![Eddie Lampert [2004]: The Scum Who Ruined Thousands of Lives By Destroying Sears and Kmart Forever](https://external-preview.redd.it/UUEaEq2lIRUxm8fiigZ-go4RI_XeDUxgwPiiMesu8DU.jpg?width=140&height=106&auto=webp&s=adfa790c3cc4991712c12eaae2d3927bf582759d)
Because of pure greed, he was able to strip these iconic brands and sell them off for parts piece by piece until nothing remained. Pensions gone, retirements went up in smoke, and local communities went belly up.
Quintard Mall opened in Oxford, Alabama in 1970 with J.C. Penney and Britt’s (J.J. Newberry Co.) as anchor stores. There was also a SupeRx Drugs and a number of other stores, with Martin's as a junior anchor.
On October 9th of 1985, Sears opened in the former Britt's building, and the [building was expanded in 1997, with the mall itself being expanded in 2000, adding 2 anchors Dillard's and AmStar 12 Cinemas] (https://web.archive.org/web/20091005032251/http://www.icsc.org/srch/sct/sct0501/page141.php). It had a black 1984-1994 logo outside the building, and blue 1994-2004 logo inside the mall, along with a totally unique interior and exterior design and mall entrance. That same year of this store opening, in 1985, [Sears Hardware Stores began opening] (https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/01/07/Sears-Roebuck-and-Co-Monday-announced-plans-to-open/3314473922000/).
https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1vvlvb0/sears_hardware_stores_in_the_2000s_and_2010s/
On July 17th of 2016 this store closed down and it had since been demolished in 2019, around that same year the last Sears in Alabama that opened on May 8th of 1996 closed down on October 27th, located at the Riverchase Galleria in Birmingham.
As of this post, there are 5 Sears stores, 3 distribution centers, other brands Kenmore, Sears Home Services, Shop Your Way, Sears Parts Direct and the Sears.com online store left. Out of the 5 stores left, there are 2 left in Florida and 1 in Texas, a total of 3 on the Gulf Coast. And in addition to that, as of May 2nd of 2021, and June 18th of 2023, Florida and Texas are the last 2 states to have a Sears after the Mall of Louisiana location, the last full size store in the state, that opened sometime in 1997 (anyone know when exactly?) closed down, followed by the Sears Home and Life store in Lafayette, then the very last Sears location in the state of Louisiana, that opened on May 24th of 2019.
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
The [JCP here in this mall is also still open as well] (https://www.jcpenney.com/locations/al/oxford/clothing-stores-oxford-al-1170.html?msockid=2e03f133b1ba6c8236f1e6f7b0656df6), as are [8 other stores in the state of Alabama] (https://www.jcpenney.com/locations/al) and [639 others in the United States of America] (https://www.jcpenney.com/locations/index.html). Dillard's is also still open here in this mall as well.
[Even Radio Shack is still in business with an online website and a handful of stores] (https://www.radioshack.com).
Sources and Credits:
Christian Langley / LiveMalls
https://www.facebook.com/LiveMalls/posts/quintard-mall-opened-in-oxford-alabama-in-1970-with-jcpenney-and-britts-jj-newbe/1191473452986293/
Sky City Blog November 23rd of 2009
https://skycity2.blogspot.com/2009/12/quintard-mall-oxford-al.html
Mallmanac
http://www.mallmanac.com/2024/12/quintard-mall-oxford-al.html
Mike Kalasnik / Flickr / Wikimedia Commons (July 16 2012, 4 years prior to closing)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/albums/72157630920417128/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Quintard+Mall&title=Special%3AMediaSearch&go=Go&type=image
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sears_-_Quintard_Mall_-_7720648748.jpg
AmStar Oxford by Santikos / Yelp
June 25 2012
https://www.yelp.com/biz/amstar-oxford-by-santikos-oxford-2
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/amstar-oxford-by-santikos-oxford-2
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/amstar-oxford-by-santikos-oxford-2?select=KQhufPVPdqjEmNW9-pzZKw
r/SEARS
r/deadmalls
r/retail
Originally The Broadway. Basically the same layout as [Downey] (https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1wswtl1/the_broadway_later_sears_at_the_stonewood_center/), except the Southern California stores that were originally The Broadway, including this one, might have had different 4th floor layouts.....
https://www.reddit.com/r/retailporn/comments/1wswswv/the_broadway_later_sears_at_the_stonewood_center/
.....unlike [Burbank] (https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1wcdwa8/sears_department_store_at_the_media_city_center/), which originally opened as a Sears in 1991 and did not have a 4th floor, but Concord does have a 3rd floor penthouse, which is not being used at all these days.
