Miami, Florida – The last Kmart on the U.S. mainland may not be the bustling retail giant it once was, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of many. Located at the west end of a busy suburban Miami shopping center, the store may be quiet and largely ignored, but it stands as a symbol of the rise and fall of a once-famed retail chain.
Surrounded by thriving chain stores that attract steady streams of customers, the last Kmart in the continental United States remains a shadow of its former self. However, for those who do venture inside, the store holds a sense of nostalgia and curiosity. Even if they leave with little or nothing, the experience is a reminder of a simpler time.
Architect Juan de la Madriz, who was drawn to the shopping center by the need to buy dog food at PetSmart, was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon the last Kmart. He couldn’t resist the chance to take a trip down memory lane and see if he could find a gift for his newborn grandson. With only 10 minutes and $23 spent on a stuffed dog and a wooden toy workbench, Juan left the store with a smile on his face.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen a Kmart,” Juan reminisced, “and while it may be sad if it closes, everything nowadays is on computers.”
The closure of the last full-size Kmart in the 50 states, located in Long Island, New York, marked the end of an era. The Miami store, now only a fraction of its former size, holds the title of the last remaining Kmart on the U.S. mainland. At its peak 30 years ago, Kmart boasted over 2,500 locations across the country. Today, only four others remain – three in the U.S. Virgin Islands and one in Guam. Kmart now primarily operates through its website.
Despite multiple attempts to reach out to Transformco, the Illinois-based holding company that owns Kmart and the remaining Sears stores, for comments about the Miami location, there has been no response. The future of the store remains uncertain, but there is no indication that it will close anytime soon.
As the last outpost of a once-massive retail chain, one might think that with some advertising and a little luck, the Miami Kmart could eventually thrive. In fact, the store is immaculately clean and the merchandise is neatly stacked and displayed. Occupying the space of a CVS or Walgreens drug store, the branch now houses a smaller selection of products. A couple of years ago, an At Home department store took over the rest of the space.
“Get it all! Must Haves. Wish Fors. Friendly Faces,” reads a sign next to the store’s entrance. As customers enter, they are greeted by Halloween and Christmas decorations, alongside 30 shopping carts that rarely get used. The robotic voice and cheerful employee welcoming them further adds to the nostalgic atmosphere. However, the lack of customers is a stark contrast to the store’s heyday.
Straight ahead, a few appliances can be found – dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers. In the store’s main room, there is a large section dedicated to toiletries and diapers, a few hardware essentials, and a limited selection of cleaning and pet supplies. The toy department, once a highlight of Kmart, now occupies only a couple of rows with dolls, action figures, games, and squirt guns. The clothing section is small, with a mix of sun dresses, summer tops, and sweatshirts, and snacks are also available.
As a reminder of the store’s past, a recorded message can be heard over the loudspeaker, announcing the ongoing sale, but sadly, there are not many customers to hear it.
Kmart’s fast rise and slow death is a cautionary tale in the world of retail. Founded by the retailer S.S. Kresge Company in Michigan in 1962, the chain quickly expanded to 2,000 stores in just 20 years. Kmart used to offer a wide range of products, from clothing and jewelry to TVs, appliances, and toys. By the mid-1980s, it had become the nation’s second-largest retailer, just behind Sears. Kmart had also expanded to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
However, the company’s decline began when its management decided to diversify and bought several other retail
