K-Mart

[d_fife]

Originally posted by dmx10101
The only Super Kmart in South Carolina

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thats in Charleston. I Went there last summer

[wiseguy93]

Here's a former K mart located on Roane Street in Johnson City. Not sure how long it has been vacant.

[wiseguy93]

[beachgal26]

Wiseguy 93, was the K-Mart located along the main road across from the hotel and the Cracker Barrel?  I haven't been there in about 10 years, but I think that I remember it being open until at least the mid-90's.

[Marc82]

I heard Super K-Mart in Queensbury, New York will become a Sears Store. The Sears Store at the Aviation Mall will close as a result. This is a cost saving measure. They figure why pay rent to The Aviation Mall when they already own The K-Mart building.

[TRJ22487]

Stills from the Youtube video

[KmartDanny09]

Tomorrow I go from being an electronics associate to service desk/front end shift supervisor!! I'm excited... but nervous at the same time... hopefully I can deal with the stupid people's complaints!! That and the stupid cashiers that can't listen..

Second time I've changed jobs within Kmart. Started out as cashier, then moved to electronics (and have filled in for garden) and now off to service desk!!

Anyone got advice!?!? Haha

[dmx10101]

Here's a link to a photo gallery that has pics of the newly renovated store- http://e-prattville.com/E-Prattville%202008%20Galleries/KmartReopening/index.html The store even has a new Nathan's hotdog cafe in it.

Reporter: Bryan Henry

PRATTVILLE, AL (WSFA) - Eight months ago parts of K-Mart could be found in the front parking lot, debris all over the place and questions lingered whether it would reopen or not.

Today, the store is much-improved and Gloria Murphy couldn't be more thrilled, especially since it was Murphy who rounded-up her customers the day the storm hit.

"That's when I looked up and saw all the debris flying around," Murphy recalls. "All I could do was get my customers in the middle of the store and away from the glass."

Murphy is among the 117 employees who work at K-Mart now, 117 people who found jobs in a weak economy.

Store manager Victor Tate says the economic uncertainties were never an issue in deciding whether to re-open. K-Mart is a top ten sales tax generator for Prattville.

"We believe we'll benefit from the weak economy because we still have our lay-a-way plan. Customers don't have to pay all their money up front," said Tate.

The store had a soft-opening Tuesday and Tate estimates around 1,500 customers came in.

What the tornado blew up, the company rebuilt.

Now, Murphy is getting ready for the grand opening Saturday morning, a new start for K-Mart.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

The Kmart on Green Bay's east side is having its Store Closing sale. I went there on Friday to buy some SpongeBob bathroom decor, and I was surprised at how cheap everything was! 10-50% off almost everything! Of course, everything must go. The store was fun while it lasted- for thirty years tops. The reason for this store's demise would in clude poor sales, and competition from the ShopKo store at a shopping mall nearby, as well as the Walmart and Target stores down the road.

[tntornadox]

Originally posted by dmx10101
Here's a link to a photo gallery that has pics of the newly renovated store- http://e-prattville.com/E-Prattville%202008%20Galleries/KmartReopening/index.html The store even has a new Nathan's hotdog cafe in it.

Reporter: Bryan Henry

PRATTVILLE, AL (WSFA) - Eight months ago parts of K-Mart could be found in the front parking lot, debris all over the place and questions lingered whether it would reopen or not.

Today, the store is much-improved and Gloria Murphy couldn't be more thrilled, especially since it was Murphy who rounded-up her customers the day the storm hit.

"That's when I looked up and saw all the debris flying around," Murphy recalls. "All I could do was get my customers in the middle of the store and away from the glass."

Murphy is among the 117 employees who work at K-Mart now, 117 people who found jobs in a weak economy.

Store manager Victor Tate says the economic uncertainties were never an issue in deciding whether to re-open. K-Mart is a top ten sales tax generator for Prattville.

"We believe we'll benefit from the weak economy because we still have our lay-a-way plan. Customers don't have to pay all their money up front," said Tate.

The store had a soft-opening Tuesday and Tate estimates around 1,500 customers came in.

What the tornado blew up, the company rebuilt.

