THE END OF K MART IN THE USA - THE LAST FULL SIZE STORE CLOSES

[@mikemahon4594]

The true end of an era in retail history. The savings store is truly no more. We mourn the big red K

[@rayrussell6258]

Meijers lives on, although it is not a nationwide chain.

[@PacificNorthwestExploratio-k9j]

Kmart was identical to Ames Department Stores, another Savings Store Chain. The End of Ames was in 2002 when they went to Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Now they are coming back due to a buyout of the intellectual property

[@jasoncassell]

I remember 40 years ago shopping at K Mart with my mother. We used to get so excited about the blue light special. Thanks for the video, Ace!

[@AcesAdventures1]

You are so welcome!

[@bxpress6507]

Yes..same here..we loved those blue light specials..or just window shop..I remember picking up the blue light free internet disc..the closure leaves the forner chain a memory like others

[@MrTodh]

Thank-You Anthony... You're The Best !!

[@Code7Unltd]

Sears and Kmart both had one downfall in common: Eddie Lampert. The lesson nobody took home: Major-league hedge-fund managers make for poor retail chain chiefs.

[@BGNOLA]

Lampert has a yacht named "The Fountainhead"; he's a total Ayn Rand dork

[@rayrussell6258]

Lampert did exactly what he set out to do; he made a huge profit by breaking up those companies into smaller businesses and selling them. The former employees and investors in Sears and KMart should sue him for everything he made in profit.

[@horseathalt7308]

Eddie is a financial va. mp . i.re.

[@BRFilmStudios]

Yes! I was hoping you’d make a video on Kmart! Can’t wait!!! Truly a sad end to a once thriving store…

[@BunkerAnon]

They sealed their own fate from the start. Aggressive predatory practices that they used to run out mom and pop stores were then turned on them.

[@hellomcflyy]

I'd be grabbing lots of signage and displays when they close - defunct retail stuff always ends up popular..Blockbuster stuff sells well...

[@drno-xc1yt]

I found it odd to see the merchandise that had not yet been picked over - office/school supplies, canned goods, paper towels and paper products at 50% off.

[@thecottage4493]

I went a few weeks ago to document it too. It was packed! I bought a few things, got a recipe and framed it. I didn't realize how big Long Island is until I drove across it!

[@reedmak77]

Sad to see. Memories from my childhood, going to K-Mart with my parents. Especially at Christmas time.

[@bethpeters3477]

Omg this is funny, my friend and I just today were talking about how Kmart’s closed. And how we used to like them. We were talking about the blue light specials. Then I ran into your video. We did like Kmart. I just looked up this Kmart location on the Internet and then said it is temporarily closed. When did you say it officially closed?

[@jadedheartsz]

@@bethpeters3477 It closed on the 20th of this month.

[@LukeO-1234]

I miss the Christmas display

[@gordontaylor2815]

I think Ace did a video a few years back about a different K-Mart location closing at that time and played old Christmas music in that one - do a search around the channel for it if you'd like. :)

[@jkz83]

My first full time job at Kmart pushing carts in 2001 was able to afford an apartment and car

[@Mom2my4blessings]

I loved going to Kmart in the 80’s! I grew up in Manahawkin, NJ and we had a cafeteria. My parents bought me so many items from there. They redid everything and had a Little Caesars pizza place in it 🤢. I liked the home cooking from the restaurant better. But I did buy my wedding shoes from Kmart in 2001. Goodbye to another retailer from my childhood.

[@AcesAdventures1]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@GeloOfficialPR]

I am from Puerto Rico so i can maybe explain why there are pallets that are going to PR , its because we have our Sears at Plaza Las Americas , the address on it correlates exactly with that sears we have here on the island, recently they closed their separate electronics and appliances store and moved everything into the 3 story sears we have. Might be worth a visit from you one day , this is the last sears we have on the island , and from what i can see every time i go there its a dead store, they even have a mattress section at the 3rd floor

[@AcesAdventures1]

Would love to visit someday!

