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People Online Are Cracking Up At These 40 Buildings Attempting To Hide Their Previous Purpose Shared In This Online Group
Upcycling, reinventing and repurposing—everything and anything can contribute to a building’s new shiny life. Converting buildings is quite common and sometimes the change is quite radical: a gym that previously was a church, a mall that was converted into a school, or a Target turned Walmart. This one group on Reddit called /r/NotFoolingAnybody that has 21.2k members is dedicated to “photos of buildings that have been converted to other uses, yet still strongly resemble their former use.”
And deliberately or not, the new management chooses to recycle some details, like using the letters from the font of the previous business and sometimes even keeping the same logos. The funniest thing is that you can often tell that the masterminds repurposing the building or sign either had too much wit or too little fantasy. Either way, it’s pretty entertaining and below are the best examples of that, so don’t forget to vote for your favorite ones.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Former KFC In Maiden, Nc Now A Mexican Restaurant. Col. Sanders Is Now Col. Sanchez
Even though a place is converted to an urgent care center, the building decoration is still definitely reminiscent of a hut that used to sell pizza, and a church in this town adorned with UV lights and no more crosses is repurposed to be a nightclub. Usually the shape of the building that used to be a brand that follows the company’s specs is the main giveaway, but it also seems that some of the new owners of the places couldn't be bothered to remove the previous logos.
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#2
Blockbuster Got Converted To A Book Store
What is really impressive is the repurposing of shopping malls into schools, which, when you really think about it, can make perfect sense as there are large communal areas and what used to be retail shops that can serve as different classrooms. And what student wouldn’t like to have escalators to go from one floor to another?
#3
Dead Mall Turned Into College Building. Stores Were Converted Into Classrooms
Quite a few submissions by people are pictures of former gas stations and car washes. Businesses such as Dunkin Doughnuts or Starbucks are taking advantage of the parts of the building that are suitable for a convenient drive thru. And let’s face it, going into an old flamboyant Art Deco building that is now a Walgreens definitely makes you feel at least a tiny bit more sophisticated.
#4
Church In My Local Town Converted Into A Nightclub
#5
This CVS In An Old Bank
Mer 4 years ago
I laughed at your comment more than I did at anything else on this thread! "Noice"! :)
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Emma Goldstein 4 years ago
I used to live right by there too! Neighbs! 9th between 14th and 15th.
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Sue Clifford 4 years ago
Why not, better than standing vacant. Old banks are cool inside so I think it would be fun to shop there.
Charles Whyms 4 years ago
Used to work on 14th street and 7th Avenue, so I shopped at this CVS frequently, and even knew the night manager; really nice guy.
_Thirteen13_ 4 years ago
Imagine walking in at like 2 am looking for tic-tacs and you see this. Surreal.
Agnes Jekyll 4 years ago
We had a beautiful, huge record store in a beautiful old bank building. I have no idea what is now--if the trend continues, I'm guessing Vape Shop
Helderder 4 years ago
Have had a much better destination than yet another supermarket. I'm all for giving existing buildings new purpose but there are so many supermarkets allready.
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Diandra “Mss Didi” Blackthorn 4 years ago
There's another one on 96th Street & Columbus Ave in NYC - where that store is also located
Guy MacGregor 4 years ago
I had to Google it so maybe it can help others: "CVS" is a pharmacy retail company (operating in the USA only)
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
Doesn't look like it would be that useful. Not enough room. What do they do with all that 2nd story room?
#6
A Bank Converted To Mcdonalds
#7
A Church Converted To A Grocery Store
#8
A Former Cricket Wireless Is Now A Chicken Restaurant
#9
Church Turned Into A Gym
#10
Former Gas Station, Turned Into A Subway With Outdoor Seating - Gypsum, Co
#11
Taco Bell --> Law Office
#12
Former Woolworths, Now A Walgreens. It Feels Like A Happy Accident That The Historic "W" Letter Still Works For The Building.
Jo Johannsen 4 years ago
I miss Woolworths and Newberry's -they weren't high class but were fun.
#13
Dunkin’ Doughnuts Drive Thru In A Former Gas Station Car Wash.
