The shopping experience. It was like I was shopping in a classy store. I saved my allowance, I saved my paycheck frim the local Dairy Queen to go to Kmart on black Friday for the deals. But no fighting happened. No one was throwing punches over a 13 inch black and white tv for 50 bucks. ❤😂😂
I got everything I set out to get on my list that was based on their advertising. And they always delivered. IDK what went wrong. But Kmart should have gone face to face with Walmart. And Walmart should have been taken to the woodshed years ago. ❤😅. But I shop there. They have the Kmart prices. However, they are totally lacking in service
Kresge. Founder of Kmart, paved the way for Sam “the Walmart”Walton. And what about Woolworths, or McCrorys. Way before a Walmart came to town. there was a Hills department store, and then it became an Ames. But Kmart stood strong but had to surrender to Walmart. It was a Hills and a Giant Eagle with one stop. A lot of retail strategy on on Walmarts part
My hometown got our first Kmart around 1972. I was 5 years old then. So, I can honestly say, I grew up going to Kmart with my family, and LOVED it every time we went. My mom bought all my school supplies there, every year. Lunch boxes, pencils, pens, notebooks, etc .I spent much of my weekly allowance at Kmart. As a kid, I bought many toys there. Got my first skateboard(of many) from Kmart. Loved the smell of popcorn, and loved the Icees also. I have many fond memories of my grandparents coming to visit on Saturday afternoons, and us going shopping, and us going to Kmart with them. So do I have awesome, fond memories of Kmart, yes I do. Memories I hold close to my heart. Mom is no longer with us, nor are my grandparents, but I do have the great memories of it all. I miss all of them, and I miss Kmart. R.I.P.
My favorite memory as a child is eating at the restaurant in the back of our local Kmart in the late 70's or early 80's with my grandma. It was a small cafe that served burgers, fries, and such with restaurant style booths and bar. Wooden lattice walls separated it from the store. She died right after high school from cancer; I have missed her for decades. Shopping at Kmart as an adult was low stress, quiet, clean, and prices were near the same as anywhere else. Many unique items and private store brands, especially in the past. The Sears merger could have been great without the sabotage from the top ceo. I have found a small collection of private owned stores to shop at and online for the stores that don't exist anymore. Really miss Radio Shack, too. I really didn't need to buy 3k plus resistors of 162 values, just to keep some around when Radio Shack existed. I haven't seen an electronics store in decades. I have to travel over an hour to a micro center for anything close to an electronics store. It was worth the trip when FRY's electronics still existed; miss that one too. Hobby shops, automotive machine shops, and speed shops were neat, too. I still have a local rebuilder for starters and alternators; reuse my genuine OEM cores.
I loved K mart. I was a Kmart of the mid 90's and early 2000's. They had something that no big stores had "Lay away". I still have have my Christmas tree I bought in 2007. It was the best and their diner or mini restaurant inside was wonderful too,miss you still 😢
My mom developed a life long love for the sliced take-home ham when my older sis worked in the diner, and it always came with a coupon on the bag. Funny the insignificant things jarred loose when taking a trip down memory lane, via K Mart, haha.
I worked as an assistant manager of housewares, furniture and small appliances, at Kmart when I was in college from about 89-91. Kmart had two big issues: They often forced employees to chase shoplifters and that resulted in injuries and out of court settlements. The other was that the stores were built in the 60s and 70s and packed with asbestos. I remember several co-workers and managers dying of mesothelioma which also resulted in major out of court settlements. The positives were that each store had a little over 100 employees each and it was like a small community into itself. I remember many amazing people that I worked with. The craziest times were running the Moonlight Madness Blue Light specials running around the store with shoppers running behind me waiting for me to stop to the sale location. The other was the massive crowds from Black Friday until Christmas, way beyond anything you will see today.
As Target and Walmart started arriving in towns that Kmart had been for may years, Kmart failed to update/remodel their stores. Some stores begin to look old and run down. They also failed to keep with eCommerce (online shopping). Then when Eddie Lambert came and merged Kmart with Sears, they continuing going downhill as all he cared about is the real estate side
@ThoseWonderYears There are quite a few! It really was a blast! From riding bikes, skateboards and rollerskates to playing hide and seek in the store and stockrooms. We would go upstairs into the rooms that had the 2 way mirrors and spy on each other with the binoculars that security used to watch theives. We helped ourselves to popcorn, sodas, ice cream, deli sandwiches, Icees or any other food we could get our hands on. Of course the most fun was playing with all the toys snd electronics. My dad would get us a key to the locked video games and get us batteries to play them. We even used to help the cage cashiers at night when we were allowed to go back with dad after dinner during the week. We'd help count cash and roll the coins. Good times! We did move a lot with each promotion my dad got as he got brand new and bigger stores. I hope, now looking back, that the staff didn't find us a nuisance..if they did though I'm sure my dad would have said something to us. Hopefully 😇
My dad was too I remember those nights in the store after closing he would let me pick out a vhs tape to watch why he worked and gave me popcorn. To everyone saying Kmart was a shit hole that's not true they became bad in the 2000s when they had no budget to maintain anything
I miss Kmart so much. It was the first store I remember that had a cafeteria, a slush offering in the front and of course, the blue light special. I also remember shopping at Kresge. Now, my parents live in a house a few blocks away from the original store in Garden City and all there is now is a sad, weed choked lot with lots of space that used to be so much more. It's really hard getting old and realizing how nostalgic you get for things from your past 😢
Kmart lay away was a God send to poor people during Christmas. We shopped there so much when they where closing we had over 500$ of store credit we got from a in store promotion we got a tablet they are missed
Why? Walmart is obviously better. Walmart exists because of consumers. The two stores existed at the same time, the majority of people preferred Walmart.
I worked at Kmart for 30 years in Grand rapids Michigan it was the best time of my life I would give anything to go back to that time we were treated very well and had lots of fun we were all like family
I've seen this a lot - that they were good to their employees. Some even theorizing that taking care of their employees contributed to their struggles being competitive. Sad.
