Kmart

Kmart is a discount chain, founded by Sebastian Spering Kresge in 1962. In 2005, Kmart merged with Sears.

History
Kresge formed the Kresge Five-and-Dime stores in the early 1900s. He had worked at Woolworth's Five-and-Dime. After that, in 1912, he formed the S. S. Kresge Company. In 1962, the first Kmart opened. Kresge died four years later. Kmart became really popular in the 70s. After that, it fell because of competition with Walmart and Target. So in the 90s, they bought Borders, Payless Drug, OfficeMax and the Sports Authority. This did not prove succesful, so everything was spun off. Sears merged with Kmart in 2005, after Kmart went bankrupt in 2004. Kmart is now part of Sears Holdings Corporation.

Store Concepts
Kmart has used several store concepts since it was Kresge's Five-and-Dime.

Current

 * Kmart - discount chain


 * Big Kmart - discount chain that offers more products, such as groceries.


 * Kmart Super Center - hypermarket chain
 * KDollar - dollar store

Former

 * American Fare - hypermarket chain


 * Builders Square - home improvement store


 * Borders Books - bookstore chain


 * Jupiter Discount - deep dicount store


 * Kmart Food - supermarket chain


 * Kmart Chef - restaurant


 * Kresge's Five-and-Dime - variety chain


 * OfficeMax - office supplies store


 * PACE Membership Warehouse - warehouse club


 * PayLess Drugs - pharmacy


 * The Sports Authority - sporting goods store


 * Waldenbooks - bookstore chain