The indoor mall itself here in Whittier closed in 2004 and had since been demolished. On July 26th of 2025 this store closed down due to being very low on inventory and having very little customers and struggling profitability as a result, and the Sears signs have since been removed as of this year.
As of today there are 5 Sears stores, 3 distribution centers, other brands Kenmore, Sears Home Services, Shop Your Way, Sears Parts Direct and the Sears.com online store left
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
Sources:
https://www.bing.com/search?q=Sears+in+Whittier&setmkt=en-US&PC=EMMX01&form=LBT003&scope=web
https://images.data-axle.com/0d0f8f2348ab4bdea943d9e21c9b06f7ab12f43a.jpg
https://www.loc8nearme.com/california/whittier/sears/315878/
https://mall-hall-of-fame.blogspot.com/2007/05/original-shopping-center-at-whittwood.html
Steven Martinez (Google and Yelp) March 20 2022
Jimmy Anh Truong (March 17 2019)
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sears-whittier-2
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sears-whittier-2
Paul Guzman (Google) November 13 2019
NEMESIS KENNELS (NEMYS NEST) on Google (December 26 2017)
JC (Google) May 23rd of 2023
Whittier - Whittwood Center Opened 1961 (Store was originally The Broadway) - Became Sears in 1996.
Sears Whittier Facebook Page April 27 2019 (Facebook page has since been pulled but they still have there Instagram page)
https://www.instagram.com/sears_whittier/p/BwxbRRjgurN/
December 19 2006 (Andrew Novak Photo)
https://www.rapidtransit-press.com/whittwood01-12-19-06aan.jpg
https://www.rapidtransit-press.com/whittwood02-12-19-06aan.jpg
Charles Hathaway (Flickr)
https://flickr.com/photos/romleys/albums/72177720326911796/
https://www.rapidtransit-press.com/thebroadway.html
Modernized Vintage 1960 Westinghouse Traction Elevator at Sears Whittwood Town Center Whitter, CA
Date filmed: October 13, 2024
By Master TechPaul on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxHu-J3Jkuk
r/deadmalls
r/retail
r/retailporn
Stonewood Center aka / also known as Stonewood Mall originally opened on October 9th of 1958. In 1965 The Broadway was built. The Broadway department store opened at Stonewood mall October 18 ,1965 and closed in 1996 when it sold to Sears, with the Auto Center being built. At its peak it had a restaurant, coffee shop, tea room, beauty salon and auto center.
📷: the dept store museum, Flickr, Pinterest, Downey conservancy (The Broadway)
Just like every other Sears location that was originally built as The Broadway, this store had the tool department and lawn and garden on the 1st floor, and the appliance, electronics and mattress departments on the 3rd floor, along with a 4th floor penthouse.
On November 14th of 2021, this store closed down with the Pasadena store at the Hastings Ranch Plaza, and the last Sears in Illinois at Woodfield Mall. The signs here remained intact until Spring 2022. The Stockton location at the Weberstown Mall closed down on August 18th of 2024, and the signs have since been removed as of this year, even at the Whittwood Town Center in Whittier. The Burbank Town Center (originally Media City Center) location still has the 1984-1994 Sears signs up but it is only a matter of time now before they are removed there as well...
