I remember going to various stores as a little kid with no shoes on too. Also Kmarts cafeteria towards the back and near the front doors they had a station that sold popcorn in long clear bags.
My dad was on the ground floor when Kresge’s decided to try out their new K-Mart idea. We moved all over Michigan and Ohio from the mid-60’s until the early 70’s while he would roll into town for 9-12 months to set up and open the store.
Though I never understood as a kid why I wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom by myself. Had free reign to walk around the store alone from an early age when I went to visit my dad at work. Found out years later that for some reason K-Marts in many towns were known as cruising spots.
Ah, back when a kid could walk around with a gun and nobody of any age paid attention let alone got hurt.
I grew up the same way; the Old Man chasing new openings for a chain of stores in S.Mi. then Ohio, etc.
One of the early Mi *K* -marts is where I bought my first Hot Wheel, a Beech Bomb with rear loading surfboards.
I remember it getting stepped on and the wheels bent badly soon after, them being out, then later standing in the *K*-mart aisle with it’s replacement in my hand being super pissed off at it’s replacement having the big ugly square sides and no blue one, just purple.
I still have it and a few of my other ancient *K* -mart puchases too. I also have some inherited packages of buttons, snaps, dust mop heads, picture hooks, sewing machine oil can, etc. etc. with labels &/or price tags from both Kresge and early *SS* K-mart logos *
blue light specials! fresh made popcorn! blue Icee’s! layaway! polyester for dayssssss! Kmart was the stuff of my childhood dreams. I LOVED going to Kmart as a child in the 70s
Attention K-Mart shoppers, we have a blue light special in the shoes department. Traxx running shoes regularly priced at $16.99 are just $14.99 for the next 30 minutes.
My first on-the-books job was at K-Mart in the pharmacy. They quickly moved me out of there and into stocking shelves, getting carts, Pantry manager, Garden manager, and the likes.
My first-day stocking was a Sunday at 6 am lifting microwaves up a 2-story tall ladder to put up on giant overheads close to the ceiling. One by one. I remember as a 16-year-old that I felt like I was going to die because they were so heavy.
We also used to climb the tall pallets of mulch out in the garden center and run around on top of them jumping from pallet to pallet. A lot of good times here.
Also, they ran a soda deal on Pepsi 12 packs every Thanksgiving.. 4 for $10.
The Kresge in Birmingham was the last fountain counter I sat at. I think that was gone by the mid 70’s. Birmingham used to be a cool little city and more like a little Ann Arbor than the glitzy place it’s become.
K mart was ok, way back then, I used to buy two pairs of black dress pants, $24.00.for two pairs of pants. And remember all the announcements: attention K Mart shoppers, today in isle 10 we have…….
In Orlando in the early 80s the Kmart jokes were the best and it was a big insult when they said “your mama shops at Kmart” as the ultimate comeback.
Then when you would see your classmates at Kmart you just both looked away like it never happened.
I worked at one in high school in late 80s and it was awesome. They closed at 9 and kicked everyone out by 9:15. And they paid in cash which was great. Fun job.
Our local Kmart was beloved because I was like 5 (in 1978) and loved the toy section. I remember as a kid mom making me leave the toy section and I told her, “when I get my driver’s license, I’m going to the toy section at Kmart”.
The first thing I did when I got my license was make my mom get in the car and we laughed as we drove straight to Kmart (1988). We laughed our assess off.
I noticed immediately that every child had their hand held or was in a cart or being carried. No kids running wild. And no one wearing their pajamas and slippers.
Someone was decently well off. I would have never taken this picture back when I had to pay for film.
Nothing like cigarette smoke and uppers.
I remember going to various stores as a little kid with no shoes on too. Also Kmarts cafeteria towards the back and near the front doors they had a station that sold popcorn in long clear bags.
Those Blue light specials were wild at times there.
My dad was on the ground floor when Kresge’s decided to try out their new K-Mart idea. We moved all over Michigan and Ohio from the mid-60’s until the early 70’s while he would roll into town for 9-12 months to set up and open the store.
Though I never understood as a kid why I wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom by myself. Had free reign to walk around the store alone from an early age when I went to visit my dad at work. Found out years later that for some reason K-Marts in many towns were known as cruising spots.
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem
Yeah, there’s something special going on here. It wasn’t *that* busy.
The little boy in the bottom left isn’t wearing a shirt and is wielding a gun
Looks like a New store opening day to me.
