K-Mart

[standa]

The Derby Kmart was a Jordan Marsh for a little while, after Read's stores became Jordan Marsh.  I think it may have been a  Zayre before it was a Read's.

The Southbury store was also a Jordan Marsh before being KMart, and a Read's before that.

[Loki]

The Milford, CT Kmart opened around 1970(maybe earlier) and really hasn't changed much over the years. It got the new logo when they did the "Big Kmart thing" and some fresh paint and and had the dept.'s rearranged.
 From what I read in the newspapers (and learned on these forums) the Derby store started out as a Zayre then became Reads followed by Jordan Marsh then Kmart.
I don't remember the Orange store in its Kmart days but it was a Builder's Square until the chain's demise (mid to late '90s ?) and vacate since.
The Norwalk one closed sometime in the mid '80's and it can be pretty rough area (there are parts that are nice but some that rival Bridgeport). I don't know if it's still there but right nearby the Norwalk Kmart was a dive hamburger joint called Swanky Franks that the police discovered a dead guy in. I'm guessing part of its reason for closure was that most CT Kmarts seem to be focused in New Haven and Hartford counties and this was kind of out on the fringe (although the Torrington store kind of debunks this theory).

[XISMZERO]

Originally posted by Loki
The Milford, CT Kmart opened around 1970(maybe earlier) and really hasn't changed much over the years. It got the new logo when they did the "Big Kmart thing" and some fresh paint and and had the dept.'s rearranged.
 From what I read in the newspapers (and learned on these forums) the Derby store started out as a Zayre then became Reads followed by Jordan Marsh then Kmart.
I don't remember the Orange store in its Kmart days but it was a Builder's Square until the chain's demise (mid to late '90s ?) and vacate since.
The Norwalk one closed sometime in the mid '80's and it can be pretty rough area (there are parts that are nice but some that rival Bridgeport). I don't know if it's still there but right nearby the Norwalk Kmart was a dive hamburger joint called Swanky Franks that the police discovered a dead guy in. I'm guessing part of its reason for closure was that most CT Kmarts seem to be focused in New Haven and Hartford counties and this was kind of out on the fringe (although the Torrington store kind of debunks this theory).

Interesting to know about the town. I also couldn't find the opening date of the Milford store because I first started seeing it in advertisements in/by 1980. Do you know when East Haven opened? For some reason, the Hartford Courant doesn't run many ads in Fairfield and especially New Haven counties.

The first Connecticut Kmart was Manchester and it opened in 1972. Next was Cromwell, opened in 1973. Next was Waterbury and Southington which opened on the same day in 1973. Vernon was 1975.

Milford, Ansonia (once apart of the Ansonia Mall, now demolished for a Big Y) and East Haven must've opened around these years.

Windsor was the 9th Connecticut store, opened in 1976. Watertown might've been 1976 or 1977. I think Wallingford was 1977 and Wethersfield was 1977. All of these stores were formerly Grants.

Torrington (20 miles outside Waterbury) opened in 1980. Farmington began appearing in ads during 1980, it became Builder's Square and is now Sports Authority. When did Farmington open?!

[standa]

Originally posted by Loki
The Milford, CT Kmart opened around 1970(maybe earlier) and really hasn't changed much over the years. It got the new logo when they did the "Big Kmart thing" and some fresh paint and and had the dept.'s rearranged.
 From what I read in the newspapers (and learned on these forums) the Derby store started out as a Zayre then became Reads followed by Jordan Marsh then Kmart.
I don't remember the Orange store in its Kmart days but it was a Builder's Square until the chain's demise (mid to late '90s ?) and vacate since.
The Norwalk one closed sometime in the mid '80's and it can be pretty rough area (there are parts that are nice but some that rival Bridgeport). I don't know if it's still there but right nearby the Norwalk Kmart was a dive hamburger joint called Swanky Franks that the police discovered a dead guy in. I'm guessing part of its reason for closure was that most CT Kmarts seem to be focused in New Haven and Hartford counties and this was kind of out on the fringe (although the Torrington store kind of debunks this theory).

I visited the Orange Kmart once in the mid 80s.  It seemed old and rundown even back then.  I think it had a deli/snack bar in the front of the store.  Not long after I went there, it closed and was turned into a Builder's Square.