Sources and Credits
Jason (Foursquare) July 20th of 2012
Marlon (Foursquare) June 26th of 2012
C Martinez (Foursquare) March 22nd and 29th of 2016
Ahmed S (Yelp) August 8 2015
Rafael G (Yelp) November 24 2017 (Black Friday 2017)
Petronilo Rodriguez (Foursquare) June 25 2012
Luis G (Yelp) October 19 2015
Ron Tatum (Foursquare) June 23rd of 2016
Sofia V (Yelp) April 25 2015
Helena Yates (Foursquare) May 15 2013
Chris G (Yelp) August 5 2013
Meshelle T (Yelp) November 28 2020
Nearly 4 years later... Whittier, Burbank and Puerto Rico closed down last year, leaving us with 5 Sears left and they still have the Sears.com online store, and after an additional 2 distribution centers closed down, [3 operating distribution centers] (https://transformwo.com/) for online orders on the Sears and Kmart websites are still in operation, and they even still have other brands Kenmore, Sears Home Services and Sears Parts Direct, and even Shop Your Way
5 Stores
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
r/SEARS
r/kmart
r/deadmalls
r/retail
Just like the Southcenter Mall location in Washington State and tons of others that were previously other retailers (IE / in earnest [Quintard Mall Oxford Alabama] (https://skycity2.blogspot.com/2009/12/quintard-mall-oxford-al.html), [Hillsdale San Mateo California] (https://www.flickr.com/photos/voycall/albums/72177720319839307/), Whittwood Town Center in Whittier California, West Covina CA, Downey CA, Poughkeepsie Galleria in New York and Philadelphia Pennsylvania etc.), this location had a totally unique interior and exterior design. Abraham and Straus was founded on February 14th of 1865 as Wechsler and Abraham by Joseph Wechsler and Abraham Abraham, 23 years prior to R.W. Sears Watch Company by Richard Warren Sears in 1886, that same year he met up with Alvah Curtis Roebuck. In 1892, the company was re-established as a mail order firm, followed by the renaming of the company as Sears, Roebuck and Company with the legal name Sears, Roebuck and Co. on September 16th of 1893. That same year, on April 1st of 1893, Wechsler was bought out by Nathan Straus, Isidor Straus, and Simon Frank Rothschild. The Straus brothers provided the financing, but Rothschild was the active partner, and the firm had since become Abraham and Straus. The A&S chain was acquired by Federated Department Stores in 1929.
Here at the Woodbridge Center, this Sears spot originally opened as an Abraham and Straus on March 4th of 1971 with the rest of the mall. In 1994, Federated Department Stores acquired Macy's, originally known as R.H. Macy and Company, which was founded on October 28th of 1858 by Rowland Hussey Macy. Since both Macy's and A&S competed for the same type of middle-income customer, when all A&S locations were converted to other brands on April 30th of 1995, most became Macy's and Stern's, one location opened as a Bloomingdale's, and this location was acquired by and opened as Sears in that same year. This location had some really cool decor features leftover from A&S, almost like the [former Saks in Houston Texas] (https://southernretail.blogspot.com/2019/01/sears-west-oaks-mall-houston-texas.html). Anyone know what A&S used to have on the 3rd floor before Sears moved into this spot in Woodbridge New Jersey?
When Sears moved in, this store had a portrait studio, Sears Optical, a hearing aids center and a hair salon etc.
Over 6 years back in April 2020 this store closed down after approximately about 25 years and some interior and exterior signs were removed while some others are still up. This year would have marked Sears' 31st anniversary, just as last year would have been there 30th here in Woodbridge New Jersey.....
Sources and Credits:
1973
A&S Abraham and Straus Department Store Woodbridge NJ 1973
Norbert Kubilus on MEMORIES OF NEW JERSEY Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MemoriesNewJersey/posts/2639990669546051/
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10218330916973054&set=gm.2639990669546051
Pat Richardson (LiveMalls Blog) November 3rd of 2009
https://www.livemallsblog.com/2010/03/sears-former-abraham-straus-woodbridge.html
Also check out Foursquare
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4c001332f61ea593d046eb13
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4c001332f61ea593d046eb13/photos
A. P. (Yelp) March 27 2016
Brian L (Yelp) June 12 2017
Jude B (Yelp) January 3rd 2018
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sears-woodbridge-2
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sears-woodbridge-2
Mike Kalasnik (Flickr) MAY THE FOURTH (MAY 4TH) OF 2019, and February 22nd and March 8th of 2020
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/albums/72157709146285796/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/49928196061/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/49928196486/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/49928191496/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/49928491517/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/49928493932/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/49928493097/in/photostream/
r/deadmalls
r/retail
r/retailporn
r/nostalgia
r/RetailNostalgia
Edit: on March 3rd of 2024 the [last Sears in New Jersey shut down for good] (https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1w29uwf/sears_and_roebuck_department_store_at_newport_centre/) and all of the signage was immediately removed the next day, and that store at Newport Centre is now a Primark and Dick's House of Sport. As of today there are 5 Sears left and they still have the Sears.com online store, [3 operating distribution centers] (https://transformwo.com/) for online orders on the Sears and Kmart websites, and other brands Kenmore, Sears Home Services and Parts Direct, and even Shop Your Way
5 Stores
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
As for Kmart - the last full size one closed down on October 20th of 2024 in Bridgehampton New York. Same thing - signs removed immediately because Target bought out the lease.
