Abandoned Kmart - Erlanger, KY

[@taggr921]

It is now leveled. You captured history.

[@BrandonH-jd1vy]

I think someone commented on this already but this k mart never had a food section. The store next door was first a liberal grocery and later became mr friendlys iga. I worked at the iga back in the 80s. It became a furniture store in the late 90s. And next door to that was a grey drug store than a cvs then dollar tree. Thanks for the video😎

[@WallieB26]

Glad you enjoyed! Thank you for the info! I appreciate it!

[@cincy9381]

This building is now demolished to make way for a new Kroger store. As is the pizza hut that sat in front of it. I think you filmed it as well. The new Kroger Fuel center will be where the pizza hut was. Glad you got to document it before it was demolished. I have many memories from this kmart store as a kid. My late grandmother loved this store. In her later years, I used to go see her weekly and she would always ask me to take her here. Almost beame a weekly tradition. She always looked forward to it. I always thought of her when I would drive past the bldg, even all these years later. Sad that it's now gone, but also looking forward to having a nice new Kroger store in the area. Would rather have that than the abandoned bldg. The bldg was in disrepair, and had been broken into numerous times.

[@slackingpacking]

Closed in December 2019 same with Grove City and Harrison.

[@melaniepattonraleigh9663]

It was one of the last 2 Kmarts in Ky, along with Somerset. Both closed at the same time.

[@ViperJay5]

Always enjoy the videos, Wallie. I had a good laugh with the bell! LOL

[@joanntichenor4287]

The first way you said ERLANGER is the right way to say it. I miss Kmart, there used to be a food court inside the store on the right hand side back in the 70's and 80's. The touch of Class used to be an old IGA grocery store.

[@Dani4Jean4]

Your first pronunciation is correct. My first job was at that Erlanger Kmart when I was in high school. Yes they had a restaurant section that closed in the 90’s.

[@dewaynesmith6620]

Thank you filming this one it is now being demolished and kmart group has said Kroger bought the land and is planning to build a store as of 2024

[@AlKaseltzer87]

Beat me to it.

[@jet34thehawk]

Awesome 👍👍

[@Andysk8s]

My dad actually was a manger here for years. I also went to this Kmart a ton as a kid miss it

[@a-van3039]

@WallieB26....Another great video! Keep the amazing videos coming :)

[@taggr921]

The furniture store is actually where a Liberal Food Store was. That K Mart at one time had a snack bar inside on the right hand side of the store. They used to make some really good cheap mini subs in the late 70's. The garage doors near the Garden Store was their automotive department where they installed batteries and tires and such.

[@hunterwaldroup6403]

I worked at the one in Somerset Ky it was my first job and I worked there 3 years i wish I could go back for just one day and enjoy it one more time! They closed in late 2019 as well.

[@melaniepattonraleigh9663]

I'm from Science Hill. I really miss it.

[@tommmy2time870]

51 years old that grew up in Erlanger. The store in strip next to the KMart was IGA grocery. Next to that where Dollar Tree is was a Walgreen store. Also used to a Record alley store on down the line.

[@evarodney1855]

Love it wallie.

[@Optopolis]

WOW THE STORE FLOOR THO! That's an AMAZING look inside through the front door!

[@melman5764]

In Puerto Rico we have 5 kmarts

[@sardius1970]

(ER-LANG-GER ) I've lived here all my life, the far left used to be the auto shop which was turned into the garden shop in later years when it went from K-Mart to Big K-mart. It used to have a food court on the far right side of the entrance doors. The dock in the back was the dock for the IGA/furniture store. That part was never K-mart. toward the end was a LaRosas pizziaria.

[@chrisjkohn]

The Kmart I worked at in Warminster Pa was pretty much just like this building.

[@trinitycrabtree267]

I worked there back in 06/07. The auto part was turned into overflow stock room long before I started working there. They had so much merchandise that they couldn’t stock on the shelf that they had to shove it wherever they could.

[@zoefaith120]

Wow. Everybody should go to that store and hit the buzzer!

[@doug9066]

Been awhile since we saw a former Kmart. Thank you for sharing! Looking forward to that former Pizza Hut.

