Nicholas Eckhart
nicholas@deadanddyingretail.com
Photos from the final day and two days after closure were taken by Bob
The slow but apparent death of Super Kmart (or just Kmart for that matter) continues. Since I started this website in late 2011 the number of Super Kmart stores has shrunk from 26 to 23. The Portage, Indiana Super Kmart was closed and sold to Meijer in 2012; so far in 2013 the Queensbury, New York store was converted and now this store in Moon Township, Pennsylvania has closed.
The Super Kmart concept has been slowly dying since Kmart's bankruptcy. In 2002 12 Super Kmart stores were closed and in 2003 58 stores closed. Since then numerous other Super Kmart stores were slowly closed or had their grocery sections removed.
In 1993 a shopping development called Parkway Plaza was planned for the Northwest corner of Montour Run Road and Hershinger Road. A 173,000 square foot Super Kmart Center and a 109,000 Builder's Square II home improvement warehouse were the planned anchors of said shopping center. Plans for the Builder's Square location did not become reality and no other stores opened in the Parkway Plaza shopping center at the time (now known as Market Place). On November 13, 1994 the Super Kmart opened with a full-service restaurant, full-service auto center, florist, portrait studio, shoe repair shop, video rental store, and a Borics salon. The new superstore replaced a store at the Crafton-Ingram shopping center in Crafton; that store is now a Giant Eagle grocery store.
Over the years this Super Kmart changed its video rental store into a game room and its florist into a team shop. The Borics Salon, shoe repair shop, full-service restaurant, and Penske auto service center were closed over the years. The Moon Township Super Kmart also had the 6 AM to 12 AM hours before the other locations received them briefly in 2012. The store also retained those hours until its closure was announced instead of reverting back to 24 Hours. Originally the store had 28 checkouts, but it had only 15 when it closed. Over the years Kmart reduced the hours of service counters (including removal of the Seafood counter) and used other methods to lower the amount of employees at the store. The Moon Township Super Kmart started with around 600 employees and had less than 150 when the closing was announced.
The procedures for closing a Super Kmart are much like converting a supercenter and closing a regular Kmart at the same time. When the closing was announced the layaway area, pharmacy, game room, team shop, Olan Mills portrait studio and grocery counters were closed. The remaining fresh groceries were quickly cleared-out. Then, the grocery section signage and equipment were disassembled. The grocery area was then used for "K-Mart's Flea Market" which was a collection of equipment, signage, and shelving from around the store put up for sale. Many boxed, canned and some frozen food was still for sale towards the end of the Going Out of Business procedures. Other departments throughout the store were pushed towards the front as the Going Out of Business sales moved further along. The final day open for the Moon Township Super Kmart was July, 7th, 2013. Chevron purchased the Super Kmart property with the intention of building a regional headquarters.
R.I.P. MOON TOWNSHIP SUPER KMART
November 13, 1994 - July 7, 2013
Final ten days (June 28th 2013)
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| Parking lot almost completely void of customers |
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| Nothing is left sitting out front; there used to be vending machines, a ride for children, and benches here. |
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| Doors are plastered with "Last 10 Days" signs |
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| K-Mart's Flea Market in the former grocery department |
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| More empty grocery department |
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| More of the dead grocery section |
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| Empty clothing department |
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| No more electronics here |
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| More of the dead electronics section |
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| The front of the store sure has cleared out |
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| Flea Market sign |
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| Letters from the store's walls and pictures from the restaurant |
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| More letters |
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| Please do not stand on conveyors |
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| Former deli and full-service restaurant area |
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| Dead deli and bakery |
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| The former full-service restaurant space |
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| Empty Bakery |
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| No more doughnuts:( |
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| Dairy |
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| Frozen food |
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| Seafood Counter |
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| Seafood counter, meat, and dairy |
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| bakery, deli, and full-service restaurant |
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| Service desk from sporting goods |
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| Chair from restaurant |
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| Produce bagging station |
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| A "super" mixer! |
The store on it's final day open (July 7th 2013)Photos by Bob
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| These photos were taken right before this store closed at 4 PM on July 7th |
Two days after closure (July 9th 2013)Photos by Bob
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| Signs and everything are down |
The store operating normally (January 3rd 2013)
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| The 24 Hours part of the sign are covered up. |
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| Sign with a different logo on Montour Run Road. |
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| Not many cars |
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| Closed Penske auto service area |
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| Customer entrance to closed Penske service center |
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| Garden Center |
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| Storefront |
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| Garden shop |
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| Grocery entrance |
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| More of the grocery entrance |
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| Former full-service restaurant |
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| Pharmacy sign was not removed |
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| Former Restaurant |
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| Restaurant entrance |
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| 1990s cart corral sign |
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| Dairy |
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| Meat |
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| Meat |
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| Former seafood counter |
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Produce
The original green and white refrigerators were removed from this area to make the store look nicer and save energy. |
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| This store also received newer aisle markers for its grocery section |
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| Dairy and frozen food |
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| Packaged deli |
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| Frozen foods |
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| Fresh Dairy |
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| Super Kmart / Little Debbie shelve |
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| Frozen food and beverages |
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| Looking towards the pharmacy |
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| Non-perishable foods |
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| Bakery and Deli area |
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| Pharmacy |
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| Deli and former full-service restaurant |
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| Fresh bakery and deli |
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| Front of grocery section |
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| Grocery entrance |
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| Team shop (former Florist) > Olan Mills > Former Borics salon > customer service |
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| 15 checkouts and front of the store |
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| Customer Service |
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| Game room (former Video store) > Former shoe repair shop |
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| General merchandise entrance |
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| Entrance and seasonal section |
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| Garden Center |
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| Electronics |
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| Clothing |
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| Layaway and sporting goods |
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| Former Penske auto center |
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| More former auto center |
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| Clothing |
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| Sporting goods and clothing |
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| Clothing |
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| Fitting rooms |
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| Clothing |
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| Olan Mills > former Borics salon |
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| Team shop |
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