2 Kmart locations in the US Virgin Islands (Sunny Isle Shopping Center St Croix and Lockhart Gardens St Thomas) closed down last year alone, followed by 2 distribution centers / DCs (Manteno Illinois last December and Fairless Hills Pennsylvania this September)
So we are now down 3 KMarts in the United States, including the last one in the continental (on the mainland) United States of America, the other 2 in the territories outside the mainland of the United States at the Tutu Park Mall location in St Thomas USVI and the freestanding K-Mart in Tamuning Guam
r/kmart
Before Sears planned to relocate to the former F&N spot in 1993 and opened here at the Southcenter Mall in March 1994, Sears, the now 140 year old retailer, originally opened its South Seattle store in the Renton Shopping Center on March 1st of 1960. The original location was torn down sometime in the mid 1990s and is now a Fred Meyer.
When Sears moved in, the drop ceilings were updated during the 90's remodel. This store opened with this brand new / updated logo from that exact same year, way back in 1994 and it was also the first Sears to open with that exact 90s all caps logo and the exterior signage was white and the interior signs were blue. This location primarily had men's and women's clothing, jewelry and shoes, and by 2002, even a Lands' End section on the 1st floor, children's apparel, home goods (furniture, mattresses, housewares and small appliances) as well as store services (Sears Optical, Hearing Aids Center, Photo Studio, Watch and Jewelry Repair and likely even Tax Service) on the 2nd floor, and even electronics, vacuum cleaners, major appliances, tools, grills, exercise equipment and outdoor equipment on the 3rd floor. In 2006-2008 a couple more entrances were added here. The [original Seattle store on Lander Street] (https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1udcoea/sears_department_store_at_76_south_lander_street/) did have appliances, electronics, furniture, housewares and mattresses on the 2nd floor. The 1990s and 2000s were the peak era of this location and even Sears in general. Even in the early 2010s it was still very well stocked. Despite Sears' troubles the retailer still had appliance and electronics dominance in the 2000s and early 2010s (up until 2013 at the latest), we still bought from them and we have still been getting emails from them and visiting there website. In all of our years of shopping here, we went to Sears Optical, bought a JVC TV, treadmill, Sony digital cameras and system audio, a Canon point and shoot camera, a Kenmore Progressive upright vacuum, some rugs, a Whirlpool fridge from 2013 (Sears Outlet), and even clothing, as well as a Hamilton Beach toaster oven, a Kenmore coffee maker and Samsung stove from Sears.
In all of our years of shopping here, back in 2016 when we went up to floor 3 in 2016 looking at vacuums, the electronics department was half of what it used to be but it was not to bad. But a year later, when we went inside the store and went up there twice in December of 2017 (one is with my mom when we were looking for a camera and the other is when all 3 of us, including my dad, went up there looking at vacuums), both times the electronics section was gone while [the Coral Gables one still did in 2017] (https://flickr.com/photos/25955895@N03/36494798354). By April 2021, so did the 3rd floor close down in the Southcenter location, and sometime a year or less than a year prior, the lawn and garden (L&G) department was gone as well. By August of that same year, they got rid of big name clothing brands. All of the fitting rooms here were blocked off and eventually boarded up.
By 2022 the restrooms on the 2nd floor were shut down permanently due to drug issues (confirmed by store staff), as some folks snuck into them secretly doing drugs. Despite all of these issues, the downfall and decline of this location and the product selection and quality decline, in December of that same year we bought a dress in the Toddler's clothing department for a daughter in our family. By 2024, the second floor had parts blocked off and eventually some dark corners. In May 2024 we went looking at mattresses, and in July 2024 after someone we knew recommended the brand Tempur Pedic, we went inside looking at wet/dry vacs aka (also known as) shop vacs looking for a replacement filter and later mattresses, we tried looking for a Tempur Pedic King Mattresses but they didn't have that anymore. This store was severely understocked and Whittier California was even more understocked.
We still supported Sears regardless.