[@gaylenewood7707]

Just wait a few more pizza hits are closing and some are downsizing to be like dominos only order and take home or delivery the pizza hut near me is getting its butt kicked by every place that has pizza and buffets..

[@doug9066]

@@gaylenewood7707 your right, several months ago our Pizza Hut moved to another location & went to a store like Domino's Pizza which is still close to me. People like me carry out or have pizza delivered since I don't like eating in restaurants by myself. The former Puzza Hut still up for sale.

[@jonathancreveling8699]

The sliding doors were obviously a newer addition, it originally had the magic carpet style doors with manual doors in the center

[@lisadavis7727]

Next to Kmart used to be and IGA that went out of business back in 1989 and moved into the old IGA is a furniture store that moved in 2010 I am so sad to see Kmart go out of business.🙁

[@tylarusch2882]

Sad this place is closed down now. Feels like just yesterday I was shopping there.

[@alanlough638]

A really cool video! Have a KMartlicious day! Stay awesome!

[@brendakrieger7000]

Thank you for sharing🎃💀👻

[@Darby-wn7fx]

Hi nice video and I'm glad I can join to your live stream

[@jrider3333]

I snagged the only blue light & register #1 checkout light from this location, ive stopped by several times after closing, the door in the back that was covered, was actually a very dated garage door, that had looked like someone had a loose section/panel and were getting in and out of the place, squatters id assume, I had planned to try and get in, but when I went back it was already covered up

[@dgrombach1]

That old Pizza Hut was a Wendy’s after that

[@andypritchard9644]

What? Wendy's is right next to it. I should know, I worked there for 3 years

[@dgrombach1]

@@andypritchard9644 Wendy s was new , this was in the 80s

[@dgrombach1]

Did you remember the Round up club across the road?

[@gaylenewood7707]

@@dgrombach1 Sadly Wendy's it's going to crap as well they just recently filed chapter 11 and they are gonna be closing some of their stores as well..

[@slackingpacking]

Nice old vintage Kmart, closed December 2019, same with Grove City and Harrison.

[@danestegman155]

Good video! I do remember when K-mart had a grocery store up here in WNY! This looked like it was a fairly big K-mart! Sad to see them close up! I though someone, was going to open that door, when your rang that bell!

[@manuelarias2795]

EN EL 2005 YO VISITABA ESTE Big K mart . YO VIVIA AHI EN THOMAS STREET Y ESTE KMART ESTABA MUY CERCA . AHORA SE VE MUY SOLO EL LUGAR; EN ESE TIEMPO LO VISITABA MUCHAS PERSONAS. SALUDOS DESDE GUANAJUATO, MÉXICO. IN 2005 I WAS VISITING THIS Big K mart. I LIVED THERE IN THOMAS STREET AND THIS KMART WAS VERY CLOSE. NOW ONLY THE PLACE IS SEEN; AT THAT TIME MANY PEOPLE VISITED IT. GREETINGS FROM GUANAJUATO, MEXICO.

[@MrIceman22]

thanks for sharing this video Wallie it sad that all kmarts are closing more and more every day that is cool kayla and her parents find the little kitten

[@ginasainati463]

I miss Kmart

[@jasenbach2793]

The garage doors was garden section

[@pezcore2142]

i visit that area regularly.. it was odd watching that mini mall die .. along with the pizza hut.. there were a few fast food places that were tore down before and then rebuilt super nearby ;)

[@WolfpacMaster]

awesome video

[@nkmade2004]

In June of 2019, I paid what would be my final visit to Kmart, at this location. Only half the store was strewn with items, let alone stocked or populated, and there was no PA music (although looking back on it, they would have been playing "Hurt" by Johnny Cash). And speaking of the above song, it made me wonder, what have they become? Not even a decade ago, my mom would shop here more than Walmart! These shelves were stocked full of almost everything the 'Mart had! As someone with ASD and therefore having spiritual and emotional connections to places and things I love, this was, in my mind, the end for Kmart. I knew it was looming in 2015 when they stopped selling video games because they couldn't turn a profit. In my mind, it was like having a grandparent with dementia; you knew they were going to go, but you didn't genuinely want them to. And in September 2019, the plug was pulled on this Kmart for good, making this the final store in KY and closing in December the same year. It will always be a Blue Light Special in my heart. Peace. 💙

[@zoefaith120]

I actually waved in sc. To Kayla in kentucky!

