One last trip to Sears

[pinkytoe]

I usually purchase clothes online or at thrift stores but decided to go to a nearby Sears for the heck of it. It is probably the last department store within 5 miles of our house.
It was obvious that this store which is in a thriving strip mall was in its death throes as the merchandise was all mixed up and I might have been one of three customers in the whole store.
Kind of a surreal experience especially when one remembers how vital the department store was to another generation.
Sounds like it isn't just Sears but all of the mainstream department stores that are struggling.
Feels so odd sometimes to be living in the middle of change.

[CathyA]

I know what you mean pinkytoe. They recently closed a Marsh grocery store in the small town I live by. And kmarts closed out long ago around here. I wonder if Penney's is still struggling.
Some of the famous department stores that used to be in the city near here (L.S. Ayres, Blocks, Lazarus, etc.) have all gone. And the Sears I went to at a mall several years ago was just how you described it. Seems like they do best with their hardware and automotive stuff now.

[Miss Cellane]

I know of a little Sears store that opened, carrying only appliances and things like tools and snowblowers. That seems to be doing well, at least in my area.

But the big Sears store in the big mall near me? I haven't been in that store in over 10 years. Trying to avoid malls in general and trying to shop local--Sears just doesn't fit in anymore.

But as a kid, especially in a military family that was often posted overseas--we ordered everything from the Sears catalog, and I have very fond memories of that.

[danna]

pinkytoe was this an Sears Outlet store or a regular one?
Our one is still fairly good, (it could be better and better organized) but we are in a large city with two and the larger one
is in the process of closing. In Canada they are closing and selling the buildings from their
largest store, even the flagship store in Toronto. Obliviously they have realized these big store are a thing
of the past..

[jp1]

The last time I went to Sears it was the one near the house I grew up in. It was at least 7 years ago since I was there with my now deceased mother. As pinkytoe described, it was deserted. The only person in sight was the one employee we saw, an elderly lady wearing an oxygen mask. Ironically fitting for the place. I just checked google maps and apparently it's still there, which surprises me greatly.

I know there are people who still enjoy 'shopping' for stuff. I've never been one of them and now I can do what little shopping I do do online. It's faster, easier, less stressful, and uses less resources since the big brown truck is probably coming down my street anyway when it drops off my purchases as opposed to me driving to a mall, etc.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I stopped in at the Sears at Arcadia Crossing here in Phoenix a few days ago as the store is going out of business and there are signs as to deep discounts outside the store. So I walked in and A. Saw that the walls were bare in a few departments and that overall the store has a dirty, unkempt look to it and B. the prices are no better than they would be at numerous other local retailers.

It's really sad in a way as I am old enough to remember a different Sears that was at that time one of the THE big American retailers. For many it was the place to go to for jeans, appliances, and tools. That Sears seems to be a part of that different time and this Sears today really to me seems to be circling the drain. This Sears is nothing special and seems to be understaffed and just scraping by. I guess it's a sign of the times, and also I believe that Sears has not tried very much to keep up with trends in retail - it's like they rested on their laurels when they could have tried to dominate the online retail marketplace. Too late now.....Rob

[rosarugosa]

The Sears near me seems to be doing a reasonable business, and it is clean, staffed, well-stocked, etc.

[Float On]

Haven't been in a Sears in years but I know the one about 45 miles away is still there.
We do use the line, "Put on your Sunday best kids; we're going to Sears!" anytime we're getting ready to leave for something important. I think it's a line from the Brady Bunch movie.

[onlinemoniker]

I rarely go to Sears. Usually to return something I bought from Lands End or to purchase an accoutrement for my shop vac. It's just a sub-standard store in my opinion.

But even as a kid my family didn't go to Sears. It was always so utilitarian and hard-wearing and grim.

[JaneV2.0]

Little-known fact: I worked in Sears' jewelry department one Christmas season (it was a second job). Four months was more than enough.

[Alan]

But even as a kid my family didn't go to Sears. It was always so utilitarian and hard-wearing ....

Come to think of it, that's exactly why my family always shopped at Sears when I was a kid.

[onlinemoniker]

Maybe they didn't see it as grim.

[Alan]

Maybe they didn't see it as grim.
Nope, they were thrilled to be able to shop there from time to time. And, the catalog in the out house was handy too.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Exactly why my family went as well: utilitarian, hard-wearing and grim as well - perfect fit.

[goldensmom]

As a child, when Dad would say we are going to Sears, which was 70 miles from our house, it was so exciting because it mean a day trip and we were going to buy something, which was rare. Later a Sears catalog store opened in the nearby town. My first recollection of Sears was my first bike. Mom filled out the paper order from, mailed it and the bike was delivered COD to the train station in town where we went to pick it up. When I first learned that Craftsman tools are now sold at Ace Hardware as it just felt wrong.