Reddit users lament ‘sad’ Sears relaunch in Burbank

Sears’ “soft opening” of its previously shuttered store at Burbank Town Center was apparently too soft for some shoppers. Oct. 23, 2023. (Peeps)
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[@Qwizitis]

She said “you just want to touch it, see how big it is get a tape measure” 😂😂😂

[@Fordgroup00]

😂👍

[@sierrapeaks]

"it's just not the same on a website" 🤣

[@ryanmanalansan6116]

Lol

[@lushlagoonbomb901]

MEME CONTENT RIGHT HERE!

[@EM-mw2qr]

You guys are bad.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

Brick and mortar stores should focus on shoes, clothes, and other things that you really do not want to buy online.

[@jackson5116]

Even those stores are closing. Look at Macys and Penneys struggles in fashion.

[@ericknoblauch9195]

Buying shoes is a good point to purchase in store. There is an old saying, "If the shoe fits and is comfortable, the customer will buy it." If the shoe does not fit, the customer will have to deal with the online return process if there is no brick and morter store located near them.

[@Tom-cn4cm]

I can get them for much less money on Amazon and do a free return if it doesn’t fit.

[@Kni0002]

KMart in Australia was going down like sears, but managed to make a huge turn around, now making billions by selling cheap fashion..

[@sunsetfoxx]

I still have vintage sears clothing like leather jackets & wool coat. There was a time when sears had some high quality clothing sold at their stores. It’s always fun to find vintage clothing from sears at thrift stores, brings back memories of that place

[@whoami7721]

I had a good Fieldmaster flannel jacket for around 15 years. I bought it at a local Sears when I moved in with my dad in 1998 to ward off the Northern California cold. I got rid of it after the lining and the shell began to separate. This was around 2013 or so, and I wore and washed it often. Clothing items don't seem to last that long nowadays.

[@miguelc9935]

That’s what I miss the most the clothes Sears took care of me throughout high school

[@dmo848]

​@@miguelc9935we were 2 poor we shopped at JCPenney 😂

[@famousbowl9926]

I also find random clothes. I was looking thru old stuff and the clothes were physically heavier and thicker in a good way. Not like shirts that are super thin and outstretch. You can still find quality clothes it's just not the norm

[@krissoliongco2717]

I'm from the Philippines and was a customer service agent for Sears back in 2013 (my first job ever). During the time, they still had hundreds of branches but they were rapidly on the decline due to poor management. They were trying to get their online business up but to no avail. It was sad, working for a company you know is on the down. I haven't heard anything about Sears in years so this gladens me so much. I wish them nothing but the best.

[@davee9527]

"you just want to touch it, see how big it is, and get a tape measure out" no context needed. 🤣

[@thefox47545]

Why is this comment so far down? That sentence made me spit out my Capri Sun.

[@ectoplasmicentity]

This is the literal example of "That's what she said".

[@TeamPaul17]

Thank you for preventing me from having to type it out. 1:01 for that moment. The intern in chanrge of KZbin clips knew EXACTLY when to cut the feed.

[@xlyal8908]

I miss stores like Sears, Robinsons May, Mervyns . It used to be so much fun shopping . Now everything is online and sad

[@stevennieto9898]

Macys. JC Penny

[@whoami7721]

Sears, JC Penney, Mervyn's, and Miller's Outpost were the places to go for school clothes and Christmas shopping. The hunt was sometimes better than the acquiring sometimes. You'd maybe run into friends and eat at the food court, then go to the arcade and play some video games. Fun times.

[@LadyMissCoppertone]

Broadway Topanga Plaza was my store...

[@myshadowstalksme]

I miss Mervyns. They had the best of everything. I got my first credit card there.

[@ImAyBeast]

Online ordering is so much more convenient

[@justincase2281]

I loved Sears!! Come back!!! Shop there, people. PLEASE!!😩

[@BetaBuxDelux]

I’m heading to Concord to shop at Sears.