I’m thinking this photo was staged. I was around during the 1970s and I don’t remember ever seeing that many people in any K-mart
Blue Shlushies and popcorn…the only way to shop
You can feel life in the picture, which is something rare to find these days with people being busy all the time
Shop smart, shop S-Mart! You got that?
Must have been a blue light special
I can smell this picture ;rubber , plastic , cigarettes and body odour. I like the zero phones and peoples heads up looking at each other.
And they had no idea that in 50 years that building would be a Spirit Halloween.
Oof. I just had a flashback of getting lost in a KMart in 1979. I have still probably never been more scared in my life….
Ah, back when a kid could walk around with a gun and nobody of any age paid attention let alone got hurt.
I grew up the same way; the Old Man chasing new openings for a chain of stores in S.Mi. then Ohio, etc.
One of the early Mi *K* -marts is where I bought my first Hot Wheel, a Beech Bomb with rear loading surfboards.
I remember it getting stepped on and the wheels bent badly soon after, them being out, then later standing in the *K*-mart aisle with it’s replacement in my hand being super pissed off at it’s replacement having the big ugly square sides and no blue one, just purple.
I still have it and a few of my other ancient *K* -mart puchases too. I also have some inherited packages of buttons, snaps, dust mop heads, picture hooks, sewing machine oil can, etc. etc. with labels &/or price tags from both Kresge and early *SS* K-mart logos *
I can smell the popcorn just from looking at the picture
Miss this place always had what you neede
I loved KMart in the seventies. Their toy department was amazing!
blue light specials! fresh made popcorn! blue Icee’s! layaway! polyester for dayssssss! Kmart was the stuff of my childhood dreams. I LOVED going to Kmart as a child in the 70s
Attention K-Mart shoppers, we have a blue light special in the shoes department. Traxx running shoes regularly priced at $16.99 are just $14.99 for the next 30 minutes.
My first on-the-books job was at K-Mart in the pharmacy. They quickly moved me out of there and into stocking shelves, getting carts, Pantry manager, Garden manager, and the likes.
My first-day stocking was a Sunday at 6 am lifting microwaves up a 2-story tall ladder to put up on giant overheads close to the ceiling. One by one. I remember as a 16-year-old that I felt like I was going to die because they were so heavy.
We also used to climb the tall pallets of mulch out in the garden center and run around on top of them jumping from pallet to pallet. A lot of good times here.
Also, they ran a soda deal on Pepsi 12 packs every Thanksgiving.. 4 for $10.
The Kresge in Birmingham was the last fountain counter I sat at. I think that was gone by the mid 70’s. Birmingham used to be a cool little city and more like a little Ann Arbor than the glitzy place it’s become.
George A. Romero has entered the chat
Am I the only one who remembers climbing in the center of the circular clothes racks to hide from parents?
Looks like the Kmart at Tel-Twelve Mall !
r/Detroit
The older gentleman in white towards the front looks to be considering reenlistment as a more favorable alternative.
That old guy, is so done with it.
That guy front left white shirt is probably like 41 years old. People looked older back then.
K mart was ok, way back then, I used to buy two pairs of black dress pants, $24.00.for two pairs of pants. And remember all the announcements: attention K Mart shoppers, today in isle 10 we have…….
Most of the products were still made in America at this time
Old crowd photos are always so wild—only one obese person in the entire picture.
Looks like Biden hasn’t aged a day.
I still have clothes from kmart during the mid 90s that I still wear.
In Orlando in the early 80s the Kmart jokes were the best and it was a big insult when they said “your mama shops at Kmart” as the ultimate comeback.
Then when you would see your classmates at Kmart you just both looked away like it never happened.
I worked at one in high school in late 80s and it was awesome. They closed at 9 and kicked everyone out by 9:15. And they paid in cash which was great. Fun job.
Our local Kmart was beloved because I was like 5 (in 1978) and loved the toy section. I remember as a kid mom making me leave the toy section and I told her, “when I get my driver’s license, I’m going to the toy section at Kmart”.
The first thing I did when I got my license was make my mom get in the car and we laughed as we drove straight to Kmart (1988). We laughed our assess off.
I love that there are no phones here
not an obese person on a scooter in sight.
I noticed immediately that every child had their hand held or was in a cart or being carried. No kids running wild. And no one wearing their pajamas and slippers.