[XISMZERO]

Here's where the original WINDSOR Kmart was. It was originally a Grants, then became Kmart in 1976 when Grants went out of business. Today, it's a Job Lot.

Taken today.

[XISMZERO]

Here's a vintage picture of when it was Grants back in 1968! This came from an ad in the Hartford Courant. The plaza is kind of ghettoish today, sadly.

[MikeRa]

Here in Philadelphia, a couple of our K Marts started as other stores:

1: NE Corner 9th & Market Street: opened as Gimbel Brothers, then became Stern's in 1986, then Clover (discount division of Strawbridge & Clothier) in 1993, then finally K Mart in 1997.
2: Penrose Shopping Center (Island Ave, near Philadelphia International Airport): Opened as Clover, then became K Mart
3: Brookhaven Shopping Center (Street Road & Hulmeville Road), Bensalem: Opened as J. M. Fields/Food Fair-Pantry Pride combo store, became K Mart in early 1980's.
:info:

[store215]

In case anyone is interested, there are a lot of Super Kmart pics on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=kmart&m=tags&page=1

It looks like the K-Cafe was turned into one of those fake doctor office things, using Sears styled lettering

[dmx10101]

Originally posted by MBZ321
In case anyone is interested, there are a lot of Super Kmart pics on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=kmart&m=tags&page=1

It looks like the K-Cafe was turned into one of those fake doctor office things, using Sears styled lettering

If you go to this guys photos- http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanrules and look on pages 7, 8, and 9 he has lots of pics of the interior of a Super K. I don't know which location it is though. That location does have the eatery turned into a doctors office, complete with the o in doctors fallen off.

[Zayre88]

The former Kmart in Skowhegan is now a Tractor Supply.  It closed in 1995 and stayed vacant until fall 2007! 1/3 of the former Kmart is still vacant and not renovated inside.

[beachgal26]

There was an interesting article in today's USA Today that spoke of how badly things are deteriorating for both of these chains.  Apparently, Aylwin Lewis will be stepping down as CEO since sales have fallen over 3.5% so far this year and show no room for improvement.

In another note, several of those interviewed for the article, claimed that they no longer shopped at their local K-Mart as customer service is down, sales items are unavailable and the stores are dirty.  (That is exactly what our local K-Mart was like the last year that it was open.)

"The 74 off-mall Sears Grand stores, which feature food, appliances and items found at both Sears and K-Mart, Brathwaite acknowledges, "have not met the company's expectations."  He notes, though, that the stores are more profitable, and the company thinks the concept is still valid."

Now, I am no economics wiz, but that statement appears to sum up what is wrong with the current leadership.  They continue to forge ahead with ideas and keep them in play even when it appears to NOT be working.  Go figure!

:huh:    :huh:    :huh:

[NJxxJon]

Originally posted by beachgal26
There was an interesting article in today's USA Today that spoke of how badly things are deteriorating for both of these chains.  Apparently, Aylwin Lewis will be stepping down as CEO since sales have fallen over 3.5% so far this year and show no room for improvement.

In another note, several of those interviewed for the article, claimed that they no longer shopped at their local K-Mart as customer service is down, sales items are unavailable and the stores are dirty.  (That is exactly what our local K-Mart was like the last year that it was open.)

"The 74 off-mall Sears Grand stores, which feature food, appliances and items found at both Sears and K-Mart, Brathwaite acknowledges, "have not met the company's expectations."  He notes, though, that the stores are more profitable, and the company thinks the concept is still valid."

Now, I am no economics wiz, but that statement appears to sum up what is wrong with the current leadership.  They continue to forge ahead with ideas and keep them in play even when it appears to NOT be working.  Go figure!

:huh:    :huh:    :huh:

We should make a KARRRRR KEE AND TAKE OVA! :bouncing:

[beachgal26]

I think that at this point, anyone could be doing a better job than the current admin bunch!

:insane:

[XISMZERO]

Here's the Kmart in FITCHBURG/LEOMINSTER, MASS. Taken last weekend (2-16-2008).

If you were a mailman, you'd be delivering it to Fitchburg but it's right on the town line at Twin City Mall.

[XISMZERO]

Here's the Kmart in FITCHBURG/LEOMINSTER, MASS. Taken last weekend (2-16-2008).

