The END of Sears, finally.

[gottahaveahoove]

The last Sears store closed this past weekend in Chicago, marking the end of an era. Ours closed a few years ago. The closest one left was near Philadelphia. It held on as long as possible. I loved their paint. So sad to see an American icon go. Will Hemb must be in mourning as we speak.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Sad indeed (in a way). We lost our store a couple years back. I liked the tools and hardware, and once liked everything 20+ years ago. However as they cheapened up in the 2000s or so, the quality of a lot of stuff tanked, so I found myself going there less and less. Their website soon turned to crap as they tried to play amazon. Unfortunately, they did this to themselves; I wish it went better...

I still have the last plastic bag I got from them from 2 years ago, and several catalogs from back when they were still great. I still have some nice 90's clothes from there, as well as my 1995 laundry set and fridge, all still working great. These are all my memories of a once great store.

I used to ride my bike up there a lot in the 80's to drool over the tools, fans, appliances, automotive stuff and hardware. I will always remember that signature 15khz whine I had heard from all of the CCTV cameras (back when they used tubes).

 

[human]

Sad times...

My dad was a huge Sears fan. He would only buy Craftsman tools, most of which I now have, and they're the older made in USA variety, not the newer Harbor Freight quality chinesium crapola they now sell at Lowe's. That stuff is Craftsman in name only.

We've still got one here that's hanging on, including the auto center. Several years ago, they remodeled the building and leased out most of the ground floor, including the front entrance, to Whole Foods. Sears' main entrance was moved around to the side of the building. Sears actually owns that building so I'm sure Whole Foods is bringing in more revenue to Sears than their own store there is. Frankly, it's probably the only reason it's still open.

I haven't walked in there in two or three years. The last time it looked pretty pathetic. They were stretching the merchandise pretty thin to cover even their significantly reduced footprint. The only thing even more sparse looking is the parking lot.

It's sad but time is moving on without them. You just can't stay stuck in 1981 for ever.

 

[bnsd60m9200]

The last sears store in Illinois closed yesterday, not the entire company. apparently there are still 10 other sears and like 7 kmarts left. Sears to me died many years ago. they cheapened thier wrenches and hand tools about 10 years ago, and didnt offer anything people wanted in many years. to me sears died when they changed from the serif logo in 1984. they were going downhill even then.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

I agree with the cheapening of the tools. Even Channelock went downhill about 10 years ago.

I still have my Craftsman tool cabinet and chest, and 300-400 piece hand tool set that I got as Christmas gifts in the 80s. Best gifts I ever got...
All I have to do is replace the dried grease in the ratchets every 10 years or so - no problem. Rest of the tools have been faithful and did lots of great work for me. They were worth the high price we paid for them then.

The Channelock 16" pliers I got there 10 years ago rusted in no time, when none of my other tools did (even the Harbor Fright ones).

I got a couple extra sets of Craftsman screwdrivers before our store closed - they were as good as the 80's ones I have.

I got a couple small Craftsman tool boxes with drawers two years ago from Lowes and those were very flimsy. One went in the house, but still flimsy for there.

A good friend gave me a 70's Craftsman tool cabinet that was in a barn for years. I cleaned it up and lubed the slides - works great!

I will miss the real Craftsman, but at least I have the last of the best to hopefully last me until my own expiration.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Wow, I heard on the news this morning

that "Sears is finally no more, as the last one closed this weekend in Chicago". Maybe that was not true. If not, I fear it won't be long.
My late brother loved Sears, as did his wife. They had a coffee brown matching "Lady Kenmore" laundry set, as well as a tractor, etc. from Sears. When I took over the conservatory in the Philadelphia suburbs, there was a Sears canister vacuum. I gave that away.

 

[vinvac]

Sears and Montgomery Wards were our go to stores back in the day.

Sears went downhill once they started offering all brands. When they stayed with the Kenmore brand things were much better. I know the Kenmore brand was other brands with their name, but they were also upgraded products.

Montgomery Ward was my moms favorite. She waited for that catalog. Not sure why as I don't ever remember her buying anything from the catalog...but she enjoyed looking.

 

[suckolux]

I did Montgomery rewards often, and Sears occasionally because it wasn't as close. When I was young my first vacuum I bought with my own money was a hand vac from Sears I believe made by Douglas, when I saw the writing on the wall I went back to the same store and bought a canister back from them not that I needed but I wanted something from that store before it closed. Thankfully a friend of mine was working that department that day so he got to handle the transaction also

 

[vacuumlad1650]

It was sad to see my closest 4 Sears stores closing over the last few years, but the Illinois based company no longer being here in IL really puts it into perspective.
They should have held onto their catalogues for a few more years...they could have been today's Amazon.