[@sweets6865]

I miss the Sears Christmas books, Montgomery Wards and JC Penny's Christmas books.

[@FishFace1776-mi7ce]

I remember the jc penny's catalog. Huge!

[@stanford-nf4jk]

@FishFace1776-mi7ce My mom would hide it from my brother. He liked to look at the women in bras! 😆

[@sweets6865]

@@stanford-nf4jk Wow! That's crazy he was fantasizing 😄

[@stanford-nf4jk]

My local Sears was undergoing remodeling (which would have made the store look more modern than this one here) around five years ago. I awaited for the renovations to be complete and then they announced that it would be closing instead. It’s sad because my grandparents didn’t have much money but they’d take me to the mall and we’d spend time looking at Craftsman tools, Kenmore appliances, toys and automotive accessories!

[@melviasheppard8466]

That was the good ol days. Now the mall is smash and grab center.

[@faveszzzzzzzz]

God that sounds so American and I can completely relate.

[@michaelcharlesthearchangel]

Sears should be Amazon's major competition.... if Sears had went all in on Internet merchandising in the 2000s.

[@roachtoasties]

It doesn't look remodeled. The store just looks like a dumping grounds for clearing out stock. It's not the real Sears. The real Sears died many, many years ago.

[@bksst]

"you just want to touch it, see how big it is, and get a tape measure out"... We still talking about Sears?

[@Herbie11]

😳🤭

[@2puffs770]

😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@dmo848]

I'll never forget the sears book around Christmas time. I would pick out all the toys i dreamed about. Never got any of them but always wished.

[@notoriousosc1669]

Sears during Christmas time, some of my best childhood memories running around the store with Christmas music in the background. Good times.

[@travis7310]

They don’t play Christmas music anymore. Not last year, anyway.

[@notoriousosc1669]

@@travis7310 well I meant the old sears before they went under. During the 2000s that’s when I grew up.

[@MIKECNW]

Why would anyone care about how old the registers and counters are?

[@johnwilburn]

"You just want to like touch it and see how big it is and get a tape measure out." - Kacey the weather girl

[@fernandomurillo9272]

I still have faith Sears will be back in full swing again.

[@Venim85]

Wish I could just relive the 80's over and over...

[@keith692]

and a tiny bit of the 90's as well lol

[@9davidlong]

She wants to touch it see how big it is and get a tape measure out.😂

[@doinitlive3015]

She knew what she was talking about 😂

[@FishFace1776-mi7ce]

They need to come back! We need you back Sears! Craftsman was everything!

[@Will-y2f1s]

1927

[@Will-y2f1s]

Keep Sears please 🥺 hire passionate builders

[@nannerz1994]

They sell craftsman at Lowe's now!

[@justayoutuber1906]

Craftsman is owned by Black and Decker now. Who also owns DeWalt

[@tinyvr7036]

I remember the in- store Sears repair shop. They fixed VCR s and tools etc. Automotive and delivery services were great, too. Nice times and so practical. " Where America shopped..." 😢

[@TC-vg3pr]

I miss Sears and Wards, and even Penny's is almost gone now. I think there is only one left in my area

[@GloriaCotten-to8pk]

I went and it was much brighter and stocked than I’d ever seen this location. They had holiday stuff, a pet supply section, lots of current toys…you only showed the bare shelves that have the signs regarding items to come. Context! I don’t think we’re presenting the full story.

[@ericcarson342]

I miss the Toys R US on Sherman Way in Van Nuys. My grandfather used to take me there. I miss that Sears too. As well as Montgomery Ward.

[@lunna45]

'You just want to touch it, see how big it is, and get a tape measure out.' Girl ~ stop LOL 🤣🤣🤣

[@mattkramer4132]

Seems like Transformco (the current owner of Sears) might be hanging onto some stores in order to keep the Sears trademark active. Chevron has done the same thing and has one single gas station branded as Standard Oil at 1501 Van Ness in San Francisco in order to keep that trademark active.