#14
Church Converted To A Tattoo Parlor
#15
This Starbucks Drive-Thru In An Old Car Wash
Happy Daihatsu 4 years ago
Don't be rude to employees or you'll be getting a Grande chunk of soap in your Vegan Non-Fat Chai Tea Latte Mocha Frappuccino Macchiato
#16
The Local College Bought A Walmart
surprised pikachu 4 years ago
This is more common than you think. In my area we have a charter school in an old home depot.
#17
House Converted To Burger King - Columbus, Ga
#18
A Former Burger King Listed Online As A Townhouse
#19
An Old Paint Store Converted To A Dvd Store
#20
Former Hot Topic Now Veterans Museum Denton, Tx
Becky Klebe 4 years ago
If the mall gets decent foot traffic, a museum like this might get more visitors than it would as a stand-alone. If my local mall had something like this, I'd go in.
#22
The Owners Ended Their Quiznos Franchise But Wanted To Run A Sandwich Shop Still
#23
This CVS In Dc Used To Be A Movie Theater
#24
Former Movie Theatre, Now A Library
Joseph E Fasciani 4 years ago
Absolutely perfect: this looks as flawless as the above Walgreens.
#25
An Orthodontist's Office Used To Be A Blockbuster - Hinesville, Ga
#26
A Wendy's In A Former Bank, Location Unknown
#27
Hah! Can't Fool Me. That Used To Be A Taco B...wait
#28
Nickelodeon Studios! It Has Been Painted Over But You Can Still Tell What It Used To Be
#29
Hollywood Video Converted To A Furniture Store
#30
An Old Hollywood Video Is Now Hollywood Smokin'
#31
This Dominos In My Home Town Of Keyser Wv Was A Phillip's 66 Gas Station And Garage In The Early 80's
#32
KFC Converted To Thai Restaurant
#33
Former Target Turned Into A Walmart, They Painted The Target Orbs Yellow Instead Of Removing Them
Baby Panda 4 years ago
i love vaulting over the target balls lol i will never get too old for it
#34
Old Hollister Now A Book Store
#35
Big Woodys Sports Bar (Bethlehem, Pa)
Joseph E Fasciani 4 years ago
It's perfect, absolutely perfect. One stop, slop till ya drop! Ya gotta love it all.
#36
Classic Movie Theater Converted Into A Walgreens
#37
Dollar Tree In A Former Church, Location Unknown
#38
Taboo Adult Superstore, Formerly Taco Bell
#39
This Used To Be A Majestic Liquor Store. The New Owners Really Stretched Themselves With This One.
#40
Somebody Named Kg Bought A Local Gas Station
The idea of repurposing buildings is not only practical but also fascinating, as it allows the original architecture to tell its own story amidst a new purpose. This is evident in how former Pizza Hut locations are transformed into various businesses, a concept explored in a certain subreddit. By capturing these transformations, the buildings continue to evoke memories of their iconic red-roofed origins, offering insights into the art of creative reinvention.
Discover more about these intriguing transformations in a community dedicated to former famous restaurant structures.
#41
Goodwill (May Have?) Used To Be A Circuit City - Savannah, Ga
#43
Hollywood Flooring, Another Hollywood Video Conversion.
#44
Burger King Converted To Egg Roll King
#45
Mall Church (I’m Pretty Sure It Used To Be A Victoria’s Secret)
#46
Pizza Hut Turned Into A Sketchy Restaurant
#47
A Classic Movie Theater In Greenpoint, Brooklyn That Has Since Been Turned Into A Starbucks
#48
Little Caesar's Pizza In A Former Sonic Drive-In; Location Unknown
#49
Gas Station Turned Into A Boost Mobile - North Carolina
#50
An Abandoned Diner In New Hampshire That Just Left The Hollywood Video Sign Up
#51
Dollar Tree In An Old CVS. Toledo, Oh
#52
Gym In A Former Rite Aid
#53
Five Guys In A Former Pizza Hut In Westminster, Md
#54
Esso/Exxon Tiger Statue At A Bp Station
#55
The Disney Store Of Inland Center In San Bernardino, Ca Is Now A Furniture Store. You Can Still See The Outlines Of The Film Reels Around The Entrance, And Mickey Shapes Etched Onto The Windows.
Bacony Cakes 4 years ago (edited)
A hidden mickey outside of Disney property. That's a rare sight.
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What do you think ?