Now, Murphy is getting ready for the grand opening Saturday morning, a new start for K-Mart.

That store looks fantastic, I guess this may the closest thing we will ever see to what a brand new Kmart would look like?

As for that vacant store in Johnson City, TN, it was closed over a decade ago when they moved into a new Super Kmart down the street... it's still open, one of the last three Super K's in Tennessee.

[KmartDanny09]

Originally posted by tntornadox

Originally posted by dmx10101
Here's a link to a photo gallery that has pics of the newly renovated store- http://e-prattville.com/E-Prattville%202008%20Galleries/KmartReopening/index.html The store even has a new Nathan's hotdog cafe in it.

Reporter: Bryan Henry

PRATTVILLE, AL (WSFA) - Eight months ago parts of K-Mart could be found in the front parking lot, debris all over the place and questions lingered whether it would reopen or not.

Today, the store is much-improved and Gloria Murphy couldn't be more thrilled, especially since it was Murphy who rounded-up her customers the day the storm hit.

"That's when I looked up and saw all the debris flying around," Murphy recalls. "All I could do was get my customers in the middle of the store and away from the glass."

Murphy is among the 117 employees who work at K-Mart now, 117 people who found jobs in a weak economy.

Store manager Victor Tate says the economic uncertainties were never an issue in deciding whether to re-open. K-Mart is a top ten sales tax generator for Prattville.

"We believe we'll benefit from the weak economy because we still have our lay-a-way plan. Customers don't have to pay all their money up front," said Tate.

The store had a soft-opening Tuesday and Tate estimates around 1,500 customers came in.

What the tornado blew up, the company rebuilt.

Now, Murphy is getting ready for the grand opening Saturday morning, a new start for K-Mart.

That store looks fantastic, I guess this may the closest thing we will ever see to what a brand new Kmart would look like?

As for that vacant store in Johnson City, TN, it was closed over a decade ago when they moved into a new Super Kmart down the street... it's still open, one of the last three Super K's in Tennessee.

As a Kmart employee, I'm quite jealous of whoever gets to work in that store. Like most Kmarts, ours was badly remodeled back in the "Big K" conversion... complete with mismatched fixtures and badly fixed floors!

If corporate would spend the money and time to fix up ALL the stores (instead of closing them) like this, Kmart would once again be a true competitor in the industry! That store looks very clean, organized... the atmosphere almost compares with a Target store... very clean and upscale... not ugly like our Kmart!

On a good note... we recently had a regional store visit... a very big one! The regional VP was very impressed with the employees and the way the store looked... the only complaint was the shelves are overstocked (that is, merchandise that can't fit on a hook is set on the baseboard and merchandise that can't fit on a shelf is placed behind another item) instead of being left in the backroom... hopefully our sales performance and cleanliness puts us in the running for one of these remodels! I'm soo tired of people asking when we're going out of business.

Any other Kmart associate here about the signing programing going into effect? I guess we are elimanting the plastic sign holders and "wobblers" and going with grocery store style "rip off" sale signs that attach to the UPC label? Anyone know when this is going into effect? Anyone also hear about the do-it-yourself overhaul?

[dmx10101]

checkout my new Kmart blog here- http://kmartworld.blogspot.com/. If you have anything that you would to contribute for me to add to a post, please message me.

[KmartDanny09]

Originally posted by dmx10101
checkout my new Kmart blog here- http://kmartworld.blogspot.com/. If you have anything that you would to contribute for me to add to a post, please message me.

Let me know whatever you need... I got inside info (employee perspective), pictures, store maps, etc.

BTW, my Kmart's electronics area is also located in the front, right corner of the store.

EDIT- PS... next time you pay a visit to a Kmart, why don't you take a picture of the store directory located towards the front of the store? It would be much appericated!

[TheRetroNickFan]

Nice blog!

That Kmart just had to be an old Wal-Mart. It has those same light fixtures, plus the building is exactly the same shape as their old ''Discount City'' stores from the 80's.

[KmartDanny09]

The Alexis Road Kmart in Toledo, OH is the oldest Kmart of the three remaining Kmarts in the area. It was badly updated as apart of the "Big Kmart" store package in the '90s. Among the aging signs is the front design of the building...