Fun fact, the mall itself, which is thriving, is also home to The Container Store, which was originally a Borders Book Store, located on the 2nd floor of the Sears wing. It has [since undergone a merger with Bed Bath and Beyond] (https://www.reddit.com/r/retailporn/comments/1ue8fkd/what_is_next_for_the_container_store_now_that/), just like Sears underwent a merger with KMart..... which KMart actually acquired Sears in 2004 and created Sears Holdings in 2005.
As of December 15th of 2024, California was the last State on the West Coast to have a Sears after this last location in the state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest Region of the United States, with the Sears logo being removed last February, and as of last summer, the [last Sears on the West Coast is now at the Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord, now the last in California] (https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1v62oi3/sears_at_the_sun_valley_shopping_center_in_concord/) after Burbank, Whittier (both in Southern California) and Puerto Rico (last Sears in PR and in the territories outside the United States) shut down for good.
The Union Gap location closed down for the 2nd time 2 years ago on September 22nd of 2024, followed by this one on December 15th of 2024, both of which have since had the signs removed in 2025. There are 5 Sears stores, 3 distribution centers (Arvin / Tejon Ranch CA, the sold off but leased back Ocala FL warehouse, and Lawrence KS), other brands Kenmore, Sears Home Services, Shop Your Way, Sears Parts Direct and the Sears.com online store left.
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
As for Kenmore Grills, they sell site wide on the Sears website, in all 5 stores and even at kenmoregrill.com
Sources and Credits
Deven (Tequilia and Donuts) / Flickr (June 10 2007)
https://flickr.com/photos/tequilaanddonuts/540002052/in/photostream/
Sears Tukwila Facebook Page circa 2011
https://www.facebook.com/sears.tukwila
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.106964646053173&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.108856125864025&type=3
Brian W (Yelp) September 7 2014
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sears-tukwila-2
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sears-tukwila-2
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sears-tukwila-2?select=E4x-1TlL1ouhXNBVSFNPlQ
Ahn Onomous / Google (December 31st of 2016 / End of 2016)
And of course, the rest of the pictures were taken by myself on December 28th of 2016, July 9th and October 28th of 2024, with the 3 pictures of the floor plan that came from a 3 year old video from April 22nd of 2023
r/kmart
r/deadmalls
r/retail
r/retailporn
Previous posts
https://www.reddit.com/r/retailporn/comments/1vacxoe/former_frederick_and_nelson_later_sears/
https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1vadt0l/former_frederick_and_nelson_later_sears/
https://www.reddit.com/r/NotFoolingAnybody/comments/1vae13c/former_frederick_and_nelson_later_sears/
I even posted a photo I took on December 28th of 2016 of Kenmore Alfie: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1vnmv8k/computers_office_and_electronics_at_sears_in_the_2000s_and_2010s/ (18th pic)
https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F1d6nvf0097jh1.jpg
Nearly after a year after the Media City Center aka / also known as Burbank Town Center location opened on August 21st of 1992, this store opened in 1992. It has a triple decker version of this storefront just like the Emerald Square Mall (MA) and Burbank Town Center (CA) locations and this store was roughly the same layout as the Burbank Town Center store. Only the exterior had the logo updated to the current one (technically 2010-present) while the triple decker entrances from the garage and mall still have and had the white 1984-1994 logo. On December 28th of 2018, over 2 months after Sears Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 15th of 2018, dozens more stores were set to close down in March of 2019 as the buyer deadline was looming. This store closed down on March 31st of 2019. Chances are, had no one ever bought the company out of bankruptcy, Sears and KMart would have gotten to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation and ceased all operations in 2019.
https://www.fox9.com/news/sears-to-close-at-mall-of-america-in-march-2019
https://patch.com/minnesota/richfield/mall-america-sears-shutter-buyer-deadline-approaches
As of the day of this post, this store is still sitting vacant with the [Mall of America still being stuck with Lampert-controlled TransformCo] (https://www.costar.com/article/1084232599/supreme-court-lets-10-a-year-sears-lease-stand-at-mall-of-america). It would have been cool for Sears to keep this store open, but nope, just a boat anchor for now.....