[@thanumgaming]

Thank Amazon and online shopping for many of these old classics downsizing or disappearing entirely. Glad to see them actually reopen a location. Hopefully things fill out and people actually go and support the location.

[@nonconsensualopinion]

"what? I can get this a dollar cheaper online" - Customers

[@Svid1701D]

☠️

[@Quarter1308]

Also union gap wa is opening

[@marysaade4343]

People keep buying from Amazon, no use for AMAZON

[@ejicon3099]

Bring back Toys R Us. I refuse to shop at Walmart and Target's toy section is just SAD. And while we're at it, please bring back KB Toy Store and FAO Schwarz too.

[@knuclear200x]

Me too. But in this day and age? We don't deserve one😢

[@ejicon3099]

@@knuclear200x Word

[@Yo_Kelz]

Toys R Us was LIT. Oh and Toward Records. Bring that back too!

[@harpiessnow]

God, nothing was better than being a kid and getting to visit Toys R Us. So many toys, so many options to beg mom and dad for. Sad that kids wont get to experience the wonder of seeing a pretty massive store of nothing, but toys and video games (that you can physically see, unlike online stores).

[@ejicon3099]

@@Yo_Kelz Yes! Let's Go!

[@liveforgod1682]

This is a dealer store \privately own, most of the comments were spot on ,me working there for 13 years,our store closed back in 2013,if you don't or can't give your employees a raise, you can't get good customer service which Sears used to pride itself on.then you got certain employees got the sticky fingers syndrome😤‼

[@SL-lz9jr]

I own a vintage mid century modern chair that used to be sold at Sears. I bought it off eBay many years ago. It’s crazy to think Sears used to have some pretty good stuff. Sad to see it decline but it’s the sign of the times. Department stores aren’t what they used to be. Consumer behavior has changed. Online shopping has made department stores obsolete. It’s all so weird.

[@Wildchildinc]

I worked at my local sears while job hunting after college back in 2019. The store was literally stuck in the late 90's/ early 2000s

[@ronhoover5516]

Can I go there too? The late 90s - early 2000s, that is.

[@davee9527]

I miss Sears but they really went downhill the last few years they were open.

[@Kiraiko44]

It's so crazy to think that within my lifetime I might get to see the rise and fall of the American mall... I miss them. I live in a remote area now that doesn't have them but I grew up going to the mall every Friday to hang out with my friends at the arcade. Sears was the Walmart or Amazon of its day, not sure if it's going to hang in there through this or not

[@keiibo9006]

The mall is still popular in California!

[@miguelcastaneda7257]

Sears has been open down in Ensenada Mexico all during this as well as a radio shack

[@stanford-nf4jk]

@miguelcastaneda7257 También en Tijuana. ¡Deberías de ver que lleno de gente se pone la que está en Plaza Río durante el mes de Diciembre!

[@ericknoblauch9195]

If Sears is going to reopen stores and have a relaunch they should concentrate on smaller stores. It is useless, and does not look very good having whole entire floors, and sections closed off to customers shopping. Also, they had a lot of product spread out to make the area and store look full when it wasn't. Other retailers have gone to a smaller store concept. Ross, Tjmaxx, Marshalls, and a lot of others have gone to smaller stores. Macy's, has announced they are opening smaller stores outside of traditional malls. Nordstroms has also announced they will be doing the same with their smaller rack stores. What is really happening here is there is a downturn in the commercial real estate market. Fast Eddie closed too many stores, and now has a lot of them closed, and the land is not selling. In San Francisck, CA there is a huge vacancy rate for commercial office space, and many of it's downtown retailers are closing stores. Many retailers are also closing stores nationwide due to theft, and non performing. Fast Eddie now wants to have these closed locations producing revenue again because they are not producing anything closed, and he has to pay property tax to hold them. The company should have thought about the tax consequences before they went on their closing store rampage.

[@blueskiesbri]

Do you blame them for not putting out electronics? It'll all just get stolen in today's California. All the best to you Sears Burbank.

