The first version of my video was blocked by YouTube because of the background music. I had to repost the video with new background music, which hurt the ambiance of the true store experience. Enjoy the video, it covers most of the store departments.
This Kmart is one of the final 3 remaining open in the State of Louisiana. The store has some issues with merchandising, but shelves are stocked with what they have.
Here are some samples of the first full length video from my channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcsnNTC38dmAJXHLeg16nvw
Thanks for the videos. It looks like you've posted several videos over the last few days. I'm looking forward to watching them all.
ReplyDeleteThe Lake Charles store is of significance to Houston shoppers since it's the closest store to Houston. It is obviously an older store that has a lot of retro appeal for anyone wanting to take a retro road trip to a Kmart.
The clips of the Main St. Sears' final day are interesting. The store seems busier in those clips than I ever remembered seeing it in recent times. What did it feel like being in such a historic store right before it closed? The Northwest Mall videos make the mall seem as dead as I remember it being in my last visits to the mall unfortunately.
You're not the first person to have YouTube videos taken down because of background music. It's unfortunate to lose the ambiance, but I suppose you could narrate over the video (doing so after the filming obviously) or add some stock background music. I know other retail videographers do that, bit I'm sure that will add a lot more work to your postings.
I reposted the Lake Charles video late last night with YouTube approved background music. I will post the better portions of the video here with the background music. It was disappointing to say the least to have to cover up the video as I intended to show it. I will get better at the process of making videos.
DeleteIt was interesting to be in the Sears store in the final minutes of their 79 year history. It was extremely busy and the prices had not yet dropped to rock bottom. The checkout process was very slow so I was able to take it all in even after I took my last round of photos.
I found another Youtuber named DO IT PERFECT!!!!!!! that has videos from the final night of Northwest Mall and 2nd to last night at the Greenspoint Macy's. It is worth looking up as the videos were well recorded.
The thing that caught my eye about the Lake Charles store is how few shoppers were in the store even during daylight hours. Also, some of the shelves were better stocked than what I've seen in photos of other Kmarts. Granted, it's hard to find new photos of Kmarts that aren't closing.
DeleteIt's crazy to think how many Christmas presents and so forth were brought at the Main St. Sears. It's also crazy to think how revolutionary the store must have seemed when it opened. I'm glad you were able to capture the store in it's waning moments.
I'll have to check out those videos of NW Mall. I have watched some other videos of the closing. I also didn't realize that the Dead and Dying Retail blog guys have some videos on YouTube. I'll have to check those out. Perhaps you could get those glasses with hidden cameras in them so you can discreetly film stores. I think some of the big retail videographers have those.
When I was there, the nearby main street was blocked off for a parade. Not too many people were there while this was going on. It made for some great filming though.
DeleteI wonder how many times Sears paid for the construction of that store over the years in profits as well. The final days were probably the busiest at that store since it was still a big attraction back in the day.
There are several blogs with YouTube channels out there. Deadmalls has a YouTube channel as well, but they only have a meager following.
That blue electronics all eveywhere in the Chicago area Kmart's. We have the luckiest Kmart's as all of them have been remolded to the blue decor during May or June of 2017, yet that still isn't stopping Kmart from closing in the area. They closed 2 stores in the August 2017, Elmhurst which didn't have another discout store in town since Walmart and Target are in nearby Villa Park and Oak Lawn which did well despite being right across the street from a Target. And another August list this year and the Steger Kmart is now closing, yet that's there only discount store in that entire area and the nearest store in 16 minutes way. The property is own by Serigate and maybe they have something to do with in and that area is a low come area so that's terrible news for the area. I don't know who wants to come to that area what so ever. That will leave 4 in the Chicago area and 4 nearby stores in both Wisconsin and Indiana so that will now leave 8 stores in the area.
ReplyDeleteThese stores are dropping so fast, it is even worse now since only a small percentage are left from just 2011. Sorry for the late response, I was out of town for a while.
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