# When will Kmart go completely out of business? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2016, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929 "2016-10-18T08:06:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/61 "2016-11-29T16:39:04Z")
More than half the Radio Shack stores in Houston have closed, including the one near me. Sears has gone downhill to the point that I haven’t been in one in years. There are only 10 Kmarts left in Houston. Used to be about 30 or so. 10 years, maybe? With the ease of online shopping, I think they will all be gone in the next decade. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/62 "2016-11-29T18:59:37Z")
I didn’t know RadioShack still existed. Circuit City? They’re gone, aren’t they? And is it true that there is one remaining Blockbuster store? Anyway, I voted 10 years on KMart. I was in one that was having their store closing liquidation about 6 months ago. Just doing a quick search, there are a lot more KMarts around than I thought. I’m sure a few of them can hang on for a decade. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/63 "2016-11-29T21:01:24Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > And is it true that there is one remaining Blockbuster store? Their web site [lists](http://www.blockbuster.com/franchise.html) several franchisee stores. Alaska and Texas have quite a few. Distance is a factor. Too far in the sticks to get good streaming and such. But close enough to drive to Blockbuster to rent _Titanic_. There’s one RadioShack in my area, but so far away I haven’t been by it to see what it has. I suspect it’s basically a Sprint (?) store. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/64 "2016-11-29T21:32:52Z")
I doubt if K Marts own their own land, they probably lease from developers. I always hated shopping at K Mart. They never had enough clerks, and you had to spend forever in long lines to check out. They carried my mother’s favorite brand of jeans, though, so she liked to go there. But the local K Mart which was actually pretty close to us closed down last summer, and the nearest is now fifteen miles away. There are about four Walmarts and three Targets that are closer. Not that I shop at Walmart unless I seriously have to. Still, they are brighter and cleaner than the K Marts. One K Mart Superstore about ten miles from us closed down several years ago and the land got rebuilt and redeveloped, and is now a huge, thriving retail center with a lot of different stores. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/65 "2016-11-29T22:19:28Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I always hated shopping at K Mart. They never had enough clerks, and you had to spend forever in long lines to check out. Shop there now. There are so few customers that, even if there’s only one checkout lane open, there still won’t be a line. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2016, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/66 "2016-11-29T23:53:28Z")
Hmm interesting. I haven’t been to one in years since the local superstore closed. I checked to see the next nearest one and it’s only about three miles away. Surprising, because it’s at an intersection of two major roads I use all the time, but for some reason I guess I’ve never been through that stretch at all, but every side of it commonly. Now I have to go drive it just so see what else is there. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/67 "2016-11-30T00:42:10Z")
The K-mart closest to me was torn down, and a Best Buy was put in its place. It was part of a strip mall; when the building finally came down, you could still see the red stripe running along what used to be the interior wall. I wonder what was wrong with the old building; in this area, it’s fairly common to reuse large store buildings unless the entire shopping center is being redeveloped. All of the remaining Circuit City stores in the area are still in use, even the one that dates back to the '80s. That one is some kind of audio/home theater store…the newest one is a Big Lots (I think), and the other was carved up to house several smaller stores. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2017, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/68 "2017-01-05T22:36:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Department-store chain Sears Holdings is seeking to stem its bleeding by closing another 150 stores, including 108 Kmart locations, and selling its Craftsman brand to raise cash. > > The ailing retailer said Thursday that it had reached a deal to sell the tools brand to Stanley Black & Decker for a net present value of about $900 million, including future royalty payments. > **[Sears closing 150 stores, selling Craftsman in attempt to survive](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/01/05/sears-kmart-stanley-black-decker-craftsman/96191312/)** > > Retailer closes 108 Kmarts, 42 Sears stores, sells Craftsman to Black & Decker to raise cash ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/69 "2017-01-10T22:03:40Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I doubt if K Marts own their own land, they probably lease from developers. that’s how lampert got the cash to keep sears open he basically reversed mortgaged all the land sears/kmart owned … ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/70 "2017-01-10T23:30:13Z")
