STORE TOUR: Sears Grand, Gurnee Mills, Gurnee IL (STORE CLOSING)

This is a full tour of Sears Grand in Gurnee IL. This video explores the history behind Sears Grand and some interesting elements of the store. This video was filmed before the store's liquidation sale began, so it was in normal operation still.
CBS News Clip: • Sears Closing 72 More ...
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[@tntornadox89]

These stores were built right before the Kmart merger, as you said. They built five total across the country and each one was a little different. The idea was to tinker with the format and test different things at each store to put together a 'perfect formula' prototype store for eventual wide scale rollout. Some of the Grands were HUGE (200k Sq. ft+) while others were smaller. Some had dropped tile ceilings (such as this one), others had open Walmart like ceilings with large light fixtures hanging down. Some had more consumables (groceries, books, HBA, Garden Center and I want to think one or two even had a Pharmacy) while others didn't have as much. Some were standalone buildings built in new suburban lifestyle centers while others were in malls. If Sears ever had a chance at surviving, it was with this format. The last independent Sears CEO (who approved this project), Alan Lacy, was a younger executive and finally did something no other Sears chairman had ever done (to the company's doom) was admit Sears' primary competition was Walmart and Target, not other department stores. When asked why they wanted to go head to head with those two with the Sears Grand stores, he simply said: "You can buy groceries at Walmart, but you can't buy a refrigerator to put them in" which made sense. These initial stores did well. I know they did. I worked for Sears at the time and often looked up the sales numbers for the Grands and they would often do double the daily sales of a traditional full-line Sears store. Obviously the new consumable departments were increasing foot traffic as they had hoped they would. The Grand stores were beautiful, merchandised well and offered something truly unique that would have pleased old Sears customers and brought in new ones. Sears still had the brand loyalty, good reputation and cash to roll these stores out. I remember reading at one time the company wanted 300 Grand stores to be open all over the U.S. by 2014 (ten years later). Then Lampert happened. Sears had contacted Kmart to try to purchase some of their store sites to build new Grand stores and that caught the attention of Eddie Lampert who would eventually merge the two companies not long after. Obviously, the Grand concept was performing well enough that they would continue opening them, even if they were in old Kmart buildings they threw a coat of paint on and called it a day. Ultimately, those conversion stores all closed one by one, but the original five (built from the ground up) survived until pretty much the very end. Had Lampert done the right thing by choosing the best Kmart real estate, bulldozing those old buildings and building a new Sears Grand in its place, Sears could have turned things around. Indeed, I believe the only reason Lacy supported the merger was because he thought that was exactly what Lampert intended to do, but alas, Lampert never tried to expand, remodel or innovate in anyway and has slowly bled the company dry. It saddens this ex-Searsman to see it go down the way it has. One of America's oldest companies, the one who nearly single handidly helped build the American middle class and would eventually build the world's tallest building is now barely alive... it's a downright shame. (Sorry for the long post, consider it my Sears eulogy, haha)

[@LostDepartments]

Thats interesting! Thanks for sharing.

[@danielpierce6327]

there was eight original sears grands stores across the country here's the list Pittsburgh mills PA Gurnee mills IL Cape Girardeau MO Austin TX Thornton CO West Jordan UT Las Vegas NV Rancho Cucamonga CA

[@lightningblue648]

Breaks my heart as a former sears man too. It was my first job at 16 and I never wanted to work for anyone else. I started in Brand Central in sales and to work my way into management (which I did) and then eventually work my way up to corporate. I put in almost 7 years but the day of the Kmart news I knew my life was going to change forever. I’ve never worked anywhere else that I was more proud of and it’s like watching a family member die a prolonged death. Incidentally I was in Chicago years after I left Sears and made the trip out to Gurnee just see this store. It was amazing.

[@danielpierce6327]

@@lightningblue648 thank you for sharing your story and your amazing career

[@brianb7423]

This was a cool read, thanks for sharing Curtis

[@justinmraap]

I basically grew up going to this store. I remember playing with the Xbox, Gamecube and PS2 that used to be on display in the electronics department. I miss Sears already lol.

[@scottty795]

Same! I remember so many times after school (At woodland!) My mom would like to stop here to shop

[@peteri8924]

Very modern and tidy for a Sears store. Many of these stores are so badly run down and when the sales start they look like they have had a everything thrown everywhere. I suspect you are right about the lease and the reason for closing, if Sears and Kmart are still around by next summer I will be amazed. Great video and editing as always

[@tylersimonson5405]

Ha Ha Love the Target Look Vibe. Looks like Target, Kmart and Marshalls Combined

[@jamesvoss3401]

I was the project manager for tge electrical contractor that built this store. It was a very memorable projects to build such a large facilty, and be on the front end of a new concept. I was 26 at the time and 4 years out of college. As corny as it sounds, i will miss this store.

[@LostDepartments]

That's so cool!

[@Hopeguz3]

Surprise it would be a nice one that would be closing. Makes sense to end leases, it’s going downhill nonetheless. The Kmart in Canton, GA closed in 2014 due to lease coming up. I wonder how many Sears and Kmarts closed based on leases being up, versus being closed by force.