[@Wintersoldier73]

My only issue with his comment was when he said that they were bringing Hispanics from "down there, maybe Puerto Rico." I'm certain that he didn't mean it in a racist way, but I come across people, even to this day, that have no idea that Puerto Rico is part of the USA. I've even been asked before, "When did you get your citizenship?" 😂

[@AcesAdventures1]

@@Wintersoldier73 I meant no ill will, I am not good w geography lol

[@Wintersoldier73]

@@AcesAdventures1 No worries. That's why I said that I was certain you meant nothing by it. It was just the wording. 🙏

[@MarksKicksOnRoute66]

Anthony you knocked it out of the park on this. Your opening statement on Eddie was so true. The deep voice on the Kmart Radio was so fitting. As an ex Kmart manager this is sad!

[@ryanmcneil9148]

No one likes Eddie !. Anything he gets his hands on fails !. When I worked there, it was a well known fact, he knew NOTHING about retail !.

[@mjc8248]

When I was a kid, I'd freak out for the blue light special. Thirty plus years ago I worked there. I worked the shoe store, which wasn't actually kmart. The shoe store was actually meldisco shoes. Meldisco rented the space from Kmart. I worked by myself for the most part and was in charge of shoes like it was a sovereign nation. It was a pretty decent job overall. Meldisco was part of Thom Mcan if memory serves.

[@MrDan708]

I'm not overly emotional about the downfall of another familiar retailer, but I did furnish my first apartment at Kmart. I do think it hurts shoppers to have one less choice of stores. The Big K disappeared from my area (Reading, PA) shortly before COVID. JC Penney is also long gone as is Kmart's sister Sears. It takes some serious mismanagement to screw up something that was once so successful. Another fine video, Anthony!

[@AcesAdventures1]

Ty ty

[@fredcraven1699]

This is Bezos fault he destroyed the malls also and now no one has anywhere to hang out

[@buda3d2007]

In 'old' Australian Kmart they used to have food courts, I have never had red jelly with coconut sprinkles like I had in a kmart food court, RIP American Kmart :(

[@oranjpeel]

There used to be one of the five green Kmarts near me growing up. I have memories going there as a kid. I surprisingly remember buying bubbles when I was like 3 or 4.

[@michaelcoffey7362]

Good video I miss K Mart

[@sirot5561]

Another awesome video! Loved the interviews of some of the customers that you included too! 👍🏼

[@JenniferinIllinois]

We all see EL as stupid but I believe his end goal was getting his hands on all that sweet sweet Sears real estate. That's where the money is. Truly the end of an era.

[@tomn8tr]

Goodbye K-Mart. Goodbye Blue Light specials. Goodbye K-Mart cafeterias. A real shame they are leaving.

[@michaellane1887]

How are they not profiting to stay open at even with the last store that survived the longest

[@Retrocidal]

i used to love going to K mart as a kid and looking at the new and super nes game section and toys ill always miss it

[@curtg7396]

Thanks for filming and sharing this experience.As a former Kmart employee who worked there for 5 years in the 80’s it’s kinda sad to see them all gone.But on the other hand the company was pretty terrible to its employees and the pay was awful.Still it’s a shame they couldn’t adapt and become relevant again. RIP Kmart.

[@helenhanson292]

Target is good too, but K-Mart was one of my favorites.

[@thepurrfectionist365]

Shopping experience at Target has declined these past few years. Understaffed, disorganized, and not sufficiently stocked. Following K-Mart's footsteps sadly.

[@pdxaviation]

RIP to an icon.

[@offrails]

Don't worry, Rain Man. You can still get your underwear from Kmart. Qantas has direct flights to Melbourne

[@AcesAdventures1]

Definitely not gonna make it back in time for Jeopardy

[@stphinkle]

@@AcesAdventures1 Australia is worth visiting as a country. Beautiful!

[@Snipedog1978]

Well not really true, there is still a Kmart on Guam and some other locations outside the lower 48

[@doingtime20]

Man here in Mexico you never ever see so much stuff with discount at the same time. The thing is that if something has a discount the employees themselves will buy it for resale even before the store opens. And if they don't buy it some guy will do it right when the store opens, all the same to get some revenue by reselling. That's one thing I liked about my trips to the USA as kid, I would go to places like K mart or whatever and find real discounts.

