The Virginian-Pilot
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A Kmart store in Virginia Beach will close at the end of April, laying off 142 people, a company official said today.
The Kmart, at 3901 Holland Road, near Windsor Oaks Boulevard, will close by the end of April for “business reasons,” said Kim Freely, a spokeswoman for Kmart outside Chicago. She declined to elaborate.
Kmart does not plan to close any other local store, she said.
Employees at the Holland Road store were notified Friday, she said, and liquidation sales began Monday. Some of the workers will be offered severance packages.
“We’re hopeful they will apply for other positions” that become available at Kmart stores, Freely said.
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Closing KMart
I went to this KMART on Saturday and found they have raised the prices to offest their "discounts". A can of Kraft Parmesan Cheese was $5.49. That is crazy! Even Farm Fresh charges less than that!!
The one on Norview & Military is nice
A while back I drove around looking for $5 clearance video games at K-Marts. Most of the places are pretty run-down looking, but the one in Norfolk on Military & Norview seems like it's had a remodel recently. I don't remember if the service was any better or not, but it's definitely the nicest one that I visited (Mercury in Hampton, Pembroke, Kemps River, and Oyster Point I think were the others).
Thanks to the commenter who mentioned they're pulling out because they can't agree to lease terms with the property owner - that makes perfect sense!
Gotta use commissions . . .
In some way or another. Otherwise people who work in retail become totally indifferent to their customers. Even if you pay them minimum wage and 5% of the business they bring in for their department, they will kick butt to please their customers. We have become Britain, where indifferent "shopkeepers" were legendary 20 years ago.
These other stores could
These other stores could just copy Wal*Mart's supply chain and stores to some degree, and probably compete. The check out lines at most walmarts could drive a customer to go on a rampage. They can't even keep the automated checkout lines going. Went to the Suffolk one and of the lines that were open only one could accept credit cards. I assume it's cause the credit card keypads were down. Only one actual clerk working a register, other than the self checkouts. If the PIN pads are busted on the self check outs, SWAP them with the ones in the lines that are never open. Oh well, RFID technology will eliminate cashiers altogether.
Rosie O'Donnell
I think Rosie O'Donnell is hurting Kmart. A lot of gun owners will no longer shop at Kmart because of Rosie O'Donnell. Kmart should get rid of Rosie O'Donnell.
Yesterday's news
The Pilot advertised the store closing in Sunday's paper. But this article says the "liquidation sale" started Monday. Even the writers for Pilot don't read the Pilot.
Not my Kmart anymore
I use to shop at this one all the time until I noticed a stocking problem for over a year. I'd run in for stuff like school paper, out and not restocked for over a month, safety pins or crayons. Just regular stuff and they were always out. I just stopped going.
Kmart is not closing for lack of business or business practices
it is closing because the landlord and kmart are not in agreement with the lease. That is apparent sense the for lease sign was up long before the store liquidation signs. This was also verified by the management of the store when I asked. This is one of the few properties that Kmart/Sears doesnt own. I live close by and rarely used them. I would only shop there if it was late at night and I had an emergency and I didnt want to fight with the blue haired ladies at the local walmart
I agree with a lot of other posters here.
KMart stores have gone downhill big time over the years. While WalMart and Target has made large gains. It's more of the way things are managed. KMart stores are indeed dimly lit, not clean, cluttered, confusing layout, poor customer service and few are only one open check out line. The worst part to what will eventually be the complete failure of KMart is that Sears is owned by KMart.
I haven't shopped there in a
I haven't shopped there in a few years since the "thief checker" started. They look at your receipt and then you leave. They don't bother to look at what you have in the cart. So stupid. Pretending they give a crap if you stole something or not. And they had the worst attitudes. I expect it at BJs and they actually count your items. K-Mart's was a joke. And of course doing it to one person then letting 1, 2 or 3 other people slip by.
And I cannot believe, either, that the Southern Shopping center K-Mart is still open. It looks empty all the time and is poorly stocked. Help is few and far between and everything everyone else said below. I am surprised it's open with a Wal-Mart next door and a Wal-Mart grocery store another mile up the road!