Man, the Kmart cafe was sometimes the only way we got to eat when I was a kid. I was raised by a single, quite poor, mother and that cafeteria was one of the few affordable meals sometimes. I have great memories of the orange colored hard plastic booths. And I'm sure my memory is distored but I remember the food being quite good! Of course then Little Ceasers came in and that was that lol
Loved Kmart back in my high school years (early 70s), felt so adult, lol. I'd drive my beater car over and use money I made from a part-time job. I used the layaway for Christmas presents for the family. Back then, the quality and variety of the products was fine. Dad liked their jeans. I even bought him a watch from there one year. Decent perfume (mom, grandma). I found clothes, shoes and purses for high school and work there (this was before we had much in the way of thrift stores where I live). I also shopped for things my first apartment and bought Magnalite cookware (a starter set only cost me $34 back then, and I still use it now at my age of 70). After my dad died, Mom and I would hit Kmart on Memorial Day, check out the outdoor sales items, get a hotdog, coke and chips for $1 and then go to the cemetery. I got married in the early 80s, and my now ex (and deceased) hubby would hit Kmart on a Saturday night, and he got a kick out of the marked-down sub sandwiches before the store closed. Very fond memories for sure.
Omg it was literally my childhood in through 70' and 80's! My father retired from k-mart as manager of jewelry dept. after 28 yrs. It really was like a family, everyone knew our names and we knew theirs. Best company picinics ever!
So many reasons mentioned here, but many of us also have special, personal memories.🔥 My mother worked at our neighborhood location for many years, then after she left, I worked there after high school graduation. It’s a place that’s woven into my childhood and early adulthood, which were some of the best years of my life. Great memories, many friendships made, first boyfriends and dates, first paychecks earned, great sales found, and tons of merchandise bought-lots of fun was had there.🥰♥️ When they closed our neighborhood store and started closing the others in our city back in the late 90s, it was a stab in the heart. I hated to see them go, but the only predictable thing about life is change. Now I’m a ride or die Walmart shopper.🤷🏽♀️😂 If you were a Kmart lover, it was the next best thing.
I have my memories of Kmart, I have a blue light, cashier's check out light, a scanner, call boxes and 100's more Kmart items. My bedroom looks like a Kmart
I have a few memories of K-Mart in the 90s. Nothing very specific, and I don't think we went very often, but they're better memories than most of the other retail memories from that time--except for stories that I wanted to go to, like my LCS for baseball cards. Which is also gone now.
It's interesting how certain stores leave a lasting impression even if we didn't visit them often. K-Mart had a unique charm back in the 90s. It's a shame that many of those beloved stores, like your local comic shop, are no longer around. The nostalgia for places like that is really strong!
@@ThoseWonderYears I remember everything about it from the time I was a child in the seventies until the time I took my own children shopping there at the same Kmart until it closed a few years ago.
I remember when Kmart had a big cafeteria in the back of the store on Jacksonville, FL's Northside. Great food and great memories. Where have they gone?
What I remember most about Kmart as a kid in the late 70’s & early 80’s is right after Halloween I would get Loads of Candy at Clearance prices to last me until late summer.
@@jetman80pops Its both reasons JetMan. Kmart over expanded just when they needed to compete with Walmart and Target. They zigged when they should have zagged. But who could have known that in the early 80s. Walmart did what Kmart wanted to do, expanded all over the USA and the world.
I remember the last time I walked through Kmart (I had just moved to this state). I had to pick up an online order. It was probably one of the last stores in the state. The video mentions dimly lit aisles and low stock shelves, that was true. It was in a bad part of the city and the parking lots were full of cracks and pot holes. It was dead inside and seems like almost all but 4 employees were working up front. I don't know what made me want to walk through the store. I guess it was nostalgic for me because I'd remember my parents always took me every weekend to a Kmart in the late 80s-90s.
I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, I grew up in the Kmart era, and loved shopping there! In fact I am honored that my picture is shown twice in this video!! It's nice to see myself and my two teenage friends in historic picture of the time I grew up in!
Every good business has a good a good run. Until the next great thing comes along. It’s the cycle of business and a matter of time. Even Disney after 50 years is having their struggles as strange as that sounds. This video is a great business lesson… Bravo 👏
I grew up in Garden City Michigan and one of my favorite memories is walking with my mom to the Kmart. We lived only a few blocks away and then cross Ford rd and we were there. Awesome memories from when i was a little girl. And Hudsons in Detroit at Christmas.
My K-Mart in New Jersey had a deli counter in the 70's. The store closed at 10, so we would go at 9:30. At about 9:45 they did a blue light special and we bought left over hoggie's for half price.
Im 61 yrs old and grew up Kmart, I love the Blue Light sales. Its will always be a part of my life. Im a Walmart shopper now, I hope what happened to Kmart will not happen to walmart. Im glad I got to grow up going to Kmart. I also remember Zodies.
It was simply the BLUE LIGHT SPECIALs and the food court. Plain and simple. I worked for Kmart in NJ from 1986-87 in automotive\sporting goods while in high school just when minimum wage jumped from $3.75 to $5.15 per hour. What a jump for a 17-year-old! Personal connections? Sure, maybe in the 1970s, but by the late 1980s and early 1990s, customers went to Walmart for cheaper prices or Target for better quality goods. And in the 2000s, Internet shopping (with no personal experience at all) pushed them over. [I also worked for Woolworths while in college, same story different retailer.]
I remember riding the 25cent toy out front of KMart in north Seattle. My Grandma moved into a new apartment right next door to one. So we went there to help her furnish the blue light would go off. They had a cafe in the back it had saloon doors and just a good lunch menu I loved the BLT so good👍I will always be a KMart shopper for Life 🫠
My Canadian experiences with Kmart back in the 70's and 80's ... While occupying a huge space (like a Walmart today) I never knew the store to be clean or tidy. The floors were uneven and always dirty. The store smelled dingy.(I know the smell now as mildew from leaks) There were always empty sections of shelves. Lots of burned out florescent lights too. The store always seemed creepy to me as a kid. I know now that all the signs of disrepair and all those other symptoms of financial struggle were showing even back then. As it was stated, the onus was on opening new stores and NOT on maintaining or upgrading the ones that existed.(It seems that Canadian stores had it worse.) As the largest retailer for a pretty big customer base (the only big store in the area) it was never much of a draw. Most of the time you would only shop there if you were "desperate". My parents (with many others) would rather make a much longer drive to shop at Woodward's for better quality and service even though it wasn't cheaper. Sounds like the US stores were able to control things a bit better. The writing was on the wall and the failure to adapt and update was their demise. The irony of being bought out by Sears who was floundering for the same reasons despite Sears being one of the most famous for their home based "Catalogue" shopping ... They had the market share and phased it out ... imagine if Sears had updated their "Catalogue" home shopping to the modern "Internet" home shopping ... But the leadership were unable or unwilling to make the changes needed so now they are no more.
cheers from australia: As a 8/9 year old kid in the late 70's Kmart was quite a day out: good memories. After looking at everything we sat down at the cafeteria to have lunch and coffee. So much was there. I still go there to purchase clothing, crockery, automotive. The product lines have been dramatically reduced however.