I heard about this the other day I loved Sears and I still do. We live too far away though to visit it much at all, not even once a year. Early years for me the stuff was more expensive but the older I got, sales were great! They had good brands. Kmart is over on the other end of the retail scale. Its always had a “cheap” reputation. The clothes were not the best either but still quite reasonably priced. We got there on occasion, once a year maybe. We know about empty abandoned stores that are just not selling. The last one we went to was in Mt Pleasant and the shelves might as well been empty as what it looked like. I hate to see Craftsman go but I doubt it will disappear Kmart, gone with in 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/71 "2017-01-19T21:59:31Z")
K-mart can’t even keep their stores open in Michigan, where they originated. They’re going to be gone in 5 at this rate. “Woolworth and Circuit City it will be around forever!” is there an actual woosh here or just silliness? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/72 "2017-01-20T02:13:15Z")
I’m amazed that they’re still in business _now_. There are a couple of them on routes that I travel with some regularity, so once every year or so, I think it might be convenient to stop in at one of them. There is always only minimal staff, but it usually isn’t so bad because there are rarely more than a few customers either. Given that I don’t know how or why they’re hanging on (and why they don’t just sell off the land they’re on and save on wages and store upkeep), I have no freakin’ clue how long they’ll last. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/73 "2017-01-20T13:52:43Z")
**Mrs. FtG** and I were just talking about how we didn’t know where any Kmarts were the other day. So I went to their web site and clicked on their store locater link. Good grief! It’s organized by state and alphabetically by city. There are a _lot_ of rinky dink towns around us. I had to look at the complete list to see if any of those are near me. A normal web site has a place to enter a zip code and you get a pinned map. (At least Google does the pinned map things. Nope, none anywhere close.) What a messed up company. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/74 "2017-01-20T18:10:40Z")
Since posting to this thread, I was blown away to learn that KMart remodeled a store not far from my office. Even more strange, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony by Scottie Pippen, of all people. [www.dailyherald.com/amp-article/20160825/business/160829252/](http://www.dailyherald.com/amp-article/20160825/business/160829252/) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/75 "2017-01-20T18:13:35Z")
Yesterday’s celebrity for yesterday’s store. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/76 "2017-03-22T17:00:31Z")
**Could this be the end of Sears and Kmart? Parent company raises red flag.** > [@](#): > > “Our historical operating results indicate substantial doubt exists related to the company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” Sears said in the regulatory filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday. > **[Could this be the end of Sears and Kmart? Parent company raises red flag.](https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2017/0322/Could-this-be-the-end-of-Sears-and-Kmart-Parent-company-raises-red-flag)** > > Once a hallmark of the post-World War II consumer boom, Sears hasn't turned a profit since 2011. There may be some people here who remember when these two were the two biggest retailers in the country. ---
**Author:** ![2Bits](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e95f7d/32.png) [@2Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2Bits)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/77 "2017-03-22T18:44:50Z")
Tyfsok! ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/78 "2017-03-22T21:27:01Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Given that I don’t know how or why they’re hanging on (and why they don’t just sell off the land they’re on and save on wages and store upkeep) […] That’s already happening. When my local Kmart closed, there was predictable speculation about what might replace it. Then it came out that another retail chain had quietly bought the land years earlier. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/79 "2017-03-22T21:34:51Z")
I just popped into a Kmart the other day for a quick whatever it was. Man, I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s just soul sucking being in there. I feel terrible for anyone who has to work there. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929/80 "2017-03-22T22:17:47Z")
I’ll miss Sears. That’s where I bought my table saw that I’ve used to make quite a few pieces of furniture, as well as numerous Craftsman hand tools. But when K-Mart goes, I doubt anyone will miss it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-will-kmart-go-completely-out-of-business/768929.md?page=5)