[@IceTheFanDude]

I went to this one a couple times when I was little it was my local one (we used to live in elsmere)

[@dgrombach1]

We usually went to Kmart in Florence

[@jobblyvids]

looks similar to Seven Hills, OH Kmart, even with the Kfoods next door...

[@roymonday5088]

Touch of class was a “liberal” grocery store a chain out of Dayton Ohio and the Kmart was a big Kmart I’ve lived by that Kmart since I was born and was there for opening day sad that it closed a piece of my childhood gone!

[@jennifernoyb6432]

What year did it open? I’ve lived in the area since 2007 and I was wonder what it was like before I moved here.

[@roymonday5088]

@@jennifernoyb6432 I’m pretty sure it was 1975 because I was in kindergarten in 1976 and it was before I was in kindergarten. I was there on opening day with my mom she got a free rival can opener and silverware set. We went there all the time was sad to see it go.

[@justinwyatt6476]

The furniture store side was never a kmart food section. Many years ago, early 90's it was an IGA. Born and raised in Erlanger.

[@news89]

That is one nice vintage build Kmart. Glad to see you were able to get view from above the doors. Such a shame that people throw garbage out at closed buildings.

[@elainebaird2091]

Hello, Wallie and Kayla, welcome to Northern Kentucky! Hope you stopped by Colonial Cottage across Dixie Highway for lunch and tried a Kentucky Hot Brown! We live not too far away, in Boone County. Have you two also filmed in New Castle, Pa? That's my home town (Neshannock Township) but the only time I see the place is on KZbin. I watch JawsJaws videos, they are so sad to see. That Pizza Hut next to K Mart has been empty for a long time, will be interesting to see your video.

[@sardius1970]

update: Colonial Cottage had a very bad fire in the kitchen during covid, it will not be restored, it has been sold and rumored to soon become a jimmy johns.

[@elainebaird2091]

@@sardius1970 Yes, I know. So sad to drive past it.

[@sandral2178]

We had 3 KMarts in our area, their all gone now, one building is now a Hobby Lobby, I really miss them, all we have now is Walmart!

[@gaylenewood7707]

Aw your kitty looks like my pearl so cute I bet your kitty is spoiled?😉.

[@andypritchard9644]

Holy shit Wallie, didn't know you went to my local Kmart. That's awesome. By the way it's Er-LANG-er lol

[@WallieB26]

Thanks for the clarification! Lol!

[@davidhoplight563]

Andy, I figured you'd be commenting something on this video lol Wallie: Andy and I know each other, if you hadn't figured that by now 🤣. We lived near each other growing up about 5 minutes from this store. But yeah, my mom worked there for years as a second job, and I even worked there for a time too back in 2014! I may actually have some behind the scenes pictures, by the way. I also dated a girl I worked with there...didn't work out though lol. Fun facts: that furniture outlet, which has been the same for years, was an IGA for sometime before that, but I'm not for sure if it was ever a part of Kmart itself. All the signage and stuff was gone in late December 2019, early January 2020 right after the closure. The auto center was closed maybe around 2005 or so, and was used for seasonal storage and toys thereafter. And the adjacent room that was part of the auto center was used for extra fixture storage. The garden center was open to the very end

[@bobbiejostowe6431]

Wow

[@adamrose6194]

Kroger is supposed to be building there. Not sure if they’ll use existing structure or build from scratch

[@hakeemsd70m]

I used to love shopping here at this Erlanger location and picking up some Adam Levine pieces. I knew, though, that in time, that someday would be my very last time ever shopping here. Sadly, I was right. Rest in peace Kmart.