I miss the personal touch of our local KMart. Walmart has become so cold & calculated compared to why I started going to it. Retail used to be so warm & friendly. Not only that, the common man could afford to shop for & buy clothes easily. That is certainly not the case now. I liked the department store music in this video. It reminded me of when soft music would play in a store, making the atmosphere more inviting. The music stores play now "screams" at you. TY for sharing this. God Bless You & stay safe.
Well done, I remember it well as I lived a cross the street of one that lasted from 1982-1986. It was too close to another one that was about 4 or 5 miles away.
The popcorn 🍿 the sub sandwiches blue light specials toys clothes music section layaway everything!!! Those were the best time ever!!! Never ever be a store like it again !! The cafeteria was great also!!! God 🙏 do I miss those days!!!
I miss Kmart so much, because they’re better than Target and Walmart in terms of customer service. I feel Kmart went bankrupt because of aggressive competition and Kmart didn’t have the money to renovate their stores that were originally built in the 1970s, which is why they went bankrupt. Also Eddie Lampert didn’t care about the retail side of Kmart and Sears, he sold their real estate for affordable housing developments!
I too have fond memories of Kmart; I remember how exciting it was in 1994 when my local Kmart got remodeled and became known as a ‘big Kmart’. The cafeteria was great for I remember they had a $.99 breakfast which was quite tasty. And Kmarts’ Christmas department was simply the bomb. I do remember what plagued Kmart was when they ran out of something they were out of it for an eternity. All things considered, I miss them dearly.
I have so many good memories of Kmart as a kid. I loved their toy aisle. I also remember winning a Easter basket from their deli. My grandmother loved their cold cut subs. I will say though that if you got caught buying clothes there as a kid you got picked on for being poor.
i live in new york and 10 minutes away from the last kmart in the united states. i went in there just yesterday after years of not going. the aisles are now so empty, the shelves barley stocked, everything on sale and big empty open spaces in the store. i honestly miss the old kmart its so sad seeing it like this.
As an Australian I found this interesting as I like watching nostalgia stuff especially when it comes to commonly shared/lived experiences. I liked seeing the clip of the couple shopping in an Aussie store and the old Aussie Kmart ad and the other Australia Kmart clips. I was kind of hoping to see some clips as our stores were co created from S.S Kresge company, I'm not sure if it was intentional or not I thought it was a nice touch. I don't remember ever having anything like a Blue Light Special growing up as a kid in the 90's here, but it does sound like fun. Also it's funny how your Target clip at 16:53 is of an Aussie Target off a tv news clip which funnily enough there's an interesting history of Target vs Kmart basically they were owned by the same company/people they sold off Kmart as it was losing them money and you show a clip at 17:27 I think that was when our Kmart had brought back Target as they were now losing money.
I used to work there in the late eighties when I went to college. After the store closed we used to push it around the store with the light on like a police car.
I loved Kmart back in the 70s and mid 80s. Especially in the 70s when I was a kid. I think everyone in my generation remembers those days at Kmart, and how great they were. We tend to compare the way things were to how they are now. I do the same thing, but we must realize, that even if Kmart still existed, and was operating now, that it would not be like it was in the 70s or 80s, because this is not the 70s or 80s. Its today, 2024, about to be 2025. But hey, we still have those awesome memories of how it used to be. I went to a Kmart in another town, about 2 hrs away from where I live, and the building looked just like the one that I grew up going to. My wife and I drove by it, going to an appointment, and I told my wife, we have got to stop at that Kmart on the way back home. So, we did, it was cool, and we enjoyed it, but I to was expecting something that could not be. The Kmart from my childhood back in the 70s, which is crazy, and is impossible. Just saying.
I never liked Kmart really. Ours was off a major highway, but it was just a bit further than our first mall, which had Montgomery Ward, Woolco, and Woolworth's, among others, so we never went there. Later, about the time I could go to places on my own, there was a new mall the other direction, so even less reason to go to Kmart. Somehow the blue light special thing I considered way too corny and weird, and liked things much more predictable. I think back in my childhood, the most fascinating place was Woolco, because ours was HUGE, and for the 1-2 times I got to go there, it had a great toy section. One thing you could be assured of, if a store had a great toy section, my dad stopped going there real quick. I recall one big store along the Kmart lines, which I haven't seen in a long time, was called Gibson's Discount Center, and from what I saw on the net, had like 430 stores way back in '68. One odd feature they had, for especially back then, was it used to always be open on sundays, back when no other place would be open then.
awesome my parents would put clothes for us in lay away. i will always remember they would pay it off, and we had new clothes. this was in the 90s early 2000s
I remember my Mom using their lay-a-way to get stuff for us seven kids for Christmas back in the 60's-70's. Bought my first BB gun at the same store. It's a Lowes now.
I remember the donuts in our 1970s KMart. The cafe has an automatic donut maker. It was a 15 foot long hot oil tray. The dough would drop from a dispencer into the hot oil. A chain would move the cooking dough along the tray. Around the center it would hit the flipper that would move it into the second part of the tray while cooking the other side. At the end it would be lifted out and slid onto a tray, where a nice lady would put dip them into sugar, chocolate, sprinkles or other toppings. You would then get a wonderful warm donuts. This would never by allowed today with a vat of hot oil just over a glass shield. .
I can remember them in Long Beach CALIFORNIA and also in Bellflower CALIFORNIA. The store on Rosecrans is still there but has been closed for a long time. 😊
I had the fortune to work in KMart Automotive for a number of years as Manager. While not perfect, it WAS enjoyable and a learning experience. I definitely miss many aspects of it...
