History of Kmart (Fraser MI)

In 1899 the S.S. Kresge Company was founded, and originally served as a five and dime store. By 1912 Kresge had expanded to over 85 stores. By the 50s and 60s supermarkets and larger big box stores had largely taken over the market of smaller neighborhood stores. In the turn of the market, businesses that failed to adapt to the new big box and supermarket model failed. In Detroit, one of the largest examples of this was CF Smith, in the 1930s the neighborhood market had over 600 Detroit locations, however refused to adapt to the supermarket model, and was closed down in 1952. In the case of Kresge Five and Dime, the store adapted to the larger big box store of the time and named it Kmart. With the first one opening in 1962 in Garden City MI. The new store was a modernization attempt, and the new model took on a more department store look. Like before the model was big discounts, which until Kmart went under stayed it’s model. The famous Kmart Blue Light Special was added in 1965, this sale would include flashing blue police style lights on portable carts around the store, accompanied by a loudspeaker announcement, to promote heavily discounted items for a limited time, usually around 10-15 minutes. By 1966 Kmart had expanded to 162 stores nationwide, and in 1970 the location pictured below in Fraser MI was built, just a year earlier the company had updated its logo, and while it wasn’t the largest Kmart or highest grossing store when it was built. It acted as a growing chain of Kmart stores. With the expansion of stores like Zayre, Ames, Bradlees, Caldor, Hills, Kmart was required to expand to large areas of Metro Detroit to keep up, Fraser MI was one of them. In 1977 S.S. Kresge Company rebranded as Kmart Corporation. Largely due to Kmart stores accounting for over 94% of company sales by 1976. By 1981 Kmart operated over 2,000 stores, and in 1987, Kmart Corporation sold off its smaller Kresge branded stores, which were killed off shortly after, with the stores in Canada lasting into 1994. In 1990s the last Kresge logo was discontinued, however the iconic K remained in Kmart logo, with new logos from 1990 to 2004 and 2004 to present including the K. Until 1990 Kmart was the 2nd largest retail chain behind Sears, however was surpassed by Walmart the same year. By 1997 or 1998 the Kmart in Fraser MI had been made into a “Big Kmart” store. These stores featuring a full service grocery with a full service deli, seafood counter and bakery. It also had general merchandise like many Kmart stores. Kmart’s peak is often considered 1992, with later decline attributed to competition with Walmart, Target, and internet shopping. By 2002 poor management had caused Kmart to file for bankruptcy. With the last Kmart store being opened that year in Somers Point, New Jersey. In 2005 Sears bought Kmart, however with the rise of online shopping and Kmart’s debt, caused both chains to fail into the 2010s. Later in the life of the Fraser Kmart it was converted back into a standard Kmart store, losing its Big status. Most Kmart’s closed between 2014 and 2018, along with the other half of company, Sears closing most stores by 2018 and 2021. The store in Fraser began liquidation on July 28, 2016, and closed for good in Mid October 2016. Since then it has became one of the only remaining abandoned Kmart stores in the area, and has not been remodeled or repurposed into something new, however still has power in sections. However is largely in a abandoned state of decay. Today no big box Kmart stores remain in the US, with the last one being closed in late 2024, with the last “Kmart” store in in Miami Florida operating out of its former Garden Center, and is no larger than a typical pharmacy. The original section of the same Kmart has been converted into a At home store.