(((Thanks alot Eddie Lampert)))
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4ae49670f964a520f99b21e3
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4ae49670f964a520f99b21e3/photos
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4e7d29ee65e60c6545731065
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4e7d29ee65e60c6545731065/photos
https://flickr.com/photos/143649647@N06/albums/72157671089843915/
Credits:
Jesse Green (Foursquare) April 9 2018
Matt Grage (Foursquare) September 3rd of 2012
Patrick Rottach (Foursquare) January 6 2013
Michael Kraabel (Foursquare) December 1st of 2012
Adam Manty (Foursquare) November 27 2012
David Seifert (Foursquare) August 26 2013
Richard Hammond (Foursquare) June 26 2016
Justin Vickers (Flickr) August 17 2016
Jeff Keenan (Foursquare) August 27 2016
Shiva Shankar (Foursquare) July 4 2017
Larry Wilhite (Foursquare) July 12 2016
Ben Pourier (Foursquare) April 27 2012
Jonathan Valencia (Foursquare) June 18 2012
Bob Logan (Foursquare) February 5 2019
https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1k70o10/mall_of_america_is_stuck_with_transformco/
There are 5 Sears stores, 3 distribution centers (Arvin / Tejon Ranch CA, the sold off but leased back Ocala FL warehouse, and Lawrence KS), other brands Kenmore, Sears Home Services, Shop Your Way, Sears Parts Direct and the Sears.com online store left. The Fairless Hills Kmart warehouse in Pennsylvania closed down this Wednesday
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
Despite this store still sitting abandoned, the rest of the mall is thriving
r/deadmalls
r/retail
r/retailporn
r/nostalgia
r/RetailNostalgia
Never Forget 9/11/2001
This first ever opened Kmart location had a 55 year run
Just like at the Mall of America, this Sears had a triple decker version of this store front, except this store had an attached auto center somewhere on the 1st and/or 2nd floor and [all of the hardlines departments on the 3rd floor] (https://www.flickr.com/photos/thecaldorrainbow/2357049478/in/photostream/) while the Mall of America (MOA) store in Minnesota had that on the 1st floor. This Massachusetts location closed down on April 18 2021. As of this post, there are 5 Sears stores, 4 (soon to be 3 after the Fairless Hills Kmart warehouse in Pennsylvania closes September 16) distribution centers, other brands Kenmore, Sears Home Services, Shop Your Way, Sears Parts Direct and the Sears.com online store left.
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
Credits
JJBers (Flickr) January 13 2019
Victor Sanchez (Foursquare) April 10 2013
Christian W (Yelp) April 23 2014
Brandon K (Yelp) October 23 2016
Jacob K (Yelp) October 15 2017
chino 502 (Google) December 24 2017
Vael Victus (Google) October 27 2018
https://foursquare.com/v/sears-auto-center/4e7d13ab2da5558a14a94452
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jjbers/albums/72157707783763095/
Taken a few months ago. Truly a place stuck in time. What an experience!
Credit to the late photographer and Windows On The World nightshift employee Konstantin Petrov, an immigrant from Estonia. Source: Fotki, username: Kostic
Credit to the late nightshift electrician Konstantin Petrov, an immigrant from Estonia who took these pictures back in 2000 in the North Tower overnight. Source: Fotki (username: Kostic)
r/WorldTradeCenter
r/TwinTowersInPhotos
[removed]
Sears Roebuck and Company started the brand Craftsman on May 20th of 1927, just 2 years after Sears began opening stores in California and Washington State. Craftsman tools really were top quality tools that were made in the USA for much of the 20th Century and even in the 2000s and early 2010s.
Once the sale of the brand to Stanley Black and Decker happened in 2017 the quality was dropping fast as was the in-store and online selection under Eddie Lampert.