I'm 35, I remember the K Mart in my area had an area you could order food and that's where I have the memory of tasting my first Philly cheese steak! K mart is why a boy in the south fell in love with such a sandwich. Also the first store I ran away from my mom and got lost in lol.
Kmart has been revitalised in Australia for the next generation. It's become very popular again here, which is awesome seeing I grew up during the 70s and 80s. Your video brought back my childhood .memories, especially the cafeteria
What a beautiful memory! 💖 Those trips with your grandma must have been so special, and it’s amazing how places like Kmart hold such sentimental value. Thanks for sharing, and may your grandma’s memory always bring you comfort!
Something interesting Kmart had issues with in later years was signage mixture/conflict with the Australian company, K-Mart, which had no affiliation with the US company or SHC (Sears Holdings). In 2017, SHC had to start watermarking signage in the remaining Kmart stores so that it was less confusable with K-Mart (AUS)'s signage. Funnily enough, both Kmart (aus) and Target.(aus) copy both the US brand's trade and branding even though they aren't affiliated with or modeled after the US companies. One of the clips you show (17:29) is actually an Australian news program regarding the merger between the two Australian brands, Kmart and Target. Just an interesting bit of information.
It’s interesting, watching this video through a completely difference lens. As an Australian who grew up in the 80s and saw a bunch of K-Marts load up all over our suburban areas. You would often see them anchor a plaza and have everything from a dept store to cafe , garden centre or mechanic (tyre and auto) They were no where near as “friendly” but the prices were good and they stocked just about everything.
I went to Kmart ever Black Friday. A few times I went on thanksgiving morning when they decided to first open on a Holiday. Walmart followed with the Black Friday craze. I never saw a RUclips about a black Friday violence at a KMART. Kmart never excited a riot. Lol
K mart was 20 minutes at highway speed from where I grew up. It was town and for many years it was the place to shop for Christmas. Unlike Wally world they kept departments solidly in place and easy to find. My parents had layaway most Christmas seasons. Not credit card debt. My favorite was the 5-pound Hershey bar. After the holidays it was marked down and I stored most of it in the freezer into March most years.
Kmart was my favorite also venture store my mom and I used to go to both each Saturday to buy things I bought my Super Nintendo and Gega Genesis there. All my toys from the 90s VHS 📼 movies and more if only I can go back to enjoy the good stuff the 90s gave us 🙏
What do you miss most about Kmart?
Blue Light Specials! And running 🏃♂️ across the store to get it!!!🤡
The shopping experience.
It was like I was shopping in a classy store. I saved my allowance, I saved my paycheck frim the local Dairy Queen to go to Kmart on black Friday for the deals.
But no fighting happened. No one was throwing punches over a 13 inch black and white tv for 50 bucks. ❤😂😂
We all just waited in line until they unlocked the door at 6 am. I got there at 5:30/. 5:45 am and didn’t have to throw a punch to grab a cheap TV
I got everything I set out to get on my list that was based on their advertising. And they always delivered. IDK what went wrong. But Kmart should have gone face to face with Walmart. And Walmart should have been taken to the woodshed years ago. ❤😅. But I shop there. They have the Kmart prices. However, they are totally lacking in service
Kresge. Founder of Kmart, paved the way for Sam “the Walmart”Walton.
And what about Woolworths, or McCrorys.
Way before a Walmart came to town. there was a Hills department store, and then it became an Ames. But Kmart stood strong but had to surrender to Walmart. It was a Hills and a Giant Eagle with one stop. A lot of retail strategy on on Walmarts part
My grandma was a layaway manager at Kmart for 25 years and still gets a pension from them now at 90 years old.
Wow that's crazy. None of us will ever see something like that
That’s amazing. I never knew they offered a pension?! 😊
That’s so awesome! We had layaway for our clothes all summer for our new clothes for school.
@@SayHello2Kevin wow, that’s a special thing. Something to be proud of.
@@SayHello2Kevin really kmart had retirement program
Kmart is the reason I exist! My parents met when they were both working for Kmart back in the late 70s
My hometown got our first Kmart around 1972. I was 5 years old then. So, I can honestly say, I grew up going to Kmart with my family, and LOVED it every time we went. My mom bought all my school supplies there, every year. Lunch boxes, pencils, pens, notebooks, etc .I spent much of my weekly allowance at Kmart. As a kid, I bought many toys there. Got my first skateboard(of many) from Kmart. Loved the smell of popcorn, and loved the Icees also. I have many fond memories of my grandparents coming to visit on Saturday afternoons, and us going shopping, and us going to Kmart with them. So do I have awesome, fond memories of Kmart, yes I do. Memories I hold close to my heart. Mom is no longer with us, nor are my grandparents, but I do have the great memories of it all. I miss all of them, and I miss Kmart. R.I.P.
Thanks for sharing
This is the kind of thing we need now. We need this experience back.
You’re right about that
We need a k mart 😂😂😂. No thanks Kmart was a shit hole
why? all it’s worth is to go spend money we don’t have
You know what you have until it's gone. I miss Sears too.
It's called target and the sales are gone
My favorite memory as a child is eating at the restaurant in the back of our local Kmart in the late 70's or early 80's with my grandma.
It was a small cafe that served burgers, fries, and such with restaurant style booths and bar. Wooden lattice walls separated it from the store.
She died right after high school from cancer; I have missed her for decades.
Shopping at Kmart as an adult was low stress, quiet, clean, and prices were near the same as anywhere else.
Many unique items and private store brands, especially in the past.
The Sears merger could have been great without the sabotage from the top ceo.
I have found a small collection of private owned stores to shop at and online for the stores that don't exist anymore. Really miss Radio Shack, too.
I really didn't need to buy 3k plus resistors of 162 values, just to keep some around when Radio Shack existed.
I haven't seen an electronics store in decades.
I have to travel over an hour to a micro center for anything close to an electronics store. It was worth the trip when FRY's electronics still existed; miss that one too.
Hobby shops, automotive machine shops, and speed shops were neat, too.
I still have a local rebuilder for starters and alternators; reuse my genuine OEM cores.
We love you KMART. Come back to us
You're right thanks for sharing
The cafeteria was the best part as a kid..
