Kmart Closing Last Full-Size Store In America

In 1962, the S.S. Kresge Company opened its first Kmart store in Garden City, Michigan, striking a gold mine by creating a retail store in a time when Americans were eager to save a buck or two and skip the occasional costliness of mom and pop shops.

Just 20 years later, the S.S. Kresge Company, now known as the Kmart Corporation, saw the opening of its 2,000th store across the United States and Canada. By 1994, the Kmart Corporation reached the peak of its retail greatness, with nearly 2,500 stores spread out across the globe.