Do you remember the days of Kmart’s famous “Blue Light Special”? It was quite the experience! Today, let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore the history of this iconic store.

Kmart’s roots can be traced back to 1899 when it was known as the S.S Kresge Company. Sebastian Spurling Kresge, the founder, began his career working with another retail giant named John McCrory in Memphis, Tennessee. However, Kresge eventually became the sole owner of the store.

In the following years, Kresge’s stores steadily expanded from the 1920s to the 1960s, with several locations opening in eight cities between Chicago and Pittsburgh. But it was in 1962 when the retail landscape changed forever.

Enter Harry Cunningham, a retail pioneer who drove Kmart into the large-scale discount market. He constructed the first full-sized Kmart in Michigan, and it marked the beginning of a new era. Kmart was now competing in the fast-growing world of discount retail.

Interestingly, around the same time, another retail giant was making waves. Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, opened his first store in Rogers, Arkansas. Inspired by Anne and Hope’s store based in Rhode Island, both Cunningham and Walton seized the opportunity to tap into the thriving discount retail industry.

Let’s cherish the memories of those exciting “Blue Light Special” moments at Kmart. It was a time when savvy shoppers eagerly awaited the announcement of these impromptu sales, marked by a blue flashing light. It created a sense of urgency and excitement as shoppers rushed to find incredible deals throughout the store.

While times have changed, the nostalgia of Kmart’s “Blue Light Special” lives on in our hearts. So the next time you pass by a Kmart store, take a moment to reminisce about those unforgettable shopping experiences.