[@sterospa]

As a former employee it's simple. Kmart failed because of poor leadership, a failed strategy, and Eddie Lampert. In 2005 their customer focus was on aging customer who lived near the store not gen x or y. This along with sears was about separating the real estate. Shame because both companies could have survived.

[@betsyavallone4314]

Eddie Lambert has a house here in the Hamptons. I heard Target has held the lease to this space for a few years now. We shall see what goes into this space.

[@chm9935]

Great job Fast Eddie lampert 😢

[@johnanon3081]

He was supposed to be the next Warren Buffett! lol

[@chm9935]

@@johnanon3081 Yep : ( More like Dick Fuld

[@Thomas-yr9ln]

Looks almost haunted. All shoppers who passed away are doomed to shop for eternity at a closed down Kmart.

[@Magus1213]

Sears and Kmart. Foolish to think tying two sinking ships together would make them float.

[@jezebelley]

Great writing on this video, Anthony! I loved it. The intro was perfect. Thanks for all your work.

[@nyxmoonoracle]

Thank you❤

[@galford76]

Wow. Took about a decade to finally shut things down completely. You're exactly right though ... Kmart purchasing Sears was like a marathon runner buying a boat anchor thinking it might improve his lap times. Mind-boggling.

[@ScareFestTTV]

2:55 Anyone else talking about the fact that canopy is listed at $1000 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 Stop The Madness!

[@AcesAdventures1]

Yeah no one was buying that lol

[@KatIoannou]

I miss K Mart! I used to go there with my mom, some of the only memories I have with her. Thanks for the nostalgia!❤ sad to see K Mart go!

[@melejian]

So, at the 8:30 mark, the Avril Lavigne “Complicated” song from her first album, playing on the radio, is so coincidental! I bought THAT album in 2002 AT Big K Mart in Fresno, CA when I was a kid! 😮

[@Rafael-dj-c]

It's fitting that song is on, kmart tends to play songs from around that era. 90's and early 00.

[@sinisterisrandom8537]

Was there a while back, me and a friend bought 3 items, so we were happy shoppers. But man was the place creepy due to the sterile feel. But still was impressed.

[@ellenfr3100]

I loved going to K Mart to shop for all kinds of items. Definitely miss it. Shopping online totally stinks.

[@JacquelineRoseSchlegel]

I miss Kmart grew up with that store literally and also worked there too

[@JunKazamaFan]

The K-Mart where I grew up in Centre, Alabama has been long gone, with nothing having ever replaced it, apparently. It's just abandoned.

[@PacificNorthwestExploratio-k9j]

Guam and the US Virginia Islands. Kmart Puerto Rico closed entirely

[@JoeBobPerdue666]

K-Mart was my childhood.

[@Prnencetti]

This is a company that I grew up with. I was born in 92 so I was around for the first way of closures in the 90s when Kmart started closing and then I was around for the eminent death of Kmart. I had a third location somewhere in the Syracuse area I wanna say Fayetteville, but I don’t remember the only two that I remember are Mattydale, New York, and then Liverpool, New York my store that went out of business. I had a store in Puerto Rico by mayaguez where my grandparents house is in Cabo Rojo. I haven’t been to Puerto Rico in years since my grandparents passed, but the last time I went, there was a Kmart in Puerto Rico and surprisingly yes it was separate from the store, but there was a little Caesars there too on the island. It’s crazy to think at least on the East Coast stores, you think of stores like Kmart having Little Caesars replacing the k Café you would never think of a store having a little Caesars down the street from it, but it’s just like my store here in Liverpool, New York. The Little Caesars was never in the Kmart in Puerto Rico where I have my family’s house. It was down the street somewhere. I think MattDale had a little Caesars inside of it, but there was a Pizza Hut down the street so I think Pizza Hut is what put them out of business. So sad to see the store go in my opinion. Yes they’re still as a Kmart if Helene and hurricane Milton didn’t destroy it, they’re still is one struggling to hang on in Florida in Miami. Again, that is a hurricane Milton and hurricane Helen did didn’t destroy it which they probably did as far as I know in someway and you know if they are destroyed by the hurricane it’s not gonna reopen. It’s cool. I think they’re still a Kmart in Guam and in Puerto Rico. Wonder what side of the island the one in Puerto Rico is on is it in San Juan? Is it on Aguadilla side of the island where my grandparents used to live in Ponce where I had family members that live there where is the one in Puerto Rico since there still is Kmart in Puerto Rico I wonder. So long Kmart you will be greatly missed by all. And the next store to go since I worked at Big Lots and they sent me a bankruptcy statement because I worked there couple years ago. Big Lots is the next one to go so now that Cam is gone now we have to worry about Big Lots going out of business so go to your local Big Lots now because you may not be able to as they are going out of business some of them as they’re in chapter 11 bankruptcy.