[@drippyleslie3363]

Oooof i went to that sears in gurnee

[@user-km8hi4ql6c]

Update: the mall is still going pretty strong in 2024! The large Sears Grand space has since been divided up. The portion by the mall entrance is now a Round One arcade, which just recently opened. Another big portion is now a Hobby Lobby, which opened in 2022. But there is still a portion of it that still sits vacant to this day. Like I said though, this mall is still going strong. Only three anchor spaces are vacant: the former Bed Bath & Beyond, which closed in 2022, the former Saks Fifth Avenue outlet store, which closed years ago, and part of the former Sears Grand store I just mentioned. Aside from those three, all anchors are open, plus the mall still has many outlet stores, its fair share of big department stores like Marshalls and Kohl's, and even a Bass Pro Shops and a hockey rink ;)

[@kocfuc1982]

6:01 that wall by the 10 cash register was once a restaurant kind of like a little deli I remember my dad used to take me there

[@halfajob1202]

Since I am a wood worker I wold love that tool department and my sears is closing

[@AndysRetailExploration]

It’s more like Sears Supercenter. I wish Sears Grand existed in Oregon where I lived. Too bad, there aren’t a lot of Sears Grand everywhere.

[@davidallen8052]

Can you make a Stratford square mall documentary?Only if you would like to.Awesome videos!!

[@jadedheartsz]

I went inside this store a few times in 2014, place looked amazing.

[@Mysteryqueen86]

I wish the music not so load from the start of the video but good video

[@LostDepartments]

I have to do that because of music in the store and breathing noises.

[@halfajob1202]

That’s expired in the store closest to their headquarters

[@halfajob1202]

I bet Chapter 7 bankruptcy will come around later this year

[@danielboguse4249]

I worked at this store in the mid 2000s in the auto tire center. The inventory control wad horrible nobody ever checked the shipment received against the packing list. I worked hard and i got a 100% customer satisfaction rating and a pin to go with it and all the other employees were amazed at that. I finally left because i couldn't stand working o such a messed up system.

[@filipmac5577]

Kenmore appliances are the best!

[@joshuaplascencia]

Nice vid!

[@halfajob1202]

This store was 1 wen I was born rip sears grand you lived a good 14 years

[@kreekcraftkreekcraft4070]

I sometimes went to that Sears the last time I went it was in December 2017

[@chefbran1]

And now in 2021, there are zero Sears Grand stores left. The last one in Rancho Cucamonga California closed this past spring, so sad 😭. It's really too bad this concept never worked out bc it took the ordinary, bland style Sears style that we all knew and completely elevated it! I mean, groceries at a Sears store? That idea still boggles me, but must have been cool!

[@Morethanyourwords]

I have a memory my mom would always look in the girls department and I would wonder around the store. Loved the modern store I like the combination with a target kmart and sears.

[@jackson5116]

By 2019 Kmart really didn't have groceries either, at least not the kind of groceries Big Kmart sold.

[@kittyboochanyesbongono8467]

0:00 What's the music?

[@METALMAN4Wii]

Next It'll be a Amazon Express Store.

[@gagejackson8609]

Oh come on! This store is only 14 years old!

[@Legoguy1979]

Good video but Sears Holdings didn't merge with Kmart. When Fast Eddie bought out the majority stake of Kmart, which was in bankruptcy at the time, he created Kmart Holdings. He then Proceeded to use Kmart Holdings to but out Sears, Roebuck & Co. When Kmart Holdings bought Sears, they renamed themselves to Sears Holdings to sound better and basically trick the average person into thinking Sears was in control and not Kmart which had already been in two bankruptcies. Let's not forget how Kmart ripped Sears at the seams by separating all the different departments and make them compete against each other because of fast Eddie obsession of Ayn Rand. To this day in the board of directors Sears has two, Kmart has 7, who do you think is running the company? Hint: not the company that has never entered bankruptcy. Also, you should check out some of the Sears Hometown & Outlet stores, a separate company that isn't in control by fast Eddie anymore. Also the Rockford Sears, my local one, is apparently one of the more profitable since it isn't even in the list to be checked out if it should be closed. Also Sears closed one of the new Modern Sears in Madison.

[@kittyboochanyesbongono8467]

Sears Is My Favorite Store. I'm Heartbroken

[@halfajob1202]

Sears grand

[@kittyboochanyesbongono8467]

Is Sears Grand defunct?

[@illinoismallexploring4419]

Yes

[@kittyboochanyesbongono8467]

@@illinoismallexploring4419Okay

[@kreekcraftkreekcraft4070]

It was opened in 1991 not 2004

[@scottty795]

This location opened in 2004

[@richboy7799]

Now it’s hobby lobby

[@jonathanuriostegui4238]

And now It turned into a hobby lobby

[@halfajob1202]

Store closed

[@Larseus]

Finally! Such an eye sore

[@101448]

Lampert closed hundreds of profitable Kmarts & Sears and left stores that should close open. I question how he could tell the Judge that the remaining 425 stores were profitable and he was saving 50k jobs. Forget the 3000 stores closed and the 300k people that lost their jobs. Then only months after emerging from bankruptcy only a little over 100 stores remain. Go to Kmarts FaceBook and you would swear someone died, yup Kmart. Some idiot will tell people Kmart is going to make a come back opening new stores. On Sears page all you see are complaints. I love your videos and would love to see one illustrating how Lampert looted the company. Old Sears was suing him for transferring Billions in assets to himself and it was just settled for a mere $18 Million. Less than the $25 Million Corporate Executives received for destroying both iconic retailers.

[@LostDepartments]

I haven't made a video about that because so many people have. I really wonder what I could even say.

[@101448]

@@LostDepartments I saw one where an animated bear is doing the talking I will have to look for the others. Interesting reading on the rest of Sears & Kmart from the employees themselves, not yet laid off. No merchandise for the open stores because it went to the stores closing. www.thelayoff.com/sears-holdings#post

[@halfajob1202]

Sears sucks I like kenmore but I can go t9 best by

[@scottty795]

Please remove the annoying obnoxious music

[@GashdakSaghzaar]

Diwindled to 500 or so, from 5 years ago? Try 11 open stores now.