[@tamikadaniels6556]

I miss SEARS

[@area52music]

Circuit City. Now THATS a store i miss. It was right across the street from that Sears too.

[@Yo_Kelz]

I remember they had the biggest receipts ever lol

[@hawaiianpunch5432]

CompUSA next door as well and Fry's about a mile away. Fry's used to have people lining up around the block for Black Friday. Since Fry's was huge, it was easier to get the doorbusters as compared to other stores with little inventory. As for this Sears, I wonder if they are just trying to get rid of 5 year-old stock. Or maybe they bought out some other company's products who went out of business and are trying to flip the items to make a profit. Probably all generic branded stuff nobody wants.

[@area52music]

@@hawaiianpunch5432 i worked at that Frys for 2 years. It was great for customers, nightmare for staff. Worst turnover rate in the industry.

[@donferrie4070]

When I was in junior high school, I bought a stereo receiver there. I was very happy with it. They have nothing even close to that any more. Nor do they have quality men's polo shirts in my size. Everything is pure junk.... And they wonder why they have to file for bankruptcy.... Sell quality items, and seel what people want. People will go there. Sell junk and chase the people away....

[@donotsupportterroristgroups]

Who cares that aesthetically it doesn't appeal to them, that the cabinets are old or there are missing ceiling tiles?! What's important is that you have a place to shop, a place for people to earn an honest days pay!

[@margaretdimick2096]

I still remember my mom taking me to Sears for school shopping. Ours was two floors and we always had to explore both. Now it's just empty space.

[@tibedog5629]

Sears going the way of Kmart. I miss Kmart.

[@ramenshells9715]

Good times in that sears everyone has memories there glad they decided to open it up again!

[@papagen00]

blonde weather girl, "you just wanna see how big it is and take the tape measure out."

[@frankm.2828]

This is a soft-opening, there's still much more to come.

[@kaveh1836]

Did she really say that there at the end?

[@senorbusyman]

I used to go to the Sears in Northridge Mall since my Uncle worked there & their customer service was top notch. My dad would buy work boots from them, my Mom was appliances & electronics, me it was mostly just playing games at the kiosks or looking at toys

[@herrwarmduscher5204]

Sears is a prime example of why you want people on Wall Street to stay far away from owning productive enterprise.

[@cynthiapickett8577]

Now bring back the rest of the stores (Sears still owns several buildings).

[@ericknoblauch9195]

They still own several of the closed stores, and have to pay the property tax on them. At the same time they are not producing any revenue. Many other retailers are also closing stores, and there is a glut of commercial real estate on the market in San Francisco, CA right now. They can't lease or sell it right now because there is so much of it. Fast Eddie now realizes the closed locations were producing revenue when they were open, and now are not. He has carrying costs to hold the closed stores.

[@stygianhoplite]

Sears was absolutely magical around the holiday season. In my area it's similarly a sad and bare place now. Very depressing.

[@dfirth224]

In my city the Sears store has been divided into several smaller businesses. It was the anchor store when the shopping center opened in 1955. Makes me sad when I drive by.

[@unusabraham4596]

It is sad to see big name businesses like K Mart, Sears, Toys r Us, Circuit City, Rite aid, Bath Bed & Beyond, and many more are disappearing from the market. What went wrong ? We love these stores which were like a part and parcel of our daily lives.

[@SL-lz9jr]

Online shopping changed consumer behavior. Except Toys R Us, everything you just named here merely sold generic goods or brand name goods that you could find anywhere. Before the internet, you could only acquire goods in person at a store. Department stores made shopping easy by being a one stop shop for the entire home and family. When the internet came along, it was still possible to retain market share for the goods they sold if they kept up with e-commerce. But things changed drastically once online mega stores like Amazon came along that offered free fast shipping and sold millions of different products. Then online stores from China like Shein, Temu, etc came along and slashed prices to ridiculously low prices while constantly adding new inventory all the time. Big box stores could no longer compete because we could now buy the same or similar products online and get it fast and cheap without lifting a finger. The only stores that are still doing well in brick and mortar locations are not department stores. Meaning the stores that are thriving are selling to a specific audience and limiting their inventory and are selling unique-ish items and providing a fun experience or atmosphere. Retail has changed so much over the last century.

