Monday, February 23, 2015

Kmart Veterans near David Drive Metairie Louisiana

This Kmart has some interesting features that I have not seen in any other location. This may have been a Woolco location in the past, but I am not sure. This Kmart is located near the Metairie/ Kenner border at 7000 Veterans Memorial Blvd in Metairie.
A photo of the roadsign circa 2004 from my video archives. 
We start off with a very well preserved blood pressure machine from the 1980's. 
Here we can see part of the appliance section. The lights all across the store were lit in this pattern.
A look down the back aisle of the store. 
One of the back aisles that goes across the store. 
The toys aisle with the strange lower ceiling sections that run across the store in the middle. 
Garden shop.
The front of the store near the garden shop entrance. 
The main aisle on the far side of the store near the electronics. 
Two views of the electronics department from different angles.

Looking from the back center of the store to the main entrance. 
The back aisle of the store looking towards the clothing departments. 
Some views of the various clothing departments. 
This is the view you see as you enter the store at the main entrance.
Another look at the store from a different angle.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Alco Pasadena closing sale 2014

Alco stores officially filed for bankruptcy in November 2014 just a few months after they exited the Houston market and closed their remaining 198 stores across the United States. The company started off in 1901 and grew to many small towns throughout the United States. The company over the years grew to a few large cities including Houston. Unfortunately Alco only lasted a little more than 2 years in the Houston are, and during that time they converted their Gessner store into a clearance store before closing. 
The Pasadena Alco was located at 4200 Pasadena Blvd and had a full range of departments and grocery section in a 22,000 square foot space. It could have been a viable discount store alternative here in the Houston market, but the company was not strong enough to support and expand the chain.
This is the first trip during the closing sale. Both of the photo sets were taken in January 2014.
This is the back of the store near the auto and hardware sections facing the front. 
An up close of one of the department signs. 
The back of the store facing the front with more of a central view of the store. 
A look from the Marketplace to the other side of the store. 
The second trip during the closing sale.
One of the department box signs, this one was the grocery section of the store.
Housewares facing the center of the store.
Looking at the center of the store from the edge of the marketplace department. 
Near where the pet section was at. 
The same image from a slightly different angle to see more of the photos on the far wall.
Near the back of the store by children's clothing and hardware.
The hardware and auto sections were moved up to the front of the store. 
From the back of the store to the front.
The store closed in late February 2014.
Here is how the store looks now in February 2015 almost a year later.
The empty former Alco looks very small without all of the fixtures. 

Friday, February 13, 2015

Kmart 2940 Veterans Blvd. Metairie La.

Here is the most modern Kmart location left in Louisiana. This store opened in the late 1980's early 1990's to replace the Kmart in Lakeside Mall. This location is at 2940 Veterans Boulevard near the Causeway in Metairie La. The land this store is one was recently sold to company with ties to a Hawaii hotel owner.

We start with the back of the store in the sporting goods section. 
The middle of the store, housewares. 
Looking from near the pharmacy to the back of the store. There is no vintage blood pressure monitor at this store. 
This store has a Sears appliance and furniture section. The Kmart is about 2 miles from the nearest Sears at Clearview Mall. 
The back corner of the store near the hardware section. 
The same section of the store, looking towards the Sears appliance section. 
The electronics section from 2 slightly different angles. 

Looking towards the front of the store near the electronics section. 
The grocery section. 
The front aisle of the store near the pharmacy. 
The garden shop. 
The CD aisle in the electronics section, these are disappearing in Kmart stores across the company. 
The clothing aisles in the back of the store. 
The clothing aisles in the front of the store near the checkouts. 
The main entrance to the store. 
More clothing departments near the front of the store.
A couple of exterior views of the store. 
We still have more Kmart stores on the way, look for them soon.