Thorfin Wolfsbane 4 years ago
I don't know why everyone's so upset with old churches not being churches anymore. They were scams to start with and I'm glad they failed.
Seabeast 4 years ago
They're big buildings and tend to be well built - no reason not to reuse them when a congregation can no longer afford to keep them.
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Sista of the moon 4 years ago
Lol idk why but wanted to share: our local strip club has outdoor seating now 😳
Ploploplop 4 years ago
I live in Portland, the strip club capitol of the world. A lot of them serve good food and people will eat outside to avoid the entry fee. I've never been to one, but coworkers will say, "let's go to Acropolis for lunch". I figured they were going to see strippers, turns out they were really into their burgers.
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Katie Bear 4 years ago
At least the buildings are being used. I hate when buildings are derelicts because people won't sell them and they are still perfectly usable.
Petra Schaap 4 years ago
for all the nay sayers that dont like repurposing churches, would you rather have them just stand there empty, or demolished? They were not being used anymore. Its not that the people were chased out.
s. vitkovitsky 4 years ago
Converting them into lofts would create very attractive and unique living spaces.
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Laura Nicole 4 years ago
I lived in an old post office that had been converted into shops, that was built in 1910, it was so cool, original doors and stained-glass windows. I loved it
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
So you lived in a shop? That aside, that was an era of gorgeous architecture.
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Finn Jager 4 years ago
Clever buying, instead of failed make-overs, that is what this post is TRULY about.
Angeline Shalyn 4 years ago
A strip club in anchorage Alaska where I live was turned into a church recently , lmfao.
shado 4 years ago
well ... not to state the obvious but ... it IS Alaska, and it DID have that crazy religious woman, claiming to 'wave at Russia from her porch' running things for a while there ... (need I say more?)
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Jackson Gohn 4 years ago
Which one of them are "attempting to hide their previous purpose"? Why do you change your titles twice a day, bored panda?
Jaybird3939 4 years ago
I'm glad these places were converted. So much better than abandoned, rotting buildings.
Blue of the yams 4 years ago
There's a mosque in my home town that I'm fairly certain used to be either a house or a Mexican restaurant
Craig Silberman 4 years ago
have you seen the mural in the Mexican restaurant that used to be a Chinese restaurant? they painted sombreros on the panda bears and hung a couple of pinatas in the trees
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
No pic, but our local DMV office is being "phased out" (read: closed down forever) so the building is up for grabs. Ideas what to do with an old DMV, anyone?
Roger Haywood 4 years ago
In my home city of Derby UK, we have a pub called "The Standing Order". It used to be a bank.
Yelena Yardeen 4 years ago
This just made me dismayed at how brands even have trademark building shapes
Becky Moore 4 years ago
I know it's good that they're not left empty, but It makes me irrationally sad that places close down. I worked at Blockbusters, it was the best place to work. Damn streaming movies ruining VHS rentals, haha!
Chaotic_pansexual 4 years ago
Can everyone please stop hating on certain religions? It’s not okay. If your views are that Christianity and the Bible are stupid, that’s fine, but please keep it to yourself. Please just be nice to each other. There’s no reason to make people who believe in Christ or the Bible feel bad because you don’t like it. You know what started the Holocaust? Discrimination against certain people and their beliefs. Am I saying this is anything of those proportions? Absolutely not, but it’s the same idea: calling a certain religion dumb or bad just because you don’t agree with it. Some people are going to be upset over the churches and if they are, let them be. If I were to take something really important to you away you’d be upset too. So please guys just be nice? I come on here to be happy and to escape from what’s going on and I don’t want to feel ashamed of myself here too. I liked the article though, I think it’s really cool. Please stay safe everyone
Terd Fergison 4 years ago
When christianity ruled the world, it ruled it with an iron fist. Christians used to torture and kill people for saying that the sun is the center of our planetary system. Christians used to torture and kill nonbelievers. Now you have the balls to complain when someone speaks the truth? Nonbelievers are allowed to speak out. Christians killed enough of our ancestors. If we don’t speak out, they were killed for nothing.
Load More Replies...
Terd Fergison 4 years ago
Not to the children and people raped in churches.
Load More Replies...
Aliquid A 4 years ago
Should they bulldoze the church down instead? What else are they supposed to do with it?
