AARP Online Community and Discussion Forums - 🤔 Anyone Have Any "Memories" of SEARS?

Winter2025VA · ‎12-29-2025

It has been a very long time since I thought of them but did when I happen to take the City Bus here in Virginia.

Usually I AVOID anything to do with the City Bus, but the OTHER Old Lady (2006 Hyundai Elantra) needs a LOW MILEAGE engine. I am on my mechanic's Things To Do List.

The bus is a VERY LONG ride from my side of town & I took it to the downtown Walmart.

To my pleasure, it circled through the HUGE MALL before stopping at Walmart.

It was a "mixture" of sadness & memories as we rode by the HUGE "empty" SEARS building.

I remember as a "child" my parents ORDERING from the Sears CATALOG. And me totally "fascinated" with the HUGE catalog = lots of stuff to dream about getting.

Then as a teen, I had a job at the Sears in St. Louis, Missouri and had my 1st car serviced at their Auto Center.

I am surprised the building here is standing empty.

I would have thought another "retailer" would have taken over.

Nicole!

papawofboo · ‎12-29-2025

*Growin up in the Delta there were no Sears stores. But several times a year the postman would bring us a Sears Wish Book. Would sit on the front porch for hours on end looking at all the toys.

Sears became to high on their stuff, and Wal Mart did to them what they did to all the mom-and-pop stores.

We got a small catalog from M/Ward at the first of Dec. Never thought they would still be around and Sears not.

Papaw of Boo

Winter2025VA · ‎12-29-2025

Papaw @papawofboo , ALWAYS so good when you stop by! And thanks for your "kudo" my friend, Nicole 💛

WebWiseWoman · ‎12-29-2025

Nicole, interesting topic!

"Our" Sears (dubbed "World's Largest Store" when built) was a mainstay in KCMO, which hosted "Teen Town" (with celebrity Radio-DJs, dancing, entertainment and just fun) on Saturday afternoons.

Always had the best Santa and Elves during the holiday season.

Back-to-school was always HUGE as many smaller and farming towns were near enough for those folks to do a one-stop shop for all the kids clothes for the entire school year as well as uniforms for the parochial schools.

When you mentioned the building standing, I googled our Sears and found it has been redeveloped into lofts, boutique shopping and common areas. For a mind-picture, it covers 4 city blocks and was built in 1925, so 100 years old now.

Thanks for prompting this nostalgic trip for me!

fffred · ‎12-29-2025

WLS radio was an AM powerhouse back in the day (long since bypassed by FM and then streaming). Broadcast from Chicago (then-home of Sears) it had broad coverage over many states due to the broadcast power. It was founded by Sears in 1924, with its call sign taken from their "World's Largest Store" motto.

Sears Roebuck even sold kits to construct your new family home. I believe this business started in the early 1900's and ran up to WW 2. My parents' friends had bought a house post-war that was a Sears home from the 1920's. It's still standing.

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs I had been to the old large Sears store/distribution center a few times, mainly to pick up large or heavy catalog orders. Otherwise, we'd go to the Sears store in the nearby mall.

I still have, and use, my Sears Craftsman tool chests (circa 1972) along with a potpourri of Craftsman hand tools: wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. And the very first tool that I ever bought, a small Sears-branded screwdriver purchased when I was 16 to adjust my 10 speed bicycle.