[@mattdemey9324]

Thank you for this video. In 2022, shortly after my daughter was born, my wife and I were on Long Island visiting some of her family members. There were 4 K Marts left at that time, and we wanted to go and see it, and take our daughter there, because both of our families did a lot of shopping at K Mart growing up. We got pictures of her in the store so she would always be able to say that she went to a K Mart, when pretty much everyone else her age will not be able to say that. In 2022, the store had all departments, but selection wasn't great. It was the middle of the summer, and there were Easter, Valentine's, Halloween, and Christmas decorations all for sale. Some of the clothing had multiple racks of the same item of clothing. We bought some outfits for our daughter there, and they were some of our favorites, and they all wore very well. I didn't see you go back by the restrooms. By the office there they had a it on the wall that it was one of the top 25 stores. One last thing, the store had to have received a new sign sometime between 2022 and closing. Bridgehampton had a blue K Mart sign and the one you showed was red.

[@mattdemey9324]

Here is the blue K Mart sign.

[@jimd2791]

The Kmart by me in Staten Island, NY was crappy before it closed. They never had enough registers opened. The merchandise was spread thin to make the shelves look full just like when they were going out of business. Then they confirmed that the shopping center they were in, Hylan Plaza, was going to be taken down and it was going to be replaced by a new shopping center to be known as The Boulevard, a 2 story venue. Kmart wasn’t going to return. Pathmark had already gone out of business. ShopRite would move from its standalone location* to The Boulevard. *the standalone location is still empty. They can’t find anything appropriate to fill the building up. I also guess pay an appropriate rent too.

[@fredcraven1699]

the most depressing video I've seen in years

[@FloridaManRacer]

😔Goodbye old friend. It was a good run. I still have a Hisense TV I bought at the time the New Hartford, NY store closed. A relic of what once was a great shopping experience in the 80's and 90's.

[@Neznut]

It’s such a shame 😞

[@AdrianKalamazoo]

Last Kmart in Puerto Rico closed its doors like 2 years ago

[@dgonthehill]

ty

[@jupreindeer]

I have no idea how a place like this was even hanging on for any number of years. Impressed how many of the lights still work. Seen a video of the Florida branch. And to anyone who ever wondered what a K-Mart looked like... that last branch is a sad, sad, pitiful ghost of a dying giant. Almost makes me wonder if the mall just gives them the space at a discount or for free. It's closer to a thrift store. Gee. I wonder if this branch will do the penny sale deal in the final hour?

[@timfankell4242]

Once upon a time, most people hadn't even heard of Walmart, and Kmart was everyone's go-to store.

[@marcomendiola8381]

I remember going to my local kmart in Chicago as a kid they had a little ceasers inside and my grandmother would let us get video games or toys and then pick up a pizza or two! RIP Kmart gone but not forgotten

[@ballistik_coffee_boy]

So sad to see.. I was here for our local Kmart closing a few years back here in ABQ, it was sad to see, we still had an original kmart sign out front too from the 80's. It was a fun place to shop and I remember picking up some bedsheets after I'd just moved, I'll miss kmart for sure

[@nole8923]

My favorite Aces Adventures is the one he did on Gwinnett Place mall. A spectacularly beautiful mall that is now closed. Very sad.

