K Mart Building 5141 Douglas Ave

Kmart is a chain of discount department stores that became known for its blue light specials and affordable range of products including clothing, household items, electronics, toys and more. In its prime, Kmart was one of the largest retail chains in the world, with a peak of around 2,400 stores in the mid 1990s. Since the early 2000s, Kmart has faced financial difficulties and increased competition from Walmart in particular, and has shuttered most of its locations with only about half a dozen stores left in 2024. Kmart traces its origins to 1899 when Sebastian S. Kresge founded S.S. Kresge, a five-and-dime in Detroit. The first Kmart discount store opened in 1962 in Garden City, MI. By the late 1970s, Kmart had a significant nationwide presence. In 2002, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, restructuring and shuttering a number of stores. In 2004, Kmart merged with Sears. Today, both chains are under ESL Investments' Transformco, the successor to Sears Holdings Corporation.