With the store closing Sunday, Kmart joins the list of once iconic retailers, such as Toys 'R' Us, RadioShack, Pier 1, Bed Bath & Beyond, and most of what's left of Kmart's corporate sibling Sears.
Chris Isidore, CNN, Photography by Laura Oliverio, CNNKmart to close last U.S. mainland location on Long Island in OctoberOn Wednesday, Shahlise Cherry and her friend Deborah Arnone went to visit a fondly remembered past, one that helped to reshape retailing in America., which is set to close its doors in Bridgehampton, New York, for good on Sunday.
While the Bridgehampton Kmart's closing wasn't a surprise to Cherry and Arnone, they were surprised to hear this is the last full-size, mainland Kmart. The chain started in the late 19th century, when founder Sebastian Spering Kresge opened a five-and-dime store in downtown Detroit bearing his name. In 1962, the store adopted the Kmart brand.
But Lampert appeared more focused on selling off the real estate the two companies had, along with other assets such as the Craftsman brand of tools previously sold only at Sears, rather than in investing in either chain, leading to a bankruptcy filing in 2018. Bridgehampton is on the far eastern end of Long Island, in the middle of the wealthy vacation area known as the Hamptons. But Kmart didn't cater to the rich vacation crowd but rather to the locals who worked in the area. The nearest Walmart and Target stores are about 25 miles away in Riverhead, roughly a 45-minute drive. The last full-size Kmart in the contiguous United States had been able to survive longer than other stores based on that limited competition.
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