Today there are 5 Sears left in the United States and all of them still sell Craftsman tools (which [even sell site wide as well] (https://www.sears.com/tools-craftsman-tools/b-1324478419?sortOption=UNITS_HIGH_TO_LOW&storeOrigin=Sears&filterList=sortOption,storeOrigin)). But as for the wet/dry vacuums aka (also known as) shop vacuums, sadly they don't have Craftsman branded wet/dry vacuums anymore. All they have is VacMaster wet/dry vacuums and even Craftsman and VacMaster replacement filters now: https://www.sears.com/tools-wet-dry-vacs/b-1200004900?subCatView=true&sortOption=UNITS_HIGH_TO_LOW&adcell=Tools_VisNav_WetDryVac&storeOrigin=Sears&filterList=sortOption,storeOrigin
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida 10/27/1954 - present (3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145)
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California 10/19/1966 - present (1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520)
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts 10/6/1980 - present (250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184)
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas 2/24/1982 - present (8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925)
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida 3/12/1986 - present (8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809)
Sources
The Wayback Machine
2002
2004
https://web.archive.org/web/20040923090008/http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/vertical.do?vertical=TOOL
2006
Sears Hardware Collegeville Pennsylvania (1995 - sometime in the early, mid or late 2010s) on November 14 2006 (AP Photo / George Widman / Penn Live)
https://www.pennlive.com/galleries/CAFAWZ7YP5GVPJD5O4BC6RNTC4/
2007
https://web.archive.org/web/20071011001232/http://www.sears.com/shc/s/v_10153_12605_Tools?adCell=AH
2008
Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee Illinois (October 1st of 1980 - February 2nd of 2020) on April 22nd of 2008
(James D Williams (c_r_o_n) / Flickr)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26551393@N03/2489961283
Sears Laurelwood Poplar Avenue Memphis Tennessee (May 7 1958 - April 10 2016) on October 1st of 2012 (Ken Wright / Foursquare)
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4b5606b0f964a52099fc27e3
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4b5606b0f964a52099fc27e3/photos
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4b5606b0f964a52099fc27e3?openPhotoId=5069ebfae4b0058e9e6b5fbb
Stonebriar Mall in Frisco Texas (July 15 2000 - January 6 2019) on April 29 2018 (Tony Dang / Foursquare)
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4babab46f964a5209dbe3ae3
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4babab46f964a5209dbe3ae3/photos
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4babab46f964a5209dbe3ae3?openPhotoId=5ae60e765d891b002cb5bd46
South Hills Village in Bethel Park Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (July 28th of 1965 - September 2nd of 2018) on May 18th of 2011 (Gene J Puskar / AP Talbot / Penn Live)
Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present) on September 19 2017 and November 9 2018 (Phillip Pessar / Flickr)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/southbeachcars/36494801154/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/southbeachcars/43983822080/
Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (The Last Open Sears In CA And On The West Coast October 19 1966 - present) on August 6 2022 (Steven Martinez / Flickr)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/158376442@N07/52314321337/in/album-72177720301631042
Sears Grand in Las Vegas Nevada (July 31st 2004 - January 27 2019) on June 9 2016 (Kmart World)
https://www.kmartworld.com/2016/06/spotlight-sears-grand-las-vegas-nv.html
Sears Grand (Former Kmart) in Solon Ohio (KMart March 16 1978 - September 24 2006, Sears Grand September 24 2006 - December 7 2014) on December 29th of 2012 (Nicholas Eckhart aka / also known as Fan of Retail / Flickr)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fanofretail/8708373677/
Boyle Heights in Los Angeles California (The First Sears Location In CA July 27 1927 - April 17-18 2021) on July 22 2017 (Kmart World)
https://www.kmartworld.com/2017/08/spotlight-sears-boyle-heights-ca.html
Westland Mall Hialeah Florida (August 18 1971 - Sometime in January or February of 2020) March 12 2019 (Phillip Pessar / Flickr / Wikimedia Commons)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/southbeachcars/47360451231/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sears_Westland_Mall_-_Craftsman_Tools.jpg
Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights California (August 30 1972 - July 15 2018) on December 31st 2012 / sometime in December 2012 (Juee R / Yelp)
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sears-citrus-heights-2
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sears-citrus-heights-2
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sears-citrus-heights-2?start=60&select=5iVlFO3H5K5sRW-MmDLHEQ
Falls Church Virginia, originally Lord and Taylor (L&T sometime in the 1950-1954 timeframe - 1992, Caldor 1994 - 1998, Sears November 14 1998 - April 12 2020) on April 15 2018 (Joshua Vasquez / Google)
76 South Lander Street in Seattle Washington (The First Sears Location In WA State May 4th of 1925 - June 1st of 2014) circa 2013 (Tom McMahon / Youtube)
Southcenter Mall near Seattle Washington, originally Frederick and Nelson, then the last Sears in WA State (F&N 1968 - 1992, Sears sometime in March 1994 - December 15 2024) on November 12 2018 (Midwest Retail / Flickr)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/153499399@N02/46036389055/
https://midwestreal.blogspot.com/
This store was looking clean just like the Altamonte Mall location. It was also very well maintained like the open Sears nearby at Coral Gables in Miami, one of 2 left in the state of Florida, [where they launched hands on showroom Kenmore Studio last year] (https://searsvirtualstore.com/kenmore-studio/). The flooring for the electronics department was very similar. And the truly unique design was very appealing to younger generations that were local. In 2020-2024 it was not to understocked despite having parts blocked off. On February 29-March 1 2024 this Sears department store store shut down without any notice and the signs have since been removed a week after. Like wow... not even a 1 day notice, just like Fry's Electronics, also known as Fry's, shut down without notice overnight on February 24th of 2021. The why was largely discussed extensively on this [thread] (https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1fl1cys/any_update_on_the_sears_at_the_gardens_mall_in_palm_beach_gardens_florida/).
