Kmart used to be a retail giant, with well over 2,000 locations throughout the U.S. of its affordable stores. It was known for its Blue Light Specials, with a flashing blue light on a pole alerting shoppers to a flash sale…

But once the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, closes this coming Saturday, there will be only three of them left in the country, in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, New York; and Miami.

Kmart’s slow decline was brought on by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits, and competition from Walmart, later followed by Target and Amazon. The beginning of the long end came 20 years ago when Kmart first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2002 and announced it was closing 250 stores.

It really is the end of an era…

Source: Associated Press