Load More Replies... Thorfin Wolfsbane 4 years ago
I don't know why everyone's so upset with old churches not being churches anymore. They were scams to start with and I'm glad they failed.
Seabeast 4 years ago
They're big buildings and tend to be well built - no reason not to reuse them when a congregation can no longer afford to keep them.
Load More Replies... Sista of the moon 4 years ago
Lol idk why but wanted to share: our local strip club has outdoor seating now 😳
Ploploplop 4 years ago
I live in Portland, the strip club capitol of the world. A lot of them serve good food and people will eat outside to avoid the entry fee. I've never been to one, but coworkers will say, "let's go to Acropolis for lunch". I figured they were going to see strippers, turns out they were really into their burgers.
Load More Replies... Katie Bear 4 years ago
At least the buildings are being used. I hate when buildings are derelicts because people won't sell them and they are still perfectly usable.
Petra Schaap 4 years ago
for all the nay sayers that dont like repurposing churches, would you rather have them just stand there empty, or demolished? They were not being used anymore. Its not that the people were chased out.
s. vitkovitsky 4 years ago
Converting them into lofts would create very attractive and unique living spaces.
Load More Replies... Laura Nicole 4 years ago
I lived in an old post office that had been converted into shops, that was built in 1910, it was so cool, original doors and stained-glass windows. I loved it
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
So you lived in a shop? That aside, that was an era of gorgeous architecture.
Load More Replies... Finn Jager 4 years ago
Clever buying, instead of failed make-overs, that is what this post is TRULY about.
Angeline Shalyn 4 years ago
A strip club in anchorage Alaska where I live was turned into a church recently , lmfao.
shado 4 years ago
well ... not to state the obvious but ... it IS Alaska, and it DID have that crazy religious woman, claiming to 'wave at Russia from her porch' running things for a while there ... (need I say more?)
Load More Replies... Jackson Gohn 4 years ago
Which one of them are "attempting to hide their previous purpose"? Why do you change your titles twice a day, bored panda?
Jaybird3939 4 years ago
I'm glad these places were converted. So much better than abandoned, rotting buildings.
Blue of the yams 4 years ago
There's a mosque in my home town that I'm fairly certain used to be either a house or a Mexican restaurant
Craig Silberman 4 years ago
have you seen the mural in the Mexican restaurant that used to be a Chinese restaurant? they painted sombreros on the panda bears and hung a couple of pinatas in the trees
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
No pic, but our local DMV office is being "phased out" (read: closed down forever) so the building is up for grabs. Ideas what to do with an old DMV, anyone?
Roger Haywood 4 years ago
In my home city of Derby UK, we have a pub called "The Standing Order". It used to be a bank.
Yelena Yardeen 4 years ago
This just made me dismayed at how brands even have trademark building shapes
Becky Moore 4 years ago
I know it's good that they're not left empty, but It makes me irrationally sad that places close down. I worked at Blockbusters, it was the best place to work. Damn streaming movies ruining VHS rentals, haha!
Chaotic_pansexual 4 years ago
Can everyone please stop hating on certain religions? It’s not okay. If your views are that Christianity and the Bible are stupid, that’s fine, but please keep it to yourself. Please just be nice to each other. There’s no reason to make people who believe in Christ or the Bible feel bad because you don’t like it. You know what started the Holocaust? Discrimination against certain people and their beliefs. Am I saying this is anything of those proportions? Absolutely not, but it’s the same idea: calling a certain religion dumb or bad just because you don’t agree with it. Some people are going to be upset over the churches and if they are, let them be. If I were to take something really important to you away you’d be upset too. So please guys just be nice? I come on here to be happy and to escape from what’s going on and I don’t want to feel ashamed of myself here too. I liked the article though, I think it’s really cool. Please stay safe everyone
Terd Fergison 4 years ago
When christianity ruled the world, it ruled it with an iron fist. Christians used to torture and kill people for saying that the sun is the center of our planetary system. Christians used to torture and kill nonbelievers. Now you have the balls to complain when someone speaks the truth? Nonbelievers are allowed to speak out. Christians killed enough of our ancestors. If we don’t speak out, they were killed for nothing.
Load More Replies... Terd Fergison 4 years ago
Not to the children and people raped in churches.
Load More Replies... Aliquid A 4 years ago
Should they bulldoze the church down instead? What else are they supposed to do with it?
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