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Indianapolis saying goodbye to Kmart

Posted at 3:49 PM, Jan 03, 2019
and last updated 2021-11-16 13:19:09-05

INDIANAPOLIS -- Flashing Blue Light Specials are a thing of the past at 6708 West Washington Street.

The last remaining Kmart in Indianapolis is in its final days.

Shoppers have been flocking to the west side store to take advantage of big discounts, with some items marked down 80 percent.

Much of the Kmart is empty, with picked over clothing littering the floor.

A sign out front advertises fixtures, furniture and equipment for sale.

The store is a far cry from its earlier days when it was well stocked and a popular shopping destination.

At the start of the 1990’s, Kmart was second only to Sears among U.S. retailers.

In 2005, Kmart merged with Sears and both chains have been on a steady decline.

When Sears Holding Company filed for bankruptcy last October, the West Washington Street store was put on the closing list.

Kmart traces its history to the S.S. Kresge five and dime stores which began in 1899.

Now, 120 years later, just a handful of Kmarts remain in Indiana and their fate is very much up in the air.