I have vague recollections of a Kmart auto center, at the Westwood Kmart. It didn’t last but a few years I think. Like 3-4 years or something? Anyway, does anyone know how many Kmarts had an auto center and when did the last one close? And what happened, it seemed like a good idea, sears still has auto centers.
14 replies (most recent on top)
Saugus MA Kmart had the auto center. The food kiosk was where the service desk later went with the icees, popcorn and hot dogs. Later a cafe was put in the back and it wasn't bad. Closed the cafe around 2010 but the auto center was long gone. Had received mix reviews for quality of work.
Does any body remember when Kmart had a cafeteria in them?
Does anybody remember when they had tube testers in them?
That has to be among the silliest and most absurd posts ever on this board.....even though it is tongue in cheek......claiming that Eddie sold off K Mart stores and fixtures because people made fun of them for being outdated.
They were run by Penske. Interestingly enough, even 15 years after the auto centers closed, we still called the old bays that were once the Kmart auto center, “ Penske” The space was haphazardly turned into a giant merchandise storage stockroom. They left the roll up doors which were a constant headache. We had to replace those damn roll up doors a handful of times because people literally tried to pry them open to break in, they also drove a car through one of the doors once. We stored the DMs company car in one of the bays for awhile. This was the Portland, OR store (4288)
Kmart will be back just you watch. Kmart will make small format stores and reopen some closed stores too watch and see. The reason they closed stores and sold a bunch of fixtures is because everyone made fun of Kmart stores for looking old and outdated. The Eddie plan all along has been to sell all the old stuff to build from the ground up all brand new.
Most full size kmarts had auto service.Mufflers,tires,brakes,all general repairs,even new car rustproofing.Sold the dept to Roger Penske.He closed all the centers down when KM filled bankruptcy.He was ordered not to by the BK coourt but did anyway as he wanted no part of being associated with a bankrupt business.
Kmart ain't bringing back sh– LOL. There are about 7 Kmarts left, LMAO, and they will be closing very soon. They are a Dead company. There are 3 types of Kmarts......closed, closing, and soon to be closing.
Kmart should bring back auto centers and make stanalone auto centers as well to compete with Pep Boys and Jiffy Lube.
there was 600 auto centers in all
Ya I think they were run by Penske if I'm not mistaken? Was over 30 Years ago, so my memory fades........
Kmart in Lodi, NJ had an auto center in the 80’s. Don’t remember when it closed.
The Kmart in West Lafayette, IN had one for years, but the store closed (along with the auto center) in 2003. I don’t recall the Kmart on the other side of town (Lafayette) ever having one
Kmart auto centers all closed around 2002 right before the first bankruptcy. I was working at Kmart when it happened.
Ya not sure why it succeeded in Sears but not Kmart, especially considering that the companies eventually combined.