[@morriganwitch]

I am glad you are here , to bear witness

[@michaeldupree4360]

I too was part of the Kmart Family, ran the garage service desk, Automotive Department, Sporting Goods. Other Memories were the Cafeteria, the TV Department, the photo department got a lot of 8mm movies developed there. 😢 oh yeah…. TFSOK! To all my Customers, Thanks For Shopping Our Kmart!

[@Hammster69official]

Kmart hasn't had anything to do with Kmart Australia since 1994. But the full size Kmarts in Guam and the Virgin Islands (3) are the same company.

[@roselyncampisi822]

So sad. I just loved k,mart!

[@Mike1614YT]

Eddie Lampert. the grim reaper of business

[@rjjone2]

Many fond memories of going to Kmart as a young kid with my mom. Blue light specials and getting an Icee at the snack counter. So choice!

[@Ashley_Boasso]

RIP Kmart.

[@bradye21playsIndieHorror]

Well, considering I thought they were all already gone until I found this one online about a year ago... Not much of a loss. I was hoping I could visit at some point though. I was actually hoping they would convert it to a museum. But that would require the owners, you know, caring. RIP.

[@charlestonpinballarcade]

My Kmart: East Brunswick NJ Route 18 The true old school cafe with real meals, the brown tile floor entrance that the cart would rattle across, the electronics section, the blue light special, the music overhead, the checkout lanes…and then they had to remodel you and it was the beginning of the end. 😢😢😢

[@Michael-ew4pq]

Wow what a small world I used to go with my parents in the early 2000s and up until it closed. I’m a 2001 baby so I remember!

[@vikingsreach]

One of the best stores, truely.

[@AcesAdventures1]

in the 80s yes, 2000s...ehhhhh

[@Ralphunreal]

@@AcesAdventures1 it was good in the 2000's.

[@AquarianNomadic]

I'm 50 and recall that great era of Kmart very well. As a Kevin it hits a little harder watching it go. 😂😢 Anyways. Amazon just dropped off a few more boxes 😅😢

[@robertt8273]

I can vaguely remember as a child going to SS Kresges on Grand River in Detroit when I was very young. (Now very old). They had one of the machines by their electric pony that if you put in a quarter (a lot of money for a five year old) these big metal plates with tubes stuck in them would close and the machine would come to life for 5 minutes and when those plates opened, it spit out a plastic dinosaur. The early form of 3d printing. It was soo cool . That was a long time ago. I only lived blocks from that store. When the blue light went off, look out because it was a big price cut and people ran to it. I miss K Mart. Being I now live in Fort Lauderdale I just might drive to Kendal to see the last one before it is too late. K Mart was a legend . If it was managed right they could have killed WalMart. But they were busy counting their dollars and not paying attention. You see it all the time. The big boys laugh and the little ones and before you know it, the big boys are gone. Take heed WalMart, here comes Amazon.

[@robertt8273]

One more thing, I use to be a Diamond flyer on Delta have not flown in 10 years. I spit out my coffee when you said $8. I hope you don't have to pay that while flying? I miss traveling. Was on a plane every week. Sometimes 4 states in 4 days.

[@Dwall44]

So sad.

[@TheRedDevil_NC]

It’s like NASL soccer. Real America

[@andytaylor5476]

Yes, how dumb to buy Sears at that time. Makes no sense. Hate seeing all these stores close. There's less competition!

[@JonathanKine]

My first watch I purchased as a kid on layaway .. KMART RIP

[@nealwhaley63]

That store is so neat! Closing sales usually result in war zones.

[@zaxxon25]

I'd say the differences in the Australian KMart I went to in Adelaide were consistent with those I saw in an Australian Target just down the street ... mainly, no pharmacy or grocery. Otherwise the Australian KMart leaned pretty hard into 70's design and iconography as a marketing ploy and had the same array of kitchen / bath / toys / clothes that I would have expected to find in a 70's era KMart ... before they started adding in grocery.