One of the best for sure
the warm cinnamon rolls with cold milk my favorite and the cheeseburgers with fries also
And the smell of the popcorn 🍿
I loved K mart. I was a Kmart of the mid 90's and early 2000's. They had something that no big stores had "Lay away". I still have have my Christmas tree I bought in 2007. It was the best and their diner or mini restaurant inside was wonderful too,miss you still 😢
Thanks for sharing your memories, hope you enjoy the video.
The sub sandwiches were great!
the sub sandwiches were the best one for sure
My mom developed a life long love for the sliced take-home ham when my older sis worked in the diner, and it always came with a coupon on the bag. Funny the insignificant things jarred loose when taking a trip down memory lane, via K Mart, haha.
It's Nostalgic because it's a good childhood memory for many people.
You’re right
I worked as an assistant manager of housewares, furniture and small appliances, at Kmart when I was in college from about 89-91. Kmart had two big issues: They often forced employees to chase shoplifters and that resulted in injuries and out of court settlements. The other was that the stores were built in the 60s and 70s and packed with asbestos. I remember several co-workers and managers dying of mesothelioma which also resulted in major out of court settlements. The positives were that each store had a little over 100 employees each and it was like a small community into itself. I remember many amazing people that I worked with. The craziest times were running the Moonlight Madness Blue Light specials running around the store with shoppers running behind me waiting for me to stop to the sale location. The other was the massive crowds from Black Friday until Christmas, way beyond anything you will see today.
Great story friend thanks for sharing
That's really sad about the asbestos. Thanks for sharing your story.
Yes😊! The cabbage patch dolls! Women almost broke down our doors to get them!
As Target and Walmart started arriving in towns that Kmart had been for may years, Kmart failed to update/remodel their stores. Some stores begin to look old and run down. They also failed to keep with eCommerce (online shopping). Then when Eddie Lambert came and merged Kmart with Sears, they continuing going downhill as all he cared about is the real estate side
You're right
People also used to clown on Kmart pretty hard in the 90's. The name was synonymous with low quality.
In the 70's too. God forbid you have Kmart shoes! 😂
Playing in the store on holidays when it was closed. Dad was a manager for over 35 years. It was a second home for me and my sister.❤
Wow sounds like you have some great stories about Kmart
@ThoseWonderYears There are quite a few! It really was a blast! From riding bikes, skateboards and rollerskates to playing hide and seek in the store and stockrooms. We would go upstairs into the rooms that had the 2 way mirrors and spy on each other with the binoculars that security used to watch theives. We helped ourselves to popcorn, sodas, ice cream, deli sandwiches, Icees or any other food we could get our hands on. Of course the most fun was playing with all the toys snd electronics. My dad would get us a key to the locked video games and get us batteries to play them. We even used to help the cage cashiers at night when we were allowed to go back with dad after dinner during the week. We'd help count cash and roll the coins. Good times! We did move a lot with each promotion my dad got as he got brand new and bigger stores. I hope, now looking back, that the staff didn't find us a nuisance..if they did though I'm sure my dad would have said something to us. Hopefully 😇
My dad was too I remember those nights in the store after closing he would let me pick out a vhs tape to watch why he worked and gave me popcorn. To everyone saying Kmart was a shit hole that's not true they became bad in the 2000s when they had no budget to maintain anything
Awww love that, my Grandpa was a manager at a big chain grocery store and it was the same on holiday which was really cool especially as a kid❤
❤@@naomitims4521
I miss Kmart so much. It was the first store I remember that had a cafeteria, a slush offering in the front and of course, the blue light special. I also remember shopping at Kresge. Now, my parents live in a house a few blocks away from the original store in Garden City and all there is now is a sad, weed choked lot with lots of space that used to be so much more. It's really hard getting old and realizing how nostalgic you get for things from your past 😢
Kmart lay away was a God send to poor people during Christmas. We shopped there so much when they where closing we had over 500$ of store credit we got from a in store promotion we got a tablet they are missed
Thanks for sharing your story
@@retrogametech1626 it Was verrry clean ,quiet, nice people!!!!!! QUIET#1
I wish Walmart would close and Kmart would come back
One day people will say this about Walmart and be wishing that ElonMart would close.
When I was a small girl, my hometown lost it's K-mart because of Wal-Mart.
Don't forget that times have dramatically changed. It's awful times nowadays.
Right
Why? Walmart is obviously better. Walmart exists because of consumers. The two stores existed at the same time, the majority of people preferred Walmart.
Many thanks to Those Wonder Years for this nostalgic video. It stirred many fond memories. My late wife and I always enjoyed our trips to Kmart.
Thanks to you for watching, I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
I loved going to K-mart and still miss it.
I worked at Kmart when I was 18!
I worked at Kmart for 30 years in Grand rapids Michigan it was the best time of my life I would give anything to go back to that time we were treated very well and had lots of fun we were all like family
I've seen this a lot - that they were good to their employees. Some even theorizing that taking care of their employees contributed to their struggles being competitive. Sad.
Man, the Kmart cafe was sometimes the only way we got to eat when I was a kid. I was raised by a single, quite poor, mother and that cafeteria was one of the few affordable meals sometimes. I have great memories of the orange colored hard plastic booths. And I'm sure my memory is distored but I remember the food being quite good! Of course then Little Ceasers came in and that was that lol
@@casandranow it not distorted quality was better when it came to food
Loved Kmart back in my high school years (early 70s), felt so adult, lol. I'd drive my beater car over and use money I made from a part-time job. I used the layaway for Christmas presents for the family. Back then, the quality and variety of the products was fine. Dad liked their jeans. I even bought him a watch from there one year. Decent perfume (mom, grandma). I found clothes, shoes and purses for high school and work there (this was before we had much in the way of thrift stores where I live). I also shopped for things my first apartment and bought Magnalite cookware (a starter set only cost me $34 back then, and I still use it now at my age of 70). After my dad died, Mom and I would hit Kmart on Memorial Day, check out the outdoor sales items, get a hotdog, coke and chips for $1 and then go to the cemetery. I got married in the early 80s, and my now ex (and deceased) hubby would hit Kmart on a Saturday night, and he got a kick out of the marked-down sub sandwiches before the store closed. Very fond memories for sure.