This is the store map. The design is unusual in that the softlines side of the store is on the direct right of the entrance... most Kmarts have the softlines on the left.



The KCafe is the only KCafe still in operation in the Toledo area. Then again, it is the only KCafe is located right off the main entrance (think Target)



Here are shots of the softlines departments....



One will notice that the height of the ceiling is quite low compared to some other stores... the low ceiling contributes to the "cluttered" look and feel of the store.



Again, this is the only kmart in Toledo that still has the divider wall lights in operation... most have taken them out in order to be "green".

[KmartDanny09]

This is the store map of the Perrysburg, OH Kmart. Sorry that no other shots were taken... I was with a friend.

[dmx10101]

Nice pics!

[AmesNewington]

That K-Mart still looks alright. It at least looks neat and clean from what I can see.

[KmartDanny09]

Originally posted by AmesNewington
That K-Mart still looks alright. It at least looks neat and clean from what I can see.  

I'll have to get more pictures of the hardlines side of things... you can really see the age there.... It's old and kinda cluttered. The softlines areas aren't that bad... and even have updated fxitures that some Kmarts don't even have.

BTW, if you're into shopping carts, this is the store for you. They have a sample of almost EVERY Kmart cart generation IN SERVICE since the new logo... I'm talking red ones, blue ones, square ones, rounded ones, etc. I need to get more pictures, but it's the opposite side of town that I am... and I have no car.

[Ameskid]

Originally posted by KmartDanny09


The KCafe is the only KCafe still in operation in the Toledo area. Then again, it is the only KCafe is located right off the main entrance (think Target)



 

That Pepsi circle is replacing the old Little Caesar's logo, if I'm not mistaken.


Also, does your store REALLY have all the grey Kmart cart variations?  Check out my post in "Shopping Cart Sightings" for all the variations.

[KmartDanny09]

Originally posted by Ameskid

Originally posted by KmartDanny09


The KCafe is the only KCafe still in operation in the Toledo area. Then again, it is the only KCafe is located right off the main entrance (think Target)



 

That Pepsi circle is replacing the old Little Caesar's logo, if I'm not mistaken.


Also, does your store REALLY have all the grey Kmart cart variations?  Check out my post in "Shopping Cart Sightings" for all the variations.

While I can't be positive, I do believe that this Kmart has many if not all variations of the '90s (K with script MART) gray style carts. This Kmart also has red and blue shopping carts as well.  Squared-ones, rounded-ones, ones with "Super Kmart" on them, Kmart in the center, Kmart towards the bottom, etc. Next time I'm around that side of town, I'll get more pictures of the carts.... I'll also have to get pictures from my Kmart's "shopping cart museum" (the front sidewalk where we store the shopping carts that we don't put into service)... we have quite the selection as well.

Couldn't tell you about that Pepsi Logo. As I said before, that isn't "my" Kmart... I only stop up at the Kmart when I'm on that side of town.... I'll pictures of my Kmart for ya tho!

[tntornadox]

Alright everyone, in my total boredom and being a retail nerd and veteran of Sears Holdings, I have come up with a new store prototype for Kmart called 'Prototype: Phoenix', named symbolically for the bird of lore who bursts into flames and rises again from the ashes, which I think describes what could happen at Kmart and Sears Holdings as a whole quite well.

I have taken some elements from Sears and other retailers (namely Target) in developing a floor layout that makes sense for today's family. I have added Sears services for Auto Center, Optical and Portrait Studio while doing away with the third party vendors Kmart aligned with for far too long. The store also features traditional Kmart services such as Layaway, KCafe and the Kmart Pharmacy.

The store entrance is placed strategically in the middle of the front-facing of the structure. It is laid out on a somewhat gender basis, as SHC tried to do with the newer Sears stores. It aligns complimenting departments together (Jewelry and Accessories, for example).

The store is laid out in a circular 'race-track' fashion with a criss cross of aisles in the middle of the grid, making the store extremely easy to navigate around the 'blocks' of product.

