Attention, Kmart shoppers: It's the end of an era.
The blue light is officially set to turn off once and for all at the last full-size Kmart in the U.S. According to the Associated Press, an employee confirmed that October 20 is the last day the Bridgehampton, New York, location will remain open.
Known for their iconic "blue light deals" that enticed in-store customers to a flash sale with a gleaming blue orb, Kmart has held a special place in the hearts of so many shoppers across the U.S. since their first store opened in Michigan in 1962.
Once the Long Island location is closed, there will be only one small, downsized Kmart store left in Miami, Florida, along with a few others scattered between Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At the height of its success, Kmart was a go-to discount store with more than 2,000 locations. In the early 2000s, the retail chain began facing some challenges, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2002 and closing a couple hundred stores. In 2005, Kmart merged with Sears under Transformco in hopes that the two brands combined would be stronger than each individually. Since then, both chains have lost the majority of their stores.
While Kmart stores have been closing consistently over the past few years, the closure of the Bridgehampton location marks the end of an era for so many shoppers who once rushed the aisles for great deals when the blue light started to flash. Dedicated Kmart shoppers are uniting on Reddit to mourn the loss of the last full-size location.
"Will the future generations remember this great corporate empire one day," one Kmart enthusiast wrote. Another replied, "They will remember Kmart every time someone uses the words 'blue light special.'"
So whether it's a flickering street lamp or flashing holiday lights, there will always be something to remind us of the beloved discount giant that brought a new level of thrill to shopping.
Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.