[@kevinstatz]

Its crazy that K Mart is gone. I remember going there after high school for snacks and loitering in the cafe before my drivers ed class started. It was right across the parking lot. I also had one in my college town and remember buying stuff there before classes started in the fall. That was only about 10 years ago. I feel like huge chains like Walmart are pushing other chains like Kmart, Shopko (I'm in Wisconsin), Kohl's, JCP, and others out because they just can't compete with the amount of stores out there and prices because of their massive supply chain.

[@chrislemaster2695]

I still have recipet dated 4/2/1997 for an 1987 Dodge Diplomat SE they changed a drive belt parts and labor coat was $37.50.

[@AcesAdventures1]

Keep it!!

[@R32R38]

Rumor has it that the store would have closed at least a year ago but for the fact that a Transformco executive has a vacation home in the area and enjoyed the convenience.

[@RyanOnWeather]

its weird, with things like stores you can see the literal soul sucked out of it when its closing and eventually closed. you can just tell the store died.

[@chucky6299]

Centre Mall location! Hamilton, Ontario 🇨🇦 👍🏻 💕

[@radioraffa]

Since the late 90s Kmart had been failing.. Poor management was one of their problems. Also Walmart just destroyed them.. Actually worked at the distrubution center in Florida around 98.. From there you could see why stores had problems.. I'd load trucks with only 10-20 items going to some stores.. They send us home early sometimes giving us less hours. Everyone working there was less than a year.. I only stayed about a month..

[@Spawn3X5]

Not as bad as toy r us closing i was nvr big on k mart still sad to see

[@jimihendrix731]

Amazing it lasted this long. End of an era.

[@GD825]

this location closed b/c its lease was up and renewing for another year wasnt an option

[@jbw9999]

Did it still have that distinctive Kmart smell? I noticed the familiar circular HVAC vents. I've seen those in every Kmart I've been in. Kmart still has 3 stores in the Virgin Islands (two in St Thomas and one in St Croix), and they have the same Kmart owners (Transformco) as in the US. If you take a cruise to St Thomas, it's a 1 mile walk to the one in Charlotte Amalie. That one is small, but the other one there (couple miles to the east) seems to be full size. St Croix had a 2nd one that closed last year.

[@-NateTheGreat]

Eddie Lampert should be required to stand at the entrance of every K-Marts closing and apologize to all of it's loyal customers.

[@horseathalt7308]

SEC should have investigated him, and sent him to prison.

[@polarfr_st]

While there is a few locations remaining (especially in Miami), to see they've closed a lot of stores mostly says they are dead.

[@fionawalsh1007]

Hi Ace,I’ve always loved every video you upload,this video being no exception to that. So sad that Kmart is no more,it’s like Debenhams closing in the UK and the same when Woolworths closed down their stores. Fabulous content,RIP Kmart. 😢😢

[@AcesAdventures1]

Thank you so much!

[@HeartFeltGesture]

......aaaannnnd its gone.

[@jodywight3948]

SO SAD 😢

[@jodywight3948]

SO SAD 😢

[@RussellNorris-h2c]

I grew up with Kmart in the 1970s and 1980s and nintes. I miss Kmart part of my Childhood 😢

[@MichaelsCafe]

The store music is stuck in the past too.

[@AcesAdventures1]

Ashlee simpson lol

[@DavidNgo86]

Lol

[@vickyburgess162]

Very different to my Kmart in Australia 😮

[@xlbthedemigod5662]

I remember getting a Halloween costume in Kmart in Alaska a very long time ago

[@Broadway789]

K-Mart was originally Kresge, which was like Woolworths.

[@JLH111176]

only 9 SEARS left in USA if I not mistaken, they sold the craftsman brand to Black and Decker to stay afloat for a while or they probably would have gone under even quicker

[@rebeccaknight5094]

I.have missed K mart they have been gone from Louisiana for years now oh how it's a store I wish could come back it had good things at wonderful prices

[@steve10-10]

Hearing the Hooters “And we danced” playing in the background is kind of ironic. When that song came out Kmart was in its heyday. And to hear it playing in the final days of the last full size Kmart in America is coming full circle.

[@AcesAdventures1]

I was so worried about copyright lol

[@Murrlin27]

Whoah! XD