This store is larger than this lets on, my target footage would be at least 150,000 square feet with dropped ceilings featuring Sears-esque lighting (not the rows upon rows of lighting Kmart traditionally had), aisles are lower allowing the customer to see across the store.

What's New?

- Softlines: The genders are seperated by blocks and the racetrack floor plan, Young Mens' and Mens' on one side and Juniors' and Womens' on the other. Jewelry and Accessories face the center vertical aisle on the Womens' pad with shoes doing the same on the Mens' pad. The Fitting Rooms have been moved to the back corner of the store where the store operator will also be placed.

-Household: HBA, Household Goods and Market (A GM Kmart's 'grocery') are lumped together for convenience.

-KBaby: This is something Target is doing in their newer stores to great success- lump everything for baby into one department for easy shopping.

-Electronics/Entertainment: I have combined the two departments ala Target style for shopping convenience. I wish for Kmart to have a real electronics department, something they have been missing since the early 90s... I don't want to see tube TVs on display ever again...

-Automotive is placed next to Sears Auto Center for purchasing synergies.

-Hardware/Lawn & Garden and Large Appliances are laid out similar to their Sears counterparts.

-Seasonal has a flat next to the front checklanes.

-Garden Center operates seasonally, being taken up the rest of the year by Holiday seasonal merchandise. (Never again will it be 'boarded up' for half the year like it is now.)

-Hardlines is laid out on the pads on the right hand side of the store.

-Mattresses: Honestly, I ran out of ideas, if anyone has anything better that would sit in that pad in hardlines, let me know.

-Store Operations: There should always be at least ONE associate in Electronics, Hardware/Lawn & Garden, Large Appliances, Garden Center (when in season), Hardlines, Softlines, Layaway and Fitting Room... this is not an option. Associates are expected to be straightening and 'zoning' their departments when not assisting customers and the store must be straight and clean by the end of the night.

The best thing about this prototype is it could be extended to be a Super Kmart with little difference in the design, I may post a 'Super' version at a later time.

In the end, I have taken inspiration from other retailers to develop a new Kmart store prototype and operating procedures... we can all only dream of course, Eddie Lampert will never spend money to grow the business.

Comments/Questions/Additions are appreciated.

(P.S.- Mods, I am sorry for the image size, but anything much smaller makes it near impossible to see the layout clearly, adjust if you must.)

Floor Plan:

[KmartDanny09]

I must say, what an impressive design! I thought I was the only one who actually take pen-to-paper and redesign store layouts! I'm almost obsessive about it to... I have been known to spend hours in Wal-Mart, Meijer's and the like writing detailed notes about how the stores were arranged, and trying to rework them into a better fashion... maybe I should scan some of my designs...

[tntornadox]

Really glad you enjoyed the GM Kmart layout, I have completed the SuperK layout following the name of: "Prototype: Super Phoenix". Of course, everything is larger with a Supercenter, so my target size for this store is between 200-220,000 square feet- this is not to scale, the departments would be larger over the GM prototype.

Additions to Store Operations over GM Prototype are the addition of at least one associate in dry grocery, seafood, meat, bakery and produce. The store could be open 24 hours a day, in which case one-two associates for the entire grocery side would suffice, along with one-two associates for hardlines and one associate (store operator) for fitting room overnight. Or, they could roll the phones to the service desk overnight, either would suffice, based off Security risks on a store to store basis. The decision on store hours should be made based on local traffic.

Layout:

What's New?

As previously stated, what's great about Prototype: Phoenix is that it is adaptable to be a SuperK as well with very little movement of departments- IMO, the more consistent your stores are across the board, the easier they are to shop, thus pleasing your customers even more and becoming their preferred place to shop. I more or less did what I said I was going to do- I blew out the left hand wall and added groceries, those departments that I did move are:

- All store services are now together in front of the checklanes between the two separate store entrances.

- A Florist shop was added to the new front lane store service cluster.

- Household Goods and HBA are now at the back of the store.

- Market becomes obsolete with the addition of a full-line grocery department.

- The Fitting Rooms were moved from the corner next to the Layaway restrooms to create a 'service cluster' at the back of the store.