[@nkmade2004]

I feel you there. I have always had emotional ties with places, people and things I love, and this specific Kmart was no different. RIP Dixie Highway Kmart 1972-2019 💙 Forever a Blue Light Special in My Heart 💙

[@dgrombach1]

Was shopping there last summer,

[@chris537a]

You should check out Edgewood. Erlanger store 3835 dollar tree in the video. kroger is gonna eventually tear down the whole building. Do a video on that before it shuts down fully stocked. not sure the date but its mentioned on edgewood council.

[@ricklphillips5512]

I live there and you pronounced the name Erlanger right the first time. The part that is now Touch of Class was never part of Kmart. It was an IGA grocery store till they went out of business.

[@conman-theanimaker5230]

December 2019 that Kmart and my local Kmart in Greenville South Carolina closed

[@dgrombach1]

October’s are nice here, best month

[@joshuajerrythereviewer]

Kmart foods it could have been another grocery store after that which I search it and some of them became other grocery stores after Kmart foods before becoming the furniture store

[@jackiehoward7300]

Hello, Wallie and Kayla. I see you visited my home state. Well done video and thanks for sharing.

[@atx_marxco]

Hey there’s some abandoned restaurants and a hotel here in Arlington tx there’s a abandoned kfc at 2427 W Pioneer Pkwy, Pantego, TX 76013 and there’s a abandoned hotel here 908 e division st Arlington tx 76011

[@robertmailhos8159]

The lights are on but no one is home 😟😟 that is sweet of her parents to take in the kitten and give her or him love

[@JellyCrainerSlogoCLIPS]

Speaking of pizza hut there was one near me in Muskogee Ok that closed up just roughly a month ago and its by a golden corral

[@gaylenewood7707]

Wow that is in great shape still unlike some other old Kmarts you've seen I bet someone is gonna fix it up to sell it to someone who knows how to treat a business..

[@STEWCAT88]

You should have drove up to Cincinnati and drive down state route 50 going towards Lawrenceburg Indiana cuz you would eventually come to a old very fast station. Maybe next time.

[@daytonafuntim]

Selfie stick FTW!

[@MoarCheeseBirb]

The furniture sign is now totally gone, the entire structure is empty with no signs except the dollar tree.

[@jasong3652]

I wish I had known about this when I was in Cincy 2 weeks ago! I did get the chance to check out the one in Grayson KY!

[@tomboy4047]

What you are saying was a food section.,... That was a IGA grocery store

[@hoplight]

That was never a Kmart food section. It (in the 80') an IGA. I spent many years working for Kmart. The most fascinating part of the building (to me) is the lay a way storage room that runs the length of the building.

[@TheRacingGenius88]

Well Kaylas T- shirt game is strong.

[@MrMentalia]

Wallie we have 2 abandoned ones here in Louisville Kentucky! If you come up here I'd love to meet you!!

[@dgrombach1]

Pizza Hut was a Wendys

[@dgrombach1]

Never had an Ames here

[@jgrigsby8697]

It is pronounced "ER-Lang-ER" lol but its actually in Edgewood (EDGE-Would). Thanks for not breaking in. ;)

[@isthisreal5019]

My old Kmart looked exactly like that one with the garden center and auto repair center layout The only difference is it has the old logo for the garden center

[@aliviaaax_]

er-lang-err

[@dgrombach1]

Touch of class was a Hallmark once

[@jameshebert5430]

Looks like an early 70's and dude you found one with a Kfoods front still intact. I personally have only seen two. The first one was at 50th and L streets in Omaha, NE which I got to shop at when I was a very little kid. The second one was on Sixth Avenue in Tacoma, WA I didn't get to shop in that as a Kfoods, but as a BiLo Foods before Kmart took over the space to expand to retail floor of an already huge store and I do mean huge, the building was at least one city block by three city blocks not counting the front and side parking lots.

[@Optopolis]

Kinda makes me wonder how many Kmarts in Nebraska then had a KFoods? Because I know Colorado did have many Kmarts with K Foods, but then in Wyoming, as far as I know, no Kmarts have had KFoods! Seems so unique, Kinda wish that it still existed at least somewhat in the modern day, Ay!?

[@brianleeper5737]

Those phones look like Nortel phones, but it's hard to tell.