Omg it was literally my childhood in through 70' and 80's! My father retired from k-mart as manager of jewelry dept. after 28 yrs. It really was like a family, everyone knew our names and we knew theirs. Best company picinics ever!
I miss going to Kmart with my mom getting slushy popcorn and a burrito. Good times ❤
So many reasons mentioned here, but many of us also have special, personal memories.🔥
My mother worked at our neighborhood location for many years, then after she left, I worked there after high school graduation. It’s a place that’s woven into my childhood and early adulthood, which were some of the best years of my life.
Great memories, many friendships made, first boyfriends and dates, first paychecks earned, great sales found, and tons of merchandise bought-lots of fun was had there.🥰♥️
When they closed our neighborhood store and started closing the others in our city back in the late 90s, it was a stab in the heart. I hated to see them go, but the only predictable thing about life is change.
Now I’m a ride or die Walmart shopper.🤷🏽♀️😂 If you were a Kmart lover, it was the next best thing.
I remember the popcorn and I always got an ICEE too so I could be refreshed while I browsed the big poster file. Great memories
I remember this from the 70s and 80s and the blue light special reminds my of my family who sadly is gone like Kmart
I have my memories of Kmart, I have a blue light, cashier's check out light, a scanner, call boxes and 100's more Kmart items. My bedroom looks like a Kmart
Wow that’s amazing thanks for sharing
I miss the Kmart that was my favorite store
Our childhood
I miss K-Mart and SEARS😭
we do
AND Mervyn's!
I’m so happy that my children were able to experience it for a little while.
Hope you enjoy it :)
I have a few memories of K-Mart in the 90s. Nothing very specific, and I don't think we went very often, but they're better memories than most of the other retail memories from that time--except for stories that I wanted to go to, like my LCS for baseball cards. Which is also gone now.
It's interesting how certain stores leave a lasting impression even if we didn't visit them often. K-Mart had a unique charm back in the 90s. It's a shame that many of those beloved stores, like your local comic shop, are no longer around. The nostalgia for places like that is really strong!
@@ThoseWonderYears I remember everything about it from the time I was a child in the seventies until the time I took my own children shopping there at the same Kmart until it closed a few years ago.
wow that's sound like you have really good stories to share!
I remember going to Kmart and Yellow front stores. Kmart blue light special. Love it thanks for the memories.
I'll never forget the smell of the popcorn as soon as you walked into Kresge's❤❤❤
I remember when Kmart had a big cafeteria in the back of the store on Jacksonville, FL's Northside. Great food and great memories. Where have they gone?
I shopped at Kmart near my home from 1977 to 2020. I was happy to share Kmart and Toys R US with my daughter before both closed
I remember shopping at K Mart really miss that store you could fine anything there.
What I remember most about Kmart as a kid in the late 70’s & early 80’s is right after Halloween I would get Loads of Candy at Clearance prices to last me until late summer.
Thank you for sharing your story hope you enjoy it
My first blue light special purchase was a men's Citizen watch that I had for years before it was stolen.
Wow I’m sorry to hear that
1996 baby here. I can still remember our Kmart and the layout. If I close my eyes I can picture myself there walking around 😭 I miss it
Probably so nostalgic because the way Walmart came in and took over and put Kmart out of business because Walmart had all that “ trust” money.
Sad but true
Yeah let's not blame Kmart ownership which is the real reason Kmart is gone but blame WalMart instead😂😂
@@jetman80pops Its both reasons JetMan. Kmart over expanded just when they needed to compete with Walmart and Target. They zigged when they should have zagged. But who could have known that in the early 80s. Walmart did what Kmart wanted to do, expanded all over the USA and the world.
Walmart was around way before Kmart was!
@@shellyraymond4337 um no they both opened in 1962. Google is your friend.
I remember the last time I walked through Kmart (I had just moved to this state). I had to pick up an online order. It was probably one of the last stores in the state. The video mentions dimly lit aisles and low stock shelves, that was true. It was in a bad part of the city and the parking lots were full of cracks and pot holes. It was dead inside and seems like almost all but 4 employees were working up front. I don't know what made me want to walk through the store. I guess it was nostalgic for me because I'd remember my parents always took me every weekend to a Kmart in the late 80s-90s.
The little cafeteria at Kmart is what I remember. Mom and I would get a steak sandwich. I remember looking at the record albums and the popcorn.
It's amazing how places like that hold such special memories for us.
I enjoyed the trip down memory lane, I grew up in the Kmart era, and loved shopping there! In fact I am honored that my picture is shown twice in this video!! It's nice to see myself and my two teenage friends in historic picture of the time I grew up in!
Thanks for your reply hope you enjoy the video
Every good business has a good a good run.
Until the next great thing comes along. It’s the cycle of business and a matter of time. Even Disney after 50 years is having their struggles as strange as that sounds. This video is a great business lesson… Bravo 👏
thanks for your words, hope you enjoy it.
I grew up in Garden City Michigan and one of my favorite memories is walking with my mom to the Kmart. We lived only a few blocks away and then cross Ford rd and we were there. Awesome memories from when i was a little girl. And Hudsons in Detroit at Christmas.
Kmart had a specific smell, too. And I can remember that smell VIVIDLY.
Mom used to love K-Mart and got me many GoBots and Trapper Keepers there. Those were simpler times and that makes them very special.
I remember eating a deli sandwich and having popcorn as a kid. BEST sandwich ive had til this day. Thanks for the memories.
My K-Mart in New Jersey had a deli counter in the 70's. The store closed at 10, so we would go at 9:30. At about 9:45 they did a blue light special and we bought left over hoggie's for half price.
Thanks for sharing your experience :)
In the south we loved those .99 subs!
I remember getting those deli hoagies with my mom when we went. I always remember the very finely shredded lettuce-so good!
Im 61 yrs old and grew up Kmart, I love the Blue Light sales. Its will always be a part of my life. Im a Walmart shopper now, I hope what happened to Kmart will not happen to walmart. Im glad I got to grow up going to Kmart. I also remember Zodies.
It was simply the BLUE LIGHT SPECIALs and the food court. Plain and simple. I worked for Kmart in NJ from 1986-87 in automotive\sporting goods while in high school just when minimum wage jumped from $3.75 to $5.15 per hour. What a jump for a 17-year-old!