- Two additional 'blocks' were added on the left-hand side for Dry Grocery- in keeping with the ease of layout design, the aisle remain consistent across the store.

- Seafood, Fresh Meats and Bakery were added to the far left wall with direct access to the stockroom behind them.

In addition, the footprint was also pushed out in the front to make room for the line of checklanes and store services at the front, thus, the sidecaps of the building are flared inward and lined with windows (reminiscent of the 90s SuperK design). On the GM side, you have a bank or other 3rd party service; on the Grocery side, you have an enlarged KCafe for hungry families.

Also in this design I introduce something that may make its way into the GM Prototype- the 'Best of Blue Zone'. This flexible area at the main entry points of the store (one for GM, one for Grocery) showcase this week's deals or promotions in each sector... the GM zone is larger to accommodate large appliances and electronic items.

Again, Comments/Questions/Additions are welcome, and once again I apologize for the image's large size.

Floor plan:

[dmx10101]

Originally posted by Ameskid

Originally posted by KmartDanny09


The KCafe is the only KCafe still in operation in the Toledo area. Then again, it is the only KCafe is located right off the main entrance (think Target)



 

That Pepsi circle is replacing the old Little Caesar's logo, if I'm not mistaken.


Also, does your store REALLY have all the grey Kmart cart variations?  Check out my post in "Shopping Cart Sightings" for all the variations.

Yes that pepsi logo replaced the little Caesars logo. I large amount of K cafe used to feature little Caesars rather than have a stand alone little Caesars. Now most all of the k cafe's have gotten rid of the little Caesars pizza and have covered up the "featuring Little Caesars" with something else.

[dmx10101]

Originally posted by KmartDanny09

Originally posted by dmx10101
checkout my new Kmart blog here- http://kmartworld.blogspot.com/. If you have anything that you would to contribute for me to add to a post, please message me.

Let me know whatever you need... I got inside info (employee perspective), pictures, store maps, etc.

BTW, my Kmart's electronics area is also located in the front, right corner of the store.

EDIT- PS... next time you pay a visit to a Kmart, why don't you take a picture of the store directory located towards the front of the store? It would be much appericated!

Thanks for the support. I will start taking pics of the directory from now on, that's something I've meant to do all along but completely forget about.  

If you can get some good pictures including a shot of the front exterior and some interior shots. Also give me some interesting info and/or history, I would like to do a feature on your store. If you would like to, just send me an email with all the info and pictures. I'll credit you for everything in the post.

[dmx10101]

Here's my update of your layout. I moves a few things around on the left to make more sense, like the pharmacy is now next to the health and beauty. The food section is no longer next to the fitting room s and sandwiched in with the clothing depts. Intimates dept has been added and jewelry/accessories combined.

[KmartDanny09]

Originally posted by dmx10101

Originally posted by KmartDanny09

Originally posted by dmx10101
checkout my new Kmart blog here- http://kmartworld.blogspot.com/. If you have anything that you would to contribute for me to add to a post, please message me.

Let me know whatever you need... I got inside info (employee perspective), pictures, store maps, etc.

BTW, my Kmart's electronics area is also located in the front, right corner of the store.

EDIT- PS... next time you pay a visit to a Kmart, why don't you take a picture of the store directory located towards the front of the store? It would be much appericated!

Thanks for the support. I will start taking pics of the directory from now on, that's something I've meant to do all along but completely forget about.  

If you can get some good pictures including a shot of the front exterior and some interior shots. Also give me some interesting info and/or history, I would like to do a feature on your store. If you would like to, just send me an email with all the info and pictures. I'll credit you for everything in the post.

Sounds pretty cool! Getting pictures will take awhile... we have strict Loss Prevention people that really anti-cell phones... so I have get pictures when they aren't there AND without customers looking. As for history, I DO know that a Food Lion or similar grocery store used to occupy a portion of the current softlines sales floor.

I DO have pictures of the store directory and the garden shop areas (which I'll share with everyone else tonight)... it's just a matter of WHEN I can get decent shots of everything else... besides, I want to get lots of pictures anyways... I have to leave in August for college and I'm trying to get anything Kmart related before I leave!

