughts below.
22 comments:
didn't know it was still around, I would've ventured out there to patronize the business. Sad that they are hanging it up.
When I was a teenager in the late 80s/early 90s, Doc Martin’s were all the rage. My dad took me to Hodge Army Navy on Cobb Parkway to buy “real combat boots”! 😆 We visited there as a kid on rainy weekends to rummage around and always came away with a pair of rugged pants to play in the woods and a renewed appreciation for our military and the freedoms their service granted us. Thanks for honoring our military for all these years, Hodge family!
Man, as a kid growing up
In Smyrna- a Saturday morning trip to Hodges was like a hodg to Meca.
I’d save my allowance just to buy old army gear! Just to go through the place and rummage was Heaven. The aroma was unforgettable. I can’t begin to tell you all the crazy unusual things I bought weekly.
One of my favorites was a black switch blade knife. But it was truly a magical place for a boy growing up.
I hate to hear of its passing. But all things must pass. Thank you to the Hodges family for all the joys and memories!
That's a shame. Went there a lot as a kid to the old location on 41. Have stopped in a time or two at the current place over the last couple months. Will swing by today to see if I want to grab anything. Thanks for the heads up.
Been in there a couple of time in the mall n Marietta.........
Been going to Hodge since the late 70's. Extremely sad to see it closing. Going to have to road trip to the store one last time. Damn, this is like losing a buddy.
Hodges was an icon in Cobb. Went as a kid with my dad several times. Thought they had closed, but looked and found new location. Just visited the store Christmas of 2022 for a shirt and hat to finish a camouflage outfit for my grandson. The shirt and pants were from the only other military store I'm aware of behind the Coca Cola plant. He makes a proud junior Marine.
I was a military brat and my dad was stationed at the Naval facility at Dobbins Air Force Base. I was also an Air Force ROTC kid growing up in high school. I absolutely loved Hodges, Navy and army surplus. I don’t know how many hours I spent there and I’m sorry to see that they’re closing.
My Dad used to take me up there. We would buy military gear for hiking. One day, while my Dad was at the counter, I decided to give the air raid siren a few spins, thinking it would only make a little noise for a second. Wrong! That thing spooled up and starting blaring inside the store. Two seconds later, the guy working there and my Father ran back to me as I just stood there, trying to look innocent.
Love that place
I def remember HODGE'S Army/Navy. I grew up in Marietta. I knew LATRELL, she and I went to the same beauty salon. She was the loveliest lady. Those were the good old days!!!
I love that ... 'trying to look innocent!!!
I love that 'trying to look innocent '
Anonymous @12:40, Marist?
The new location was horrible --out of the way and hard to get in and out of in traffic. Plus, their prices were always high. I've long preferred the Army Navy store over in the industrial Park in Marietta.
I have bought several Tilley hats there! But my favorite was a raft with motor mount that we used to "Shoot the 'Hooch". The motor mount was perfect for the cooler!
Used to go there all the time and get surplus belts, pouches, packs, trench shovels, etc. in my Civil War relic hunting days (1980s). Bought my jon boat there also, which I still have 40+ years later.
Discovered the Marietta Highway South of the Big Chicken many years ago.
My son and I were just getting into camping and hiking. And the store was a gold mine of camping stuff.
Follow up visits were enjoyable to see what was new in stock.
Sorry to hear about the store closing.
Best wishes to all who worked at the store.
I have been going to Hodge since I moved to Smyrna years ago. I used to be at their newer/current location very frequently during my cancer battle, on the days I felt good enough to venture out. Going there to browse and stretch my legs helped during the worst time of my life. I will truly miss this store.
I bought my Golden Fleece leather Navy flight jacket at the Mabelton store in 1984. I still have it and wear it every year. It’s my favorite jacket and will never let it go. Sad to see you close.
Went there my first time after watching the very first Rambo movie looking for me a survival knife, they had some lol. Even had the compass and the thread and needle.
Although I hated their new location, this is very sad news. But it's my understanding that Army-Navy surplus stores don't have it easy as they did pre-1990s. Mainly because during the 1990s Balkan Wars, family members, friends, and "agents" would purchase surplus military gear such as helmets, uniforms, boots, flak vests, etc. at Army-Navy stores throughout the U.S. and ship the gear back to the warring Balkan nations (Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia mainly). The Feds started cracking down on this by ceasing to sell military surplus to retailers and instead the U.S. now sells it directly or gives it away for free to warring nations. This is why it's so hard to find real military surplus gear at so-call Army-Navy stores. Some can still be found online, but it's mostly foreign gear. You can still find some collectibles at gun shows though. But it's a shame really and just not the same as it was in the 80s.
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