[@jamesrivera4947]

Not enough "we."

[@Sher5120]

Amazon happened

[@margaretdimick2096]

People shop online more now. Our local mall is still open, but there's not many stores left.

[@mrpogi23]

internet happened. Its not only the physical business happened. Our society got corrupted and got easily manipulated with so much disinformation/fake news/propaganda to control people's minds. Its sad.

[@MisatoBestWoman]

Woah! I wanna visit! I miss sears!

[@user-te7wr8uz6c]

Sears was really the first Amazon. You could order everything from chickens to houses. There was a time when they respected their employees and actually had a pension plan.

[@OuterSpace-1-0.0]

Looking like ♥️ Burlington ♥️

[@nannerz1994]

Yeah if they want to come back they really need to put their all into it

[@whiqeddik7615]

Poor sears, when it was sears robuck it was great.

[@dante340]

There's still a Sears in Whittier, it's so dead and depressing inside.

[@nicholastrawinski]

Its not the same when you see it on a website. You just wanna touch it and see how big it is and get a tape measure out.

[@stanford-nf4jk]

@nicholastrawinski I hope that becomes a GIF/meme! That is just hilarious!

[@nicholastrawinski]

@@stanford-nf4jk even better that she starts off with "even though i didnt want them, i like to look at them"

[@michaelarmenta8289]

Now I can buy some Toughskins, lol.

[@isaacasdreams]

I remember buying Wolfenstien FOR MY MACINTOSH back in like 1993.. Sears back in the day literally had it all.

[@Herbie11]

Wolfenstien was great. Didn't realize it went that far back.

[@wileecoyote5749]

At one time you could order a house from Sears

[@cindylewis3325]

Why sad? Shopping used to be a social activity. Got you out of the house. Get some exercise walking. I guess to those that hide in their homes it’s sad.

[@sa3270]

I wish a lot of stores and malls would come back. I try to shop in person, when I can.

[@alwash9323]

They should be happy to have a Sears I would love to have a serious back in the Bay Area on the peninsula

[@inaz1963]

The store closures were never about sales. It was always about Eddie Lampert selling the real estate. Check out what he did with Seritage, which he has ownership in. He sold his stores to himself (Seritage) and then evicted himself (Sears) from the properties.

[@Svid1701D]

"...you just want to touch it, measure it, get a tape measure out" wtf is she talking about? 🤣

[@pleasantdreams6216]

love how the weather lady keeps it real

[@monicarose2135]

What is she talking about?? That is quite a clip

[@king_chip_15]

Thats so sad.. i used to work there when i was a kid 😢

[@CerealFlake]

I guess they won't have to roasted cashews like Sears Valley Plaza in the1960-70s . The smell was wonderful and brought customers in the doors.

[@sa3270]

There was one-story Sears near me that stayed open after the rest of the mall was torn down around 20 years ago. New stores were built beside it in place of the mall. But eventually the Sears went out of business, and the building has sat empty for maybe 15 years.

[@2puffs770]

If you're old enough like me, you remember when it was Sears and Roebuck!

[@justayoutuber1906]

That last line had some innuendo.

[@EM-mw2qr]

People need to quit bellyaching. At least they're back!

[@traildoggy]

One reason they are almost out of business is that they have to keep a floor full of dishwashers and other appliances on display so people can see them on the way to buy a pair of jeans or a dress. "Sears has Everything" isn't really much of a selling point in the age of Amazon and home delivery

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

Buying clothing online is a nightmare. Brick and mortar stores should focus on products that do better for in person customers.

[@Bodiddly55]

When I was 12 getting those christmas catalogs from JC P, Montgomery Ward and Sears was a turning point in my life, straight to the lingerie sections......yeah, you did it too.

