The last day of the year, so much to reflect on, and so much to look forward to. It's New Years Eve and time to look back on all the retail news I reported on and other notable posts during this year.
All signs point to The Limited closing all there stores in the coming months, no matter if owner Sun Capital Partners wants to come out and say it or not. A few months ago, the CEO for The Limited stores Diane Ellis stepped down in favor to work as CEO or Chico's, another clothing chain. That left CFO John Buell to fill in as the interim CEO. Weeks ago, The Limited laid off a significant portion of its corporate staff, and John Buell stepped down as provisional CEO to work for clothing and home decor chain Altar'd State, as there CFO.
As The Limited is based in Columbus, Ohio, The Columbus Dispatch reported that locations around the city are liquidating inventory and "All Sales Final" banners hang throughout the stores.
There website is not plastered with yellow and red commonly done by any other liquidating chain, throwing people off to if there closing or not, but "All Sales Final" is posted, a fairly obvious clue.
I have photographed some of the locations around Chicago last week, those stores were half empty, I assume they will close the day after New Years.
Yorktown
Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois
The Limited Brands, known as L Brands own several other chains like Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, among others. Hopefully those will not be affected.
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Sears Holdings is at it again with no surprise to close more stores in spring 2017 with a list of 28 stores released the other day. This will be the third list of closures this year, although these stores will begin liquidation the first week of January, and close around late-March/ early-April. There is trend now with Sears that a list is announced of stores that will close, and when those store are closed, another list is announced. This past April, Sears announced 78 stores that all closed around August. Again, in September, Sears released a list of 64 stores that all closed in mid-December. As New Year's approaches, Sears announced nearly 30 stores will close this spring, and individual store closures are surfacing in the news daily, the list has increased the past two days to 33 stores.
1501 Normandy Village Parkway, Jacksonville, Florida
2211 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, Florida
4955 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples, Florida
111 Town and Country Dr., Palatka, Florida
2815 West Parrish Ave., Owensboro, Kentucky
1501 Paris Pike, Georgetown, Kentucky
14662 N. US Highway 25 E, Corbin, Kentucky
1710 W. Highway 192, London, Kentucky
3010 Fort Campbell Blvd., Hopkinsville, Kentucky
2945 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, Kentucky
222 North Point Blvd, Baltimore, Maryland
9 Plaza Way, Fairhaven, Massachusetts
4645 Commercial Dr., New Hartford, New York
250 Three Springs Dr., Weirton, West Virginia
731 Beverly Pike, Elkins, West Virginia
5132 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, Washington
1050 Division St., Parkersburg, West Virginia
Sears stores closing:
Kentucky Oaks Mall, Paducah, Kentucky
1901 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma
Town Center Mall, Charleston, West Virginia
Meadowbrook Mall, Bridgeport, West Virginia
Walden Galleria, Cheektowaga, New York
Boulevard Mall, Amherst, New York
1 Galleria Dr., Middletown, New York
Swansea Mall, Swansea, Massachusetts
Of this list, a small percentage of stores are Sears, but primarily Kmart. Of that, a large percentage of Kmart's closing this round are in Florida and Kentucky. This doesn't look like the new year is going to start off right for Sears. The same reasoning is always used, closing stores to alleviate debt and level cost structure. Edward Lambert continues to drag the chains out as long as he can to sell as much property he can through Preit and attempt to sell long time brands Diehard and Craftsman to potential buyers. Thank you for reading Trip to the Mall and continue to follow us on Facebook.
Sports Authority is a recently lost chain in the sporting goods world, as all the stores located across the country closed this past summer. I prefer this logo featured on this hat, it is more colorful and salient than the latest logo before liquidation. This is a very clean hat, not a wrinkle, stain or spot to be found.
Not a store I thought anything would be listed on eBay for, but I found a Herman's World of Sporting Goods hockey puck for sale.
For those that don't know, Herman's was a sporting goods chain founded in New Jersey in 1916 originally as a music store. There were several stores located on the Midwest and Northeast (including Chicago) until 1993 when the chain entered bankruptcy, and closed all there stores by 1996.
