The iconic retailer Kmart is closing its last full-scale store in the mainland United States, located in Bridgehampton, Long Island. The closure has drawn throngs of shoppers looking to take advantage of discounted prices. Despite the chain’s decline over the years due to competition from Walmart, Target, and online shopping, the Long Island store managed to survive, largely due to its lack of nearby competitors offering affordable prices for working families. The closure comes exactly one year after the last Kmart closed its doors, marking the end of an era for the once-pervasive blue light specials that were a hallmark of the retailer’s heyday in the 1990s. The only mainland store remaining is a small location within the garden center of a larger Kmart store in Miami.
Customers in the area express disappointment at the closure of the historic store, which has been in operation for 25 years. The closing of the Bridgehampton Kmart is a reflection of the changing retail landscape that has led to the downfall of once-thriving brick-and-mortar stores. As the store prepares to permanently shut its doors, shoppers reminisce about the days when Kmart was a dominant force in the retail industry.
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