Personal connections? Sure, maybe in the 1970s, but by the late 1980s and early 1990s, customers went to Walmart for cheaper prices or Target for better quality goods. And in the 2000s, Internet shopping (with no personal experience at all) pushed them over. [I also worked for Woolworths while in college, same story different retailer.]
Love your videos and all the nostalgia it brings.
Cheers
Thanks, means a lot to me. Hope you enjoy it.
When it turned to Big K never was the same
Yep, bad move...no one likes re-branding
I remember riding the 25cent toy out front of KMart in north Seattle. My Grandma moved into a new apartment right next door to one. So we went there to help her furnish the blue light would go off. They had a cafe in the back it had saloon doors and just a good lunch menu I loved the BLT so good👍I will always be a KMart shopper for Life 🫠
Awesome video❤ I have so many memories in the late 80s -early 90s going shopping with my parents and getting so pumped to check out video games
My Canadian experiences with Kmart back in the 70's and 80's ... While occupying a huge space (like a Walmart today) I never knew the store to be clean or tidy. The floors were uneven and always dirty. The store smelled dingy.(I know the smell now as mildew from leaks) There were always empty sections of shelves. Lots of burned out florescent lights too. The store always seemed creepy to me as a kid. I know now that all the signs of disrepair and all those other symptoms of financial struggle were showing even back then. As it was stated, the onus was on opening new stores and NOT on maintaining or upgrading the ones that existed.(It seems that Canadian stores had it worse.) As the largest retailer for a pretty big customer base (the only big store in the area) it was never much of a draw. Most of the time you would only shop there if you were "desperate".
My parents (with many others) would rather make a much longer drive to shop at Woodward's for better quality and service even though it wasn't cheaper.
Sounds like the US stores were able to control things a bit better.
The writing was on the wall and the failure to adapt and update was their demise. The irony of being bought out by Sears who was floundering for the same reasons despite Sears being one of the most famous for their home based "Catalogue" shopping ... They had the market share and phased it out ... imagine if Sears had updated their "Catalogue" home shopping to the modern "Internet" home shopping ... But the leadership were unable or unwilling to make the changes needed so now they are no more.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing this with us
cheers from australia: As a 8/9 year old kid in the late 70's Kmart was quite a day out: good memories. After looking at everything we sat down at the cafeteria to have lunch and coffee. So much was there. I still go there to purchase clothing, crockery, automotive. The product lines have been dramatically reduced however.
I miss the personal touch of our local KMart. Walmart has become so cold & calculated compared to why I started going to it. Retail used to be so warm & friendly. Not only that, the common man could afford to shop for & buy clothes easily. That is certainly not the case now. I liked the department store music in this video. It reminded me of when soft music would play in a store, making the atmosphere more inviting. The music stores play now "screams" at you. TY for sharing this. God Bless You & stay safe.
Thank you for sharing, God bless you
My mom bought most of my Masters of the Universe toys at Kmart.
Well done, I remember it well as I lived a cross the street of one that lasted from 1982-1986. It was too close to another one that was about 4 or 5 miles away.
The popcorn 🍿 the sub sandwiches blue light specials toys clothes music section layaway everything!!! Those were the best time ever!!! Never ever be a store like it again !! The cafeteria was great also!!! God 🙏 do I miss those days!!!
thanks for sharing
I miss Kmart so much, because they’re better than Target and Walmart in terms of customer service. I feel Kmart went bankrupt because of aggressive competition and Kmart didn’t have the money to renovate their stores that were originally built in the 1970s, which is why they went bankrupt. Also Eddie Lampert didn’t care about the retail side of Kmart and Sears, he sold their real estate for affordable housing developments!
I too have fond memories of Kmart; I remember how exciting it was in 1994 when my local Kmart got remodeled and became known as a ‘big Kmart’. The cafeteria was great for I remember they had a $.99 breakfast which was quite tasty. And Kmarts’ Christmas department was simply the bomb. I do remember what plagued Kmart was when they ran out of something they were out of it for an eternity. All things considered, I miss them dearly.
thanks for sharing your story :)
When decorating my christmas tree, I play Kmart holiday muzak that someone decided to upload to the RUclipss
I loved kmart. As a child my mom took us there every year for back to school clothes. It was a family store. I miss the kmarts.
I miss K Mart.. I'm 57 and still have two pairs of shoes that I still wear that I purchased from K Mart
I have so many good memories of Kmart as a kid. I loved their toy aisle. I also remember winning a Easter basket from their deli. My grandmother loved their cold cut subs. I will say though that if you got caught buying clothes there as a kid you got picked on for being poor.
i live in new york and 10 minutes away from the last kmart in the united states. i went in there just yesterday after years of not going. the aisles are now so empty, the shelves barley stocked, everything on sale and big empty open spaces in the store. i honestly miss the old kmart its so sad seeing it like this.
As an Australian I found this interesting as I like watching nostalgia stuff especially when it comes to commonly shared/lived experiences. I liked seeing the clip of the couple shopping in an Aussie store and the old Aussie Kmart ad and the other Australia Kmart clips. I was kind of hoping to see some clips as our stores were co created from S.S Kresge company, I'm not sure if it was intentional or not I thought it was a nice touch.
I don't remember ever having anything like a Blue Light Special growing up as a kid in the 90's here, but it does sound like fun. Also it's funny how your Target clip at 16:53 is of an Aussie Target off a tv news clip which funnily enough there's an interesting history of Target vs Kmart basically they were owned by the same company/people they sold off Kmart as it was losing them money and you show a clip at 17:27 I think that was when our Kmart had brought back Target as they were now losing money.
wow thanks for sharing, interesting story
I used to work there in the late eighties when I went to college. After the store closed we used to push it around the store with the light on like a police car.
That must have been a fun memory from your college days!
@@ThoseWonderYears until I had to quit because they wouldn't allow my course schedule to be considered.
I loved Kmart back in the 70s and mid 80s. Especially in the 70s when I was a kid. I think everyone in my generation remembers those days at Kmart, and how great they were. We tend to compare the way things were to how they are now. I do the same thing, but we must realize, that even if Kmart still existed, and was operating now, that it would not be like it was in the 70s or 80s, because this is not the 70s or 80s. Its today, 2024, about to be 2025. But hey, we still have those awesome memories of how it used to be. I went to a Kmart in another town, about 2 hrs away from where I live, and the building looked just like the one that I grew up going to. My wife and I drove by it, going to an appointment, and I told my wife, we have got to stop at that Kmart on the way back home. So, we did, it was cool, and we enjoyed it, but I to was expecting something that could not be. The Kmart from my childhood back in the 70s, which is crazy, and is impossible. Just saying.