Another Builders Square discovery from eBay this evening. An extra large sweatshirt in orange with an all blue logo. This sweater says "Builders Square" with the "B" logo centered above, and on the right shoulder on the back.
I like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, what I meant to say is, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Another year in the books, and for many, has been deemed the worst year in recent history. Today is no day to dwell on the misfortune of the world, instead count the blessings of good health and family.
Many great celebrities and musicians were lost this year, its not easy loosing a loved one around the holidays, as George Michael, known from the 80's British musical duo Wham!, died earlier today. I could not believe this, as 80's TV Dad Alan Thicke died a few weeks ago. This was a hard year, let's get through this last week, and look forward to a great year in 2017!
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I have not done a reflection is a long time, that is when I openly express how I feel about the life that surrounds me. There is no time like now, given the end of the year is right around the corner, and for most, can't come any sooner, because 2016 must have been the worst year is resent history. I for one cannot look at it as being a bad year, I mean an ENTIRE year can't be all bad, personally I over came hardship in the past few months, and the worlds problems got to me, but I got some great cars this year, saw some great places this year, met some great people, and overall put just a little more knowledge under my belt. Politically it was a shit show, I will not discuss my political views on my site, as I say about cars (I am a HUGE car guy if you follow me on social media), I may hate the person, there personality, there beliefs or political views, but if I love there car, I will be there best friend. This world lost what seems like a record amount of TV personalities, celebrities, musicians, and people that gave us hope in our otherwise troubled lives this year. I don't agree with the point that this year was terrible and can't wait for it to be over. I feel in general, certain years past were better than others, for my family, or the country in general. What I can say is don't focus on the negative, after all, we can't get that time back, we can't go back in time to fix are mistakes, but can only look toward the future to make better decisions.
Another year has gone by, my city and cities I frequently visit have lost several more Sears stores, and Kmart stores, the chain itself is still open, another Christmas of loyal shoppers did there best to fill the check out lanes, gifts in hand to give to loved ones with one question on there mind, "I hope I can shop here next year?". Since 2005, a troubled chain that fell into bankruptcy, and a tired chain consumers jumped to abandon too quickly merged together, no one could believe (I am just filling in new fans of dead retail) this is old news. Year after year, the chain reports record losses, millions and millions in dept, but Eddie keeps the lights on, no matter how many stores are closed, brands are sold, employees laid off, The "K" is still above my head, and "Where America used to shop" is still on my mind. Well over a decade I here my dad talking to friends about Sears money trouble, I eventually caught on with an interest of my own in the hobby, and know it has been over a decade of analysts theorizing Sears Holdings demise. Each year they are wrong, although stores close, that really is what keeps the chain here, if trouble comes close, a list of closures are announced, but twice in one year, maybe by that logic, it was two close calls of chapter 11 proceedings avoided? I don't want think 2016 is the last Christmas I can shop at Sears, but every runner crosses the finish line eventually, a full tank of gas runs dry soon enough, and Kmart will be gone in 2017, I can't say it, that is why professionals are paid to say it.
Over the weekend, a terrible, just terribly frigid weekend in Chicago, I went to my local mall Sears, not once, but twice. I loved seeing the parking lot full. I also went to a thrift store not too far by, and picked up an unopened tube of construction caulk originally from Builder Square for 0.65 cents. I also thought about for the first season in a few years not going to other cities like Indianapolis or Milwaukee to enjoy other mall extended hours. This year unlike the rest, car trouble and the weather have halted our holiday plans.
I have had the title of this post on the back burner for quite a long time, origin being from the Tim Allen stand-up clip above, as Tim does shtick about Sears, and "real men" know there way around one. I love Tim Allen, him and me are so much alike, and he is so much like my Father. I am sure there is more to cover, the second I publish this I will think of something else to add in, but that will be for another reflection.
(scene's of the clip provided above mentioning Sears are at 2:01 and 4:40)
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