This Kmart has disgracefully stooped to an all-new low using clear-as-day Ames shopping carts!

[XISMZERO]

Here's the Kmart in FITCHBURG/LEOMINSTER, MASS. Taken last weekend (2-16-2008).

The store by night.

[C. Fontaine]

Originally posted by XISMZERO
Here's the Kmart in FITCHBURG/LEOMINSTER, MASS. Taken last weekend (2-16-2008).

This Kmart has disgracefully stooped to an all-new low using clear-as-day Ames shopping carts!

Wow, even OSJL know better than that...

Haha, that reminds me of Wal-Mart stooping to this low, and using Ames's slogan!

[dmx10101]

Jacksonville, FL Kmart, one of the largest Big Kmarts I've been to. I did not have an auto center. Still has a operational K Cafe, was a former Little Caesars.





Neptune beach, FL Kmart. It was remodeled/expanded in the early 2000s. The part on the right with the brighter colored roof is the expanded part. This location has a closed auto center on the left in front of the garden center. Never had a K Cafe, atleast not after it was remodeled.





Jacksonville Beach, FL Kmart. This location closed a few years ago to make way for a new Home Depot, that has yet to be built. It was a nicer store, it had a K Cafe and no auto center.





I saved the best for last....

Jacksonville, FL This used to be a Jefferson Ward, a Woolco, a Kmart, and is now a Burlington Coat Factory. It is still the original building too. I remember it well when it was a Kmart, and I was sad to see it close. It was a unique Kmart because  it had warehouse style ceilings like at a Sams Club, it had a Little Caesars which I used to eat at with my parents.

[store215]

Here's a unique look into a 90's Kmart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnXWT3NHhiU
It's funny how little has changed (and that the orange is making an appearance again in their new remodels)

[Zayre88]

Martha to seek mass market partners after Kmart

-- Home Textiles Today, 3/12/2008 2:18:00 PM

New York – Addressing her second analyst conference in as many days, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's chief elaborated a bit yesterday on her March 10 assertion the brand would live on in the mass market after its exclusive contract with Kmart expires in January 2010.

"Right now we do not believe Kmart is our likely partner going forward," president and ceo Susan Lyne said during the Bank of America 2008 Consumer Conference here. "However, as of January 2010 we can be in any other mass retailer," and the company is free to pursue new deals now, she added.

Lyne noted that its other channel exclusives are with first-in-class retailers (Lowe's, Macy's and Costco) and indicated the company believes it will receive more floor space and better promotion if it signs another exclusive in the mass market.

http://www.hometextilestoday.com/article/CA6540452.html

[XISMZERO]

Found an old-school "garden shop" sign at the Waterbury, CT store. I never knew this was here since it has a new one on the front of the store. This one opened the same day as Southington (now a Price Chopper) in November 1973. The sign has been here for 35 years.

[Anonymous]

Rome, GA in April 2007.  Very nice store.

EDIT: Sorry, file's too large. It's gotta fit the page (700x or less).

[dmx10101]

The Rome, Ga store is the one I visited recently and posted all about including lots of pictures on pages 58 of this thread.

[XISMZERO]

Vacant Kmart in Columbus, OH.

I didn't know this one was here. I wonder how many years its been vacant? The parking lot, like most parking lots in Ohio was in horrendous shape.

[XISMZERO]

GROVE CITY / COLUMBUS, OH.

A typical mid-70s one with pre-Big K sign. I was surprised this one missed the Big K invasion.

[XISMZERO]

GROVE CITY / COLUMBUS, OH.

[XISMZERO]

CAMBRIDGE, OH at the I-70 junction.

Stopped here to use the restroom -- never been inside a Super K before. Very, very big store!

[XISMZERO]

CAMBRIDGE, OH at the I-70 junction.

This Super Kmart had a K Express gas station! I didn't know Kmart had their own fuel stations.

[XISMZERO]

CLARION, PA at Clarion Mall

Stopped here to get myself a back pillow. I had been on the road for a good 4 hours -- my back was killing me. This one had an old Garden Shop sign and you could tell it was old. That's the mall entrance, leads to the side hallway not the entrance to the store.

[XISMZERO]

CLARION, PA at Clarion Mall