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Kmart's woes led me down a discount memory lane

By Joan Gunin, Leather editor -- Furniture Today, March 3, 2002

Oh, I know it's only Kmart, so who cares? Well, in a strange, inexplicable way, I do.

I was sad when I heard that Kmart had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. I compared it to Old Glory and apple pie — part of the American fabric. No, not because I'm a Martha fan. On the contrary. I read her unauthorized biography, "Just Desserts," just for laughs. And that was only because I was living in her New Jersey hometown at the time.

And, no, not because I am sentimental about my microwave, my toaster oven, my ironing board or any other probable Kmart purchases. Rather, perhaps, because Kmart to me represents the good old days.

Growing up in New Jersey, you see, we were not wooed by Wal-Mart, teased by Target nor courted by Kohl's.

Early on, I roamed the aisles of Two Guys and E.J. Korvette. Two Guys was where I purchased my first 45 record (The Rolling Stones) and my first tube of lipstick. And I still use one of their mugs with my name printed on it, then for chocolate milk, today for pencils. I'll bet it would do well as a Two Guys collectible on eBay.

Korvette's was one of the first places I was allowed to drive to solo once I got my driver's license.

I knew nothing of planograms in those days, yet even then I knew the layout of this particular Korvette's was odd, mainly because it had two floors with an escalator in the middle of the store. (We saw plenty of weirdness in New Jersey, but this was too much!) The other discounters I had visited up to that point were of the single-story variety.

This same building remains an oddity today. The sign outside has changed from Korvette to Caldor to Big Kmart, but the escalator still stands. Actually, there are two escalators now, one for shoppers and a parallel one for carts! (Told ya Jersey was cool!)

During my formative years, the Garden State welcomed Bradlees and Caldor as discount cousins of Kmart. None were the greatest of stores, but they were there if you wanted a Dustbuster or a laundry basket or….

We also had the likes of Bamberger's, long before Bloomingdale's or Macy's reached our 'burb. But where is Bamberger's today? Or A&S, or even Stern's?

Relocating to North Carolina a few years ago, I would find myself wandering around Kmart mostly because it was in the same neighborhood as the Target which was my main destination. But then a second Target opened closer to home so I no longer stop at Kmart to compare.

It seems we Americans could find the same stuff— better, cheaper, closer — somewhere other than at Kmart.

So, no, it's not really Kmart or Two Guys or Korvette's that I miss. Perhaps it's just that earlier time of my life.

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UPDATE: California retailer Treasures Furniture in Chapter 11

May 11, 2012

California retailer Treasures Furniture in Chapter 11

May 11, 2012

New York's Crawford Furniture Mfg. in Chapter 11

Aug 26, 2011

Store in Chapter 11 After Owner's Arrest

Jul 22, 2011

Fabric, wall coverings source Brunschwig & Fils in Chapter 11

Jan 17, 2011

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