My boy made Kmart sound like Disney land 😂💪🏾💯
I never liked Kmart really. Ours was off a major highway, but it was just a bit further than our first mall, which had Montgomery Ward, Woolco, and Woolworth's, among others, so we never went there. Later, about the time I could go to places on my own, there was a new mall the other direction, so even less reason to go to Kmart. Somehow the blue light special thing I considered way too corny and weird, and liked things much more predictable. I think back in my childhood, the most fascinating place was Woolco, because ours was HUGE, and for the 1-2 times I got to go there, it had a great toy section. One thing you could be assured of, if a store had a great toy section, my dad stopped going there real quick.
I recall one big store along the Kmart lines, which I haven't seen in a long time, was called Gibson's Discount Center, and from what I saw on the net, had like 430 stores way back in '68. One odd feature they had, for especially back then, was it used to always be open on sundays, back when no other place would be open then.
awesome
my parents would put clothes for us in lay away. i will always remember they would pay it off, and we had new clothes. this was in the 90s early 2000s
I remember my Mom using their lay-a-way to get stuff for us seven kids for Christmas back in the 60's-70's. Bought my first BB gun at the same store. It's a Lowes now.
thanks for sharing
My childhood Kmart was turned into a big lots then finally now a OneLife gym.
I remember the donuts in our 1970s KMart. The cafe has an automatic donut maker. It was a 15 foot long hot oil tray. The dough would drop from a dispencer into the hot oil. A chain would move the cooking dough along the tray. Around the center it would hit the flipper that would move it into the second part of the tray while cooking the other side. At the end it would be lifted out and slid onto a tray, where a nice lady would put dip them into sugar, chocolate, sprinkles or other toppings. You would then get a wonderful warm donuts. This would never by allowed today with a vat of hot oil just over a glass shield.
.
Thanks for your reply hope you enjoy the video
You described every krispy kreme
Kmart was a big part of my childhood in the early 70s! Eating in the little cafeteria. It was called the Red Grille in Albuquerque!
I miss the great fun my mom and I had shopping at our local K Mart.
I can remember them in Long Beach CALIFORNIA and also in Bellflower CALIFORNIA. The store on Rosecrans is still there but has been closed for a long time. 😊
I had the fortune to work in KMart Automotive for a number of years as Manager. While not perfect, it WAS enjoyable and a learning experience. I definitely miss many aspects of it...
Thanks for sharing
My first job was inside the Kmart at Little Caesars. My child's first professional photos were taken there in their photography studio. I miss Kmart!
Thanks for the memories!! You forgot the rides out front ❤
hope you enjoy it
@@ThoseWonderYears I did. Sears had pop corn and ices!!! We went once a month on Sundays as a kid…
I'm 35, I remember the K Mart in my area had an area you could order food and that's where I have the memory of tasting my first Philly cheese steak! K mart is why a boy in the south fell in love with such a sandwich. Also the first store I ran away from my mom and got lost in lol.
I love the style of this video about KMART
Thank you so much for the kind words
Went to the 1st Kmart in Detroit on Middlebelt Road about 1963.
Thanks for your reply
So much great memories about Kmart, thanks for sharing.
thank you so much
Kmart has been revitalised in Australia for the next generation. It's become very popular again here, which is awesome seeing I grew up during the 70s and 80s. Your video brought back my childhood .memories, especially the cafeteria
thanks for sharing i'm glad you enjoy the video
I worked at KMART when 16-18. My DOB 1970. I also remember my grandmother taking me there for a new outfit and lunch. Take me back. RIP Grandma.
What a beautiful memory! 💖 Those trips with your grandma must have been so special, and it’s amazing how places like Kmart hold such sentimental value. Thanks for sharing, and may your grandma’s memory always bring you comfort!
❤I truly miss Kmart
Something interesting Kmart had issues with in later years was signage mixture/conflict with the Australian company, K-Mart, which had no affiliation with the US company or SHC (Sears Holdings). In 2017, SHC had to start watermarking signage in the remaining Kmart stores so that it was less confusable with K-Mart (AUS)'s signage. Funnily enough, both Kmart (aus) and Target.(aus) copy both the US brand's trade and branding even though they aren't affiliated with or modeled after the US companies. One of the clips you show (17:29) is actually an Australian news program regarding the merger between the two Australian brands, Kmart and Target. Just an interesting bit of information.
I miss kmart so much not long ago the k mart I’m my hometown closes down sadly the sweet memories associated with it heck the cafeteria was great too
Hope you enjoy
Loved the sub sandwiches under the blue light specials
I used to love KMart when i was a kid, it had little caesers inside too!!
It’s interesting, watching this video through a completely difference lens.
As an Australian who grew up in the 80s and saw a bunch of K-Marts load up all over our suburban areas. You would often see them anchor a plaza and have everything from a dept store to cafe , garden centre or mechanic (tyre and auto)
They were no where near as “friendly” but the prices were good and they stocked just about everything.
I wish you would all come back again
I went to Kmart ever Black Friday. A few times I went on thanksgiving morning when they decided to first open on a Holiday.
Walmart followed with the Black Friday craze. I never saw a RUclips about a black Friday violence at a KMART.
Kmart never excited a riot. Lol
Great idea for a video!
Did anybody else notice Sam Walton's appearance(first about 13:00) in this video?
K mart was 20 minutes at highway speed from where I grew up. It was town and for many years it was the place to shop for Christmas. Unlike Wally world they kept departments solidly in place and easy to find. My parents had layaway most Christmas seasons. Not credit card debt. My favorite was the 5-pound Hershey bar. After the holidays it was marked down and I stored most of it in the freezer into March most years.
Kmart was my favorite also venture store my mom and I used to go to both each Saturday to buy things I bought my Super Nintendo and Gega Genesis there. All my toys from the 90s VHS 📼 movies and more if only I can go back to enjoy the good stuff the 90s gave us 🙏
At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.