[@gemee1]

"You just want to touch it,...see how big it is,...Get a tape measure out." OH BOY......

[@anthonyurgitano2114]

We know what she thinking about 😂😂😂

[@kennethscalir3092]

I think Sears and Kmart will return to its former glory

[@anandguruji83]

SEARS IN BURBANK IS BACK

[@anandguruji83]

SEARS IN BURBANK IS BACK

[@dmo848]

Jus let em go already. Time to change something that was never going to stay. As a kid i wondered how. It was just a place to look at items not really buy them. Usually first and last place seen when going into or leaving the mall for 30 some odd years😢

[@tyeralexander7346]

They replaced the electronics with more toys and bikes and more tolls and appliances and mattress and more seasonal and pets supplies

[@TheReelNerdyReview]

I don’t care what anybody says I’ll take shopping in stores over shopping online any day

[@peggyg7442]

Hey, give them a break. At least they're trying to make a comeback.

[@knuclear200x]

Oh boy a general goods store is coming back and we don't have anything else

[@onespeedlite]

Sears's grand reopening is like watching old man on life-support. You cheer him on, but you know he'll meet his maker soon.

[@Herbie11]

Sad, but spot on.

[@Herbie11]

I'm still waiting for Zody's, GemCo, Buffums and FedCo to reopen!

[@hawaiianpunch5432]

Damn. I recognize those names.

[@tyeralexander7346]

Sears sells the appliance and tools and clothing and toys and Kmart sellls the same stuff but very little tools and appliances but kmart sells pantry and household stuff and pet supplies

[@scottstallings5029]

Why is the dude anchor giving the weather girl such a strange facial expression?

[@AdverbsAndNouns]

Yay!!! Nostalgia

[@skylarhalbisen2324]

I hope the Sears relaunch campaign goes well. I love Sears I hope everything goes well.

[@Hector-vx5yc]

There is something seriously wrong with Sears. They keep selling warranty insurance and they’re not willing to honor it. How is it possible if they filed bankruptcy did they continue to sell a product? They do not honor.

[@Akira625]

It’s sad seeing Sears in this sorry state. They were thriving when I was a kid growing up in the 80s, and I remember the Sears catalog quite fondly. Now, it’s a shadow of its former self, and is dying a painfully slow death.

[@donotsupportterroristgroups]

You must have just woken up from a 3-year slumber. Sears went out of business I think in 2020 and all the stores closed that's why this store it's a reopening.

[@frauwolftherehorse]

👉 I googled my question, but is this the building where they just had the Joel Magee (2023) Disney Collectibles Auction Preview/ Showcase??? Thanks in advance. ☝️ I went to the showcase but still can't figure out an answer lol.

[@METALMAN4Wii]

I have a feeling At Home might buy Kmart/Sears Corporation Simply for the Appliances the Miami Kmart/At Home is a Test store. notice they have those digital signs those aren't cheap and why would they invest in 50k when they know the company going under.

[@mrxxbrian]

What's sad is that KTLA is reporting based off of reddit comments

[@davecavender8227]

You wont need a tape measure after you feel it

[@XpapricaX]

Nostalgia! I need to go!

[@stevegonzales527]

Let’s be honest. They just don’t want to get robbed by the usual criminals around there

[@BrianS1970]

Finally! I have 15 years of craftsman tools that need to be exchanged.

[@hxhdfjifzirstc894]

Let's not pretend that Sears has any idea how to run a business.

[@brtecson]

they know how to run a business into the ground though

[@Maurime2]

Where’s Michael Scott when you need him!😂😅

[@marysaade4343]

Sears had best appliances and tools,they lasted FOREVER ❤

[@djdrunky]

The reason why some stores like Sears close down was because of some of the employees they didn't take good care of customers. There were times when I used to go there to get a craftsman tool exchange for the warranty and they would act like the tool didn't have warranty at all. Some employees act like the stores belongs to them or they think that acting mean to someone would get them promoted.