[dmx10101]

Originally posted by KmartDanny09

Originally posted by dmx10101

Originally posted by KmartDanny09

Originally posted by dmx10101
checkout my new Kmart blog here- http://kmartworld.blogspot.com/. If you have anything that you would to contribute for me to add to a post, please message me.

Let me know whatever you need... I got inside info (employee perspective), pictures, store maps, etc.

BTW, my Kmart's electronics area is also located in the front, right corner of the store.

EDIT- PS... next time you pay a visit to a Kmart, why don't you take a picture of the store directory located towards the front of the store? It would be much appericated!

Thanks for the support. I will start taking pics of the directory from now on, that's something I've meant to do all along but completely forget about.  

If you can get some good pictures including a shot of the front exterior and some interior shots. Also give me some interesting info and/or history, I would like to do a feature on your store. If you would like to, just send me an email with all the info and pictures. I'll credit you for everything in the post.

Sounds pretty cool! Getting pictures will take awhile... we have strict Loss Prevention people that really anti-cell phones... so I have get pictures when they aren't there AND without customers looking. As for history, I DO know that a Food Lion or similar grocery store used to occupy a portion of the current softlines sales floor.

I DO have pictures of the store directory and the garden shop areas (which I'll share with everyone else tonight)... it's just a matter of WHEN I can get decent shots of everything else... besides, I want to get lots of pictures anyways... I have to leave in August for college and I'm trying to get anything Kmart related before I leave!

I know all about Loss Prevention, I did it for 2 yrs at Kohls. So as for taking pictures, just remember they cant see everything all the time, and the video cameras can only see so much too. So I wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as you don't act like you're doing something wrong, they're not gonna think you're doing something wrong, just be discreet about it.

[KmartDanny09]

Originally posted by dmx10101

Originally posted by KmartDanny09

Originally posted by dmx10101

Originally posted by KmartDanny09

Originally posted by dmx10101
checkout my new Kmart blog here- http://kmartworld.blogspot.com/. If you have anything that you would to contribute for me to add to a post, please message me.

Let me know whatever you need... I got inside info (employee perspective), pictures, store maps, etc.

BTW, my Kmart's electronics area is also located in the front, right corner of the store.

EDIT- PS... next time you pay a visit to a Kmart, why don't you take a picture of the store directory located towards the front of the store? It would be much appericated!

Thanks for the support. I will start taking pics of the directory from now on, that's something I've meant to do all along but completely forget about.  

If you can get some good pictures including a shot of the front exterior and some interior shots. Also give me some interesting info and/or history, I would like to do a feature on your store. If you would like to, just send me an email with all the info and pictures. I'll credit you for everything in the post.

Sounds pretty cool! Getting pictures will take awhile... we have strict Loss Prevention people that really anti-cell phones... so I have get pictures when they aren't there AND without customers looking. As for history, I DO know that a Food Lion or similar grocery store used to occupy a portion of the current softlines sales floor.

I DO have pictures of the store directory and the garden shop areas (which I'll share with everyone else tonight)... it's just a matter of WHEN I can get decent shots of everything else... besides, I want to get lots of pictures anyways... I have to leave in August for college and I'm trying to get anything Kmart related before I leave!

I know all about Loss Prevention, I did it for 2 yrs at Kohls. So as for taking pictures, just remember they cant see everything all the time, and the video cameras can only see so much too. So I wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as you don't act like you're doing something wrong, they're not gonna think you're doing something wrong, just be discreet about it.  

Sorry! I was misunderstood... I don't care if anyone sees me with my phone (I mean, they can't see what I do on it), but what I meant was getting decent pictures while I'm working... I don't go in on days that I don't work... so I was going to get some while I was working (not that I do it often or anything)... the LPs get mad when employees use their fones while on company time, and our manager doesn't like us shopping in work clothes (so a secret shopper can't mark us down for not "10 footing" or failure to wear a name badge).... so I'll do my best to get some BEFORE I work...


By the way, don't forget that this week is double coupon week at Kmart! Get coupons up to $2.00 doubled! (Except for in-store coupons with a Kmart logo....)