[@retailexplorationwithdanny8070]

What was the name of the outro song?

[@KeithPlaysPS4927]

There is an abandoned Brusters, Denny's, and a Shop n Save in Hermitage,Pennsylvania.

[@jimsoutdooradventures2748]

I remember going to this Kmart a lot as a teen in the 80s and 90s and buying accessories for my car and cassette tapes. Walmart and their own mismanagement has ruined them,,sad. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Also,,love the Type O Negative shirt🤘🤘

[@crystalscan2002]

wow that big kmart

[@ERA_Productions]

Great video man, I filmed here back in May and the sign was not up. They took the signs off of here as soon as they closed as far as I’ve heard from my friend who lives down here, As this was his Kmart

[@matthewcampbell7985]

Half abandoned half Kmart for erlanger, kentucky.

[@evanwilliams6406]

Probably one of the best uses of the selfie stick right there, this is a very old school style Kmart. I could imagine it back in the day chock full of people and that old school Kmart sign.

[@crackerjack606]

hey wallie! if you were interested, there are two closed k marts near my home. one is in paintsville, kentucky and the other one is in grayson, kentucky! in paintsville there is also a closed Gordmans (used to be Peebles)

[@dewaynesmith6620]

What year did this one close

[@andypritchard9644]

December 2019

[@trevorsvirtualadventures4604]

I was inside this building at final 3 day of it hopefully the store gets turned into a Spirit Halloween in a couple years from now

[@brandonb.6099]

You can see the service desk easily

[@ScottyToaster]

That selfie stick worked like a charm! Thanks for all the cool explorations. I really enjoy seeing all of these "blast from the past" places. That K-Mart is such a nice store right now. Sadly, it will probably be in the same condition as the Ames you were recently in before long.

[@dgrombach1]

Kmart there never had a food section

[@CoasterQueen8799]

The Dayton, OH area (my neck of the woods) used to have a lot of Kmarts. I went through a Kmart-crazy phase in 2014-15 and ended up documenting the stores in Xenia (closed 2014, demolished 2016), Fairborn (closed 2014), Springfield (closed 2014, now a Rural King), Englewood (closed 2015), Eaton (closed 2016?), Beavercreek (closed 2017, now an At Home), and Riverside (closed 2017). There was also a Kmart in Trotwood (closed 2013, now a storage facility) that I saw when open but never got to visit. I also got to visit and document 3 Super Kmarts in OH (Brooklyn, Lorain, and Mentor, all of which were in the greater Cleveland area)! I still have a little interest in Kmart mainly because of its interesting history, though it doesn’t match the enthusiasm I had for it in 2014-15. 🙂

[@doctorwhofan1989]

Hello, I never understood the logic behind covering up the windows with paper. What's the harm if someone wishes to look in to see what it looks like? It isn't as if someone is going to break in because there's nothing of value to steal, and besides making it so you cannot see inside won't stop a determined person from getting in if they really wished to. It just strikes me as something that is done in order to spite people like Wallie that just want to look inside the store. There's literally no logic behind it. ~William

[@Optopolis]

To some degree I'm gonna say yes and no. There is still guts that could be stolen, and that definitely makes it arguable. Unfortunately it does make it harder to see inside when you just want to document the place. Sometimes it is almost a shocker they don't also board it up tho lol

[@1TMNTlover]

Its funny I live in Steilacoom WA and people from out of town always pronounce it wrong, its also the same for other town/city's around me like Puyallup lol

[@ChopperDDocter]

Hi it's me!!

[@towhidsofficialadventures]

I Was Here In 10/2 And I Saw a Emergency exit Door Was Almost Open On The Right

[@MrScrappity]

People in Kentucky won't care how you pronounce it. They don't even wear shoes 😁 Cincinnati's Eastgate mall is a dying shell of its former self. Should have hit it up when you were close to town 😁

[@briangodbey5511]

city just approved too tear it down and the old pizza hut too build a new kroger with a gas station.

[@DalmationProductions]

#EddieLampertforJail #SavetheKmarts

[@crystalscan2002]

that looks old style kmart bye the front