This particular store was previously a Grandway store, which explains why this store is so interesting both visually and in layout. All pictures of this store were taken during normal operations.
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| While this store is technically not closed yet, I just put 'store closed' due to there only being 8 days left in its operation. |
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| All security gets to see is clearance I guess.... |
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| Unlike some stores, this one did manage to get some mannequins. Hopefully they will be sent to another store that lacks them. |
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| Stockroom door with retro 'out' sign. |
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| '"Who forgot to close the door?"' |
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| This store was still using its electronic desk at a time when most had them removed. |
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| You can see the odd arrangement of this store in these last three photos and the two below. The main actionway suddenly stops at an aisle of furniture displays. |
The best of the store followed by health and beauty:
Rating: 4 out of 10. The biggest negative this store faced was its location. The store was located on the north side of downtown Binghamton, an area which you tell feels depressed economically. This likely drove a lot of traffic away with the exception of the people living in the area. Although it had loyal customers, (as there is really no other major store in the immediate area), it evidently was not making enough money to continue operating....or it was simply losing money....
This store is closing December 11, 2016 as part of the latest wave of closures. It will leave the north side of Binghamton without any place to buy basic grocery items and will make the plaza that it anchors almost entirely empty. This store had helped to provide the basics for lower income people in the area it served making it rather busy at times, despite the obvious feeling of being in a bad area of town, It had issues as most stores do such as floor that felt like they may be shifting, but it overall felt like it was holding its own.
Footnotes:
1. The other Kmart that was in the area in Endicott closed due to flood damage. This store too was also a former Grandway. The next closest store to the Binghamton area is in Sayre, PA which is about 46 minutes away to the southwest. A blog post featuring that store will come at some point next year.
A unique exterior indeed, as well as the garden center and pharmacy as you said! The fact that it was located in a less affluent area didn't really register in the pictures, but I know how that's something better felt in person. The only thing I saw that gave that impression was narrow actionways. Too bad the locals will now no longer have any close-by place to shop...
ReplyDeleteAs for the mannequins being shipped to other stores - the Memphis store seemed to be selling its mannequins when I visited, so I don't know that there's any hope for that :/
Sad to hear that about the mannequins. Perhaps it could be that your area has no other Kmart really to ship them too. (Unless you count Jackson, TN)
DeleteThat very well could be...
DeleteI have to say the garden center at this store was probably the most unusual one I've seen with all of those little rooms and pockets for merchandise. Anyway, it's sad to see Kmart abandon yet another major city...
ReplyDeleteYou almost have to wonder if it was a restaurant of some sort. It is indeed sad to see it go, but this store wasn't exactly the most friendly feeling....
DeleteNeat store! The pharmacy sign is the best!
ReplyDeleteAnother one bites the dust :(
The pharmacy is indeed awesome. Sadly, yes, another one goes.
DeleteI used to go to this one regularly when trips took me to Binghamton; I affectionately referred to it as the "ghetto" K-mart. It always seemed to be moderately busy. But the plaza itself was dying, with a flea market in one spot and several long empty storefronts.
ReplyDeleteI think up front there was a restaurant that was never remodeled completely away, part of that odd corridor near the pharmacy. Probably a store map of a Grandway would help figure it out.
Yes, this area is quite depleted. But, as for the Kmart it did seem to rather well. I know many in the area were extremely disappointed that it closed.
DeleteMy husband worked at this store for almost a decade in his late teens/early 20s and it was very busy in that time period (early 2000s). The store once had a full range sports counter including a bowling ball drilling center and sold firearms. They installed self checkouts in 2002 and removed them in 2005.It also had a paint department with a painter mixer, full line electronics department and the Garden Shop was in fact a Kmart Cafe. It closed in the mid 2000’s (04/05) and they just turned it into the garden center. Just pulled the booths and there it was.
ReplyDeleteThere was once a hair salon when it was Grandway, that became a stockroom when it was Kmart and it was still partically intact and an Olan Mills that closed around 2001.
Thank you for confirming my suspicions about the garden space being a cafe. And thanks for passing along the other information. I didn't know this store had self-checkout lanes or an Olan Mills.
DeleteAnytime :) I might have some old pictures of the store laying around. I will have to look. My husband said they would all eat at the cafe for lunch when working and the food was actually decent.
ReplyDelete