K Mart
Stick a fork in them.
I just read they 4 retail sores left in the US. At one time they had 2400.
They got bought by Sears and now both are pretty much gone.
When I was a kid we got lots of stuff at K Mart. Guns, ammo, lawn care stuff you name it. I guess between Target and walmart they couldn't compete. Kmart is traded under Sears now and the stock is worth 16 cents a share down 95% from last year.
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yes kinda sad to see all the old places/brands go... at least Black & Decker got Craftsman from Sears and are trying to move a lot of the product back to being made in the USA, although it is a slow process, most still made in China.
I remember when Kmart was pushing out woolworths and there wasn't any Walmarts where I lived as a kid.
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Been gone around here for yrs.
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No more Blue Light Specials.
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Growing up we had an S.S. Kresge's store in my hometown's downtown district and a Woolworth's across the street. Both had soda fountain diners in them. K Mart came around 1974 built on the outskirts attached to the towns first Mall.
I actually miss K Mart. I would take my kids to see a movie at the mall theater and after we would eat at the "K" Cafe'. The whole place including the Mall shut down about 8 years ago.
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Bought many a brick of 22 ammo there, cheap price to. They sold old military surplus rifles by the boat load.
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select-fire: 30503421324827/comments/30503407202715
Been gone around here for yrs.
Same here in Western Ohio.
Joe
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They ignored Walmart. (Sears)
same as the media ignored Fox when they started out.
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They had a reputation for carrying cheaply made stuff by the time I ever got to be aware of them. Haven't seen one of those or a Sears around for years now.
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I used to love their “Northwest Territory” in-house brand of hunting clothes and gear. Cheap, good quality, and good designs. I still have some bibs, coveralls, and other stuff that I use all the time, and have lasted about 25 seasons.
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I miss my old Service Merchandize also. They always seemed busy as I couldn't figure out the problem.
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The K Mart in near us had barrel full of surplus military rifles,from many different countries that cost between 10 and 20 bucks each.When I got old enough,I bought one for about 15 dollars.I had no idea at the time but it was a Mosin-Nagant 44.K Mart didn't have any ammo for it so I had to go to the gun shop and pay 20 dollars for a box of Norma 7.62x54 for my 15 dollar rifle. Lesson learned.
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select-fire: 30503421324827/comments/30503407202715
Been gone around here for yrs.
Same
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We also had Service Merchandise, JM Fields, Ames & Two Guys (from Harrison.)
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buddyb: 30503421324827/comments/30503422255131
The K Mart in near us had barrel full of surplus military rifles,from many different countries that cost between 10 and 20 bucks each.When I got old enough,I bought one for about 15 dollars.I had no idea at the time but it was a Mosin-Nagant 44.K Mart didn't have any ammo for it so I had to go to the gun shop and pay 20 dollars for a box of Norma 7.62x54 for my 15 dollar rifle. Lesson learned.
Woolworth did that also racks of surplus rifles and was close by about 15 miles away sadly I never bought any at the time I only wanted shiny new guns another mistake I made in life LOL
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Kmart sold decent Japanese made binoculars. As did JC Pennys. I'm not sure about their camera lenses. I never bought any but they had a lot of them.
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RIA10MM: 30503421324827/comments/30503421978523
They ignored Walmart. (Sears)
same as the media ignored Fox when they started out.
Yep,,, and Walmart ignored Amazon. Perhaps it wont be long before Walmart is gone.
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When Deb and I were first wed (1975) i was in Kmart's management training program. At that time, they were the second largest retailer in the world. Only JC Penny was bigger, due to their catalog sales. Remember, this was pre-Amazon, etc. - Al Gore was yet to invent the internet. Now, Kmart is effectively gone and JC Penny is barely hanging on by a thread. I left Kmart because they were growing so rapidly; because I was in management I was being transferred too often. Deb hated it. I was a trainee in Burton, MI, an assistant manager in Flint, a manager in South Bend, Indiana and was informed I would be transferred to a larger store somewhere in a three state area. All of this took place within a two year period. Some folks thrived on this sort of thing. I did not. In hindsight, so very glad I left.
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select-fire: 30503421324827/comments/30503407202715
Been gone around here for yrs.
Same here too.
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I thought they had been dead and gone for years.
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firstharmonic: 30503421324827/comments/30503375239707
When Deb and I were first wed (1975) i was in Kmart's management training program. At that time, they were the second largest retailer in the world. Only JC Penny was bigger, due to their catalog sales. Remember, this was pre-Amazon, etc. - Al Gore was yet to invent the internet. Now, Kmart is effectively gone and JC Penny is barely hanging on by a thread. I left Kmart because they were growing so rapidly; because I was in management I was being transferred too often. Deb hated it. I was a trainee in Burton, MI, an assistant manager in Flint, a manager in South Bend, Indiana and was informed I would be transferred to a larger store somewhere in a three state area. All of this took place within a two year period. Some folks thrived on this sort of thing. I did not. In hindsight, so very glad I left.
That must have been the Dort Hwy store in Burton. Things sure have changed in the Flint area since then. It went from one of the highest wage areas in the country to a massive slum that I avoid at all costs. One of the earliest "socially progressive" areas in the country and it sure bit them in the ass.
My biggest mistake in the stock market was holding onto a thousand shares of Kmart until they became totally worthless. In my earlier days I still believed in the "too big too fail theory" and it was a harsh lesson to learn that nothing is guaranteed in retail. Oh well, they made for a nice tax write off. Bob
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The Burton store was on Belsay Road. And yes, that South Dort Highway store was where I was an assistant mgr. Long time ago.
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firstharmonic: 30503421324827/comments/30503416436507
The Burton store was on Belsay Road. And yes, that South Dort Highway store was where I was an assistant mgr. Long time ago.
I forgot about the Belsay road store. That empty building finally became a Family Farm store. Most of the rest are still empty buildings. In the early 80s I had a friend who was a buyer for the sporting goods departments at KMart. Dave would show up at the range with a lot of neat stuff he was trying out before buying for the corporation. Getting your products in Kmart was a big deal and companies would provide copious quantities of samples to influence the buyers decision. Nowadays that would be called graft, but back then it was a normal way of doing business. Dave was a bit of a character and I remember him showing up to a bowling pin shoot with a shiny new S&W 29 and boxes of factory 44mag ammo. He wasn't very fast, but if he hit a pin it sure got cleared off the table fast and with authority! 😁Bob
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Got both of our kids at K-Mart, Blue Light Special, cheaper than J. C. Penny.
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Worked in auto dept and then moved to the garages. This was 1977 and on and off till 1984. I liked it and remember pay day. You went to Personnel and got a little Manila envelope with a statement and cash, ready to spend.
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44, I got to ask, just how did you get your kids at K-mart?🙃
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I miss those cheap K-Mart sub sandwiches! 3 in a bag for around 2.99.
Combo of bologna, ham, and salami with a slice of cheddar cheese. No veggies but the flavor of those on the run is something I cannot duplicate! Did a lot of on the road lunches back in my working days. K-Mart provided the cheapest lunches in town!
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Brookwood: 30503421324827/comments/30503416908315
I miss those cheap K-Mart sub sandwiches! 3 in a bag for around 2.99.
Combo of bologna, ham, and salami with a slice of cheddar cheese. No veggies but the flavor of those on the run is something I cannot duplicate! Did a lot of on the road lunches back in my working days. K-Mart provided the cheapest lunches in town!
+1 loved those things..........and try as I might never could get them to taste as good trying to make one at home
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