tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post471821471581226934..comments2024-03-21T01:17:34.038-05:00Comments on Pleasant Family Shopping: Kmart - Big Changes for the BluelightDavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-45217118723956814502015-11-09T19:08:30.560-06:002015-11-09T19:08:30.560-06:00Didn't they also acquire Burger Chef for a whi...Didn't they also acquire Burger Chef for a while?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10890597862221584101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-63070161485514545792012-12-06T20:30:45.420-06:002012-12-06T20:30:45.420-06:00I miss the old Kmart eatery!I miss the old Kmart eatery!Chris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-88877099789897649362010-12-01T07:38:55.389-06:002010-12-01T07:38:55.389-06:00Of possible interest: a 1970 TG&Y ad on page 7...Of possible interest: a 1970 TG&Y ad on page 7 of this issue of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal:<br /><br />http://lubbockonline.com/lubbock_tornado/files/051370.swf<br /><br />I originally found this link while doing storm research, but the ads within the paper tie nicely into my retail history hobby.Rachelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-73294095296175799342010-03-21T21:49:48.947-05:002010-03-21T21:49:48.947-05:00Mobycat - I would imagine it's been heavily re...Mobycat - I would imagine it's been heavily remodeled. Thanks!Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-60067091266933633632010-03-17T20:04:27.215-05:002010-03-17T20:04:27.215-05:00I went to college in Oxford, Ohio. I remember tha...I went to college in Oxford, Ohio. I remember that K-Mart. They closed it around 1990 (give or take a couple of years). The building is now a Kroger.mobycathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07941268964281306078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-55227887801964206302009-03-12T00:06:00.000-05:002009-03-12T00:06:00.000-05:00DewN Nitek - They really didn't consider that sort...DewN Nitek - They really didn't consider that sort of thing in those days, I guess!<BR/><BR/>Geoff - The "SSK" logo was a common sight in Kmart stores and ads until 1976, when the parent company officially changed its name from S.S. Kresge Company to Kmart Corporation.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-15296197235149635232009-03-10T14:51:00.000-05:002009-03-10T14:51:00.000-05:00I notice the employee uniforms have the "SSK" corp...I notice the employee uniforms have the "SSK" corporate logo. This logo used to appear in all the print advertising for Kresge's (and, I presume, Kmart -- oddly enough, the Canadian city where I grew up never had a Kmart, though Kresge's was ensconced downtown until the mid-80s.)Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02670758977058825516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-67861041965568694362009-02-16T15:39:00.000-06:002009-02-16T15:39:00.000-06:00I love how the K-Mart pylon sign in the first phot...I love how the K-Mart pylon sign in the first photo complete disregards the scale of the street and the surrounding built environment.DewN Nitekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11737434529647928950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-15427013944416428702008-05-25T19:41:00.000-05:002008-05-25T19:41:00.000-05:00Matt - Thanks. I missed our local Kmart when it cl...Matt - Thanks. I missed our local Kmart when it closed as well. It was super convenient when you need just a few things.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure ditching the chain is an option as far as a buyer is concerned , but I could see them converting more of them to a Sears-type format.<BR/><BR/>Scott - You've kind of summed up their problems in a nutshell!Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-10646814132528848322008-05-22T00:11:00.000-05:002008-05-22T00:11:00.000-05:00Kmart... I don't know. They still haven't convince...Kmart... I don't know. They still haven't convinced me. It looks more Searsish now... but, there is still something I can't articulate. They just haven't figured out atmosphere, yet. Service is rather low, too. I don't know. The 70s or now, it's still the same to me.<BR/>ScottScott Parsonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967375949115515071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-56184403481957032802008-05-21T21:43:00.000-05:002008-05-21T21:43:00.000-05:00Ahh now THIS is how I remember the K-marts of my y...Ahh now THIS is how I remember the K-marts of my youth.<BR/><BR/>Pretty thorough history taking us up through present day too. It's really been long downhill slide since the 1980s.<BR/><BR/>I for one, did not know K-mart owned Furrs Cafeterias. We had a few up here in WI, and they most likely opened up here during K-mart's ownership when they were in their aggressive "Let's buy up every last speciality segment and over-expand them."<BR/><BR/>The first 'big box' home improvement store I stepped foot into was in fact, a Builders Square.....in a former K-mart of all places.<BR/><BR/>Looking back on things, I really do miss having K-mart around locally. While my local store was rather dated, save for the 'Big K' signage outside and a paint job inside and out, it was not as ridiculously busy as Wal-Mart, thus a quicker in-and-out if I only needed a couple things.<BR/><BR/>I just hope Lampert isn't ultimately trying to ditch the chain. Sears is also in dire times right now....as is really the entire retailing scene, unless it's the high-upscale/exclusive chains.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16995028308806276177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-79889325286398072252008-05-17T23:22:00.000-05:002008-05-17T23:22:00.000-05:00Brannon - Glad you like 'em, they bring back a ton...Brannon - Glad you like 'em, they bring back a ton of memories for me as well.<BR/><BR/>Thospl - And the Monte was still fairly new at the time (looks like a '73 or 4 at the oldest)! I noticed on the Fark.com message board that someone described it as their dream car in high school. It was mine as well.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-4529715856607934742008-05-17T12:46:00.000-05:002008-05-17T12:46:00.000-05:00I love the fact that the Monte Carlo pictured is m...I love the fact that the Monte Carlo pictured is missing it's lug nut covers. Just like every one that was on the road back then.Thomas P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12715457737272764688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-77200731552572335282008-05-17T00:03:00.000-05:002008-05-17T00:03:00.000-05:00Oh my gosh!. Man, those pics of K-Mart in the 70's...Oh my gosh!. Man, those pics of K-Mart in the 70's really bring back some great memories. Its cool to see inside with all those people, and the check out line. Ha....Great stuff...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-48988709065170372652008-05-15T21:27:00.000-05:002008-05-15T21:27:00.000-05:00Jamcool - Thanks, I didn't catch Furr's. It's a pr...Jamcool - Thanks, I didn't catch Furr's. It's a pretty long list, even without them.<BR/><BR/>You're absolutely right, in my opinion. Their energies were spread way too thin while the core discount store business suffered. <BR/><BR/>Didi - This story changes all the time. The latest article I read quoted Lampert as saying in effect he'd be interested in continuing the Martha Stewart line. My feeling is at the end of the day they'll meet her price rather than lose the prestige and sales, but who knows?Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07788722183424550052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-75189326174187890102008-05-15T14:15:00.000-05:002008-05-15T14:15:00.000-05:00Now this is the Kmart I remember well. Next to Zay...Now this is the Kmart I remember well. Next to Zayre's orange and brown scheme, who could forget those turquoise colored vests the workers at Kmart had to wear? Iconic symbols indeed.<BR/><BR/>I had read a while back that Lampert was looking on letting Martha Stewart's contract go and not renewing it at all come 2009 in order to save the compnay money I guess. Don't know what the status is now, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1033289293807518844.post-53309764540805558782008-05-15T02:25:00.000-05:002008-05-15T02:25:00.000-05:00QUOTE-"In a mid-eighties bid to shore up their for...QUOTE-"In a mid-eighties bid to shore up their fortunes, Kmart embarked on a spree of diversified retail acquisitions (and launches, in the case of Builders Square) that would last into the next decade. The list was extensive."<BR/><BR/>Thus the reason for the big K's downfall. Not concentrating on their main retail business. They even dabbled in the restaraunt business by acquiring (and later spinning off) Furr's Cafeterias from the(now defunct)Texas-based Furr's grocery chain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com