 

[jscarlato]

Back in the early 80s, we bought a Lady Kenmore washer and dryer. The washer lasted until 2002, when replacement parts became unavailable. We replaced the washer with a Kenmore Elite HE washer. The Lady K dryer is still going strong.

Back in 1970, I bought a Sears Coldspot refrigerator in avocado green (sign of the times). That fridge lasted for 35 years. Although it still worked and was a real conversation piece, we replaced it with a more energy efficient Kenmore model.

Sears paints covered my walls for many years.

 

[dysonman1]

When I was a kid, the Sears store was in the mall very close to our house. I would go there with my Mom, and we would go down the escalator to the lower floor and there it was. The appliance department. Greeting us at the bottom of the escalator was the dishwasher. With the clear front and the lights on the inside. Running. I would stare at that thing until my mother said to stop. The vacuum department was on that level, and I would stare in amazement at the salesmen selling the Kenmore vacuums. I knew I wanted to be a vacuum salesman at the moment.

Today, I get to sell Kenmore vacuums labeled as Titans in my store. I love demonstrating them. And I sell a lot of them. So in a way, I'm glad Sears is no more because with Titan vacuums to sell, I can still be a Sears salesman but I make all the profits. Not just a commission.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Rob, yes, the quality indeed changed.

But, that has happened everywhere. I always bought paint at Sears. My uncle and my late brother were very good Sears customers. I still see Craftsman, etc ant Lowe's, etc. It would be awful to think someone would be glad to see them go..... go to only make a profit at another's expense.
People who loved the 'catalogs', will treasure them now.
I hope JC Penny isn't next.

 

[maytag142c]

Sears used to be one of my favorite department stores, they had absolutely everything. At one point they even sold houses through the catalog and I’m fortunate to own a Sears built home. As a matter of fact a lot of the houses in my area are Sears built. Sears was always known for good quality and long Lasting products. We had 2 stores in the area, one closed about 4 years ago while the other only 2 years ago with the auto center being the last. I’m wondering though if they still do the Sears steam cleaning because about 2 weeks ago I saw a Sears van with a steam cleaning system being used.

Cassie

 

[keither]

Incredibly sad. I was never a Sears fan, but nonetheless, this was still a household name for most of our lives. Is JC Penny the only major department store left over from our childhood? Grants , Jefferson's and Woolworth were our number one department stores back in the day.

 

[tolivac]

Loved the "beach ball" display in the Sears vacuum dept as a kid-could watch it for hours if I could!They were the only store that had such a display.

 

[parunner58]

When we lived in Philadelphia, we lived within walking distance to the main Sears store on Roosevelt Blvd. I loved going there to watch the beach ball in the vacuum department. They had fresh candy, hot pretzels and fresh fried peanut, loved watching them fry the nuts. Then went to major appliances and watch the Roto-Rack Dishwasher. They had a record department that had a free juke box that you could listen to the current pop hits, it was out side the restaurant.

 

[dysonman1]

I remember as a kid when the Sears salesmen wrote the word KENMORE with kapok on the red plush carpet in the vacuum department. When they could snag an interested woman (person) they would say "The new PowerMate cleans like a Dream" and then vacuum up one letter. If the people said they had pets, they vacuumed up all the letters. It was the coolest thing to watch. Today, I sell Titan (used to be Kenmore) vacuums and I still use Kapok and write "Titan" on the rug. People are just fascinated with how fast the machines pick up.

 

[human]

Keither,
You got me thinking and you're right. Very few of the stores I knew from my childhood are still with us. One regional chain that is still alive and well here in the Southeast is Belk. Another one that was big in this area was Rose's. They almost went under in the '90s but have managed to survive in a smaller format, usually anchoring struggling strip centers. Another one we frequented when I was growing up was Richway, which was eventually acquired by Target. Woolworth's still exists as a corporate entity but it has evolved into Footlocker. We do still have a Woolworth's storefront here but it's preserved as a historical site and civil rights museum, having been the site of a 1960 sit-in.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

My parents met at Woolworths.

My mom was a book keeper and my dad. later was sent there as the manager. I still have the 2 little very badly scratched Coke glasses they used at the "fountain". He sat across from the building as they were tearing it down. Perhaps he should have never watched it come down.