Exactly 1 year ago today, as of this post, we are now down to 5 Sears after Burbank and Puerto Rico shut down for good, including 2 in the state of Florida like I just said
5 Stores
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
Both Sears in Florida still even have pick up for items sold directly by Sears site wide on Sears.com as well
Photo Credits
Marcos Rodriguez (Google) April 2nd of 2018
Everett Snow (Google) September 28 2019 and March 2nd of 2020
Michael Tyler (Google) February 26 2021
Dianne Baum (Google) November 5th of 2016
Nicholas Petersen (Google) February 27 2018
Andrew S (Google) January 25 2020
Manny Quacioua aka / also known as Chris Fitzwater Promotions (Google) August 5th and December 7th of 2021, March 14th and August 12th of 2022
Saiful I. (Google) December 28 2017
Orazio Marinelli (Foursquare) December 13 2013
Rena Correia (Google) February 23rd of 2024
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4b952806f964a520fb9134e3
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4b952806f964a520fb9134e3/photos
This was the last location in New Jersey as of 2020. As of 2024, this store closed down on March 3rd with the Sears signs being removed immediately, followed by the K-Mart in Bridgehampton New York closing on October 20th of that same year with the signage coming down. Today there are 5 Sears left and they still have the Sears.com online store, [a few distribution centers] (https://transformwo.com/) for online orders on the Sears and Kmart websites, and other brands Kenmore, Sears Home Services and Parts Direct, and even Shop Your Way
5 Stores
- Coral Gables in Miami Florida (October 27 1954 - present)
3655 SW 22nd St, Miami, FL 33145
- Sun Valley Shopping Center in Concord California (October 19 1966 - present)
1001 Sunvalley Blvd, Concord, CA 94520
- South Shore Plaza in Braintree Massachusetts (October 6 1980 - present)
250 Granite St, Braintree, MA 02184
- Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso Texas (February 25 1982 - present)
8401 Gateway Blvd W, El Paso, TX 79925
- The Florida Mall in Orlando Florida (March 12 1986 - present)
8001 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
Sears Archives circa 1986-1987
https://www.reddit.com/r/SEARS/comments/1aj47qc/straight_from_the_archive_conceptual_art_of_the/
https://flickr.com/photos/erice/9385924816
Kevin Nevias (Google) December 22 2016
Kiran Patel (Google) February 4 2018
Kelwin Diaz (Google) April 7 2018
Dmitry Elsakov (Google) January 28 2019
eco412 eco412 (Google) February 3 2024
Mike Kalasnik (Flickr) December 8 2019 and February 24 2024
Olivia (Foursquare) July 27 2013
Luis Escapa (Foursquare) January 22 2021
Jonathan Rogers (Foursquare) July 29 2017
Andrew Garick (Foursquare) January 6 2013
Sereita Cobbs (Foursquare) May 25 2013
Anna Wang (Foursquare) February 3 2019
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/49466606981
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/53898906955
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/53898727868
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10542402@N06/53897569592
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4b8824e8f964a520d3e231e3
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears/4b8824e8f964a520d3e231e3/photos
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears-auto-center/4bc77db714d79521827c67e9
https://app.foursquare.com/v/sears-auto-center/4bc77db714d79521827c67e9/photos
GOING OUT OF BUSINESS: A Final Store Tour of Sears at Newport Centre in Jersey City, New Jersey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeUnQHPJ6TE
