All photos and text by Kevin Harrison
January 1, 2019
January 1, 2019
Times and tastes may change as we enter new eras of living, yet the legacy that has been Sears, Roebuck and Co. will always live on in the minds of many Americans as perhaps the greatest symbol of retail might in the country's history.
Although Montgomery Ward, one of the chain's first main competitors, spearheaded such ideas like the Christmas Wish Book as well as the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" mantra, it was Sears who took the ball and ran with these ideas, making them a focus of their operations. The second edition of their catalog (1894) was already 322 pages in length, putting it well on its way to becoming a part of the American fabric through most of the 20th century. |
By 1906, Sears became the first major retailer in United States history to successfully offer a stock IPO. Nineteen years later, they opened their first store in Evansville, Indiana. In 1933, the first version of their Wish Book arrived for the holidays and immediately became a family staple at Christmas time. It was at this juncture that Sears marked its Downriver debut sometime in the mid-1930s with a store in downtown Wyandotte. This location was small from a square footage standpoint, but was three stories tall and had a full line of merchandise. This store would successfully continue into the 1970s.
The hallmark of local development, however, occurred with the opening of the Sears Lincoln Park Plaza in 1957. The Sears store constructed here, at the time, was the largest Sears store by square footage in the chain, and its design was likely a prototype for other Sears stores that would follow in the next five years. By the mid-1960s, the Lincoln Park store took credit for being the most successful Sears store in the world.
The hallmark of local development, however, occurred with the opening of the Sears Lincoln Park Plaza in 1957. The Sears store constructed here, at the time, was the largest Sears store by square footage in the chain, and its design was likely a prototype for other Sears stores that would follow in the next five years. By the mid-1960s, the Lincoln Park store took credit for being the most successful Sears store in the world.
The substantiated growth of the chain continued largely unabated well into the 1980s, and was the preferred store of choice from an advertising standpoint among many media stars, such as Cheryl Tiegs and Jaclyn Smith in later years. Its brand name appliance models such as Kenmore became literal requirements in each household. For the men, no one went without a Craftsman tool kit. Best car batteries in town? One could always count on the Sears DieHard brand for best functioning in frigid temperatures. Didn't even know whether you were in a Sears? The nose always knew: a gentle mixture of cashews, peanuts and popcorn added to the atmosphere and excitement of being there.
Sears, armed with their new universal Discover credit card, held the title as king of the retailing world until the summer of 1989, when up-and-coming Walmart took over the top spot. From that point, Sears began a period of depressing stagnation. Despite freshly renovated stores as well as a new slogan and image developed in the 1980s, they were slower to come up with new innovations in product or methods to keep up with consumers' changing tastes.
Sears, armed with their new universal Discover credit card, held the title as king of the retailing world until the summer of 1989, when up-and-coming Walmart took over the top spot. From that point, Sears began a period of depressing stagnation. Despite freshly renovated stores as well as a new slogan and image developed in the 1980s, they were slower to come up with new innovations in product or methods to keep up with consumers' changing tastes.
Facing blistering competition and not knowing the best path to immediate sustainability, Sears participated in one of the more controversial, head-scratching mergers in recent American retail history when, in 2004, they were bought out by discount chain Kmart. Combined, the corporate entity became known as Sears Holdings, and cross-promotion of each store's brand items became commonplace. However, many were of the opinion that the updated arrangement confused the shopping public more than before.
Management, which had recently moved to their new headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, began cutting out some of their subsidiaries in an effort to save cash. What was needed more than ever, especially with the Kmart chain in tow, were better inventory control and higher quality product. Attempts at change were fast and furious, but lacked the quality and care which were required to make the changes effective to the evolving shopper.
Management, which had recently moved to their new headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, began cutting out some of their subsidiaries in an effort to save cash. What was needed more than ever, especially with the Kmart chain in tow, were better inventory control and higher quality product. Attempts at change were fast and furious, but lacked the quality and care which were required to make the changes effective to the evolving shopper.
By the 2010s, Sears had no choice but to start closing down underperforming stores, in its chain as well as Kmart. The discount chain vanished from Downriver rather quickly, although the traditional Sears stores would remain until 2017, when these began being slated for closure. In spite of its tremendous history for the one time retail giant, the Lincoln Park store was not spared the ax, as closure would be forced upon them in the beginning of 2019.
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS:
The first time I can recall going into the Lincoln Park Sears store was around 1973, and was possibly the only visit I made over there when they still had the covered walkway leading from the building to Dix Toledo Road. I remember this because I had asked my father on the second visit what happened to the "ceiling!"
I remember when you first entered the main entrance facing Dix Toledo, the women's department was to your left, as it always would be. Many department stores still catered to the psychedelia movement for the Love Generation, who were just starting to mature. What I remember when looking to my left was distorting to the eyes: black and white pixelated murals above the wall displays and, for some reason, I thought silhouettes of The Beatles were among the mural highlights. There has always been a question of where I took my first escalator ride, but I believe that was at this Sears location. I clearly remember the sides of the escalator being a pearl blue, which they kept into the 1990s.
Typically, I was a toy shopper (who among my age group wasn't?), but the one place I could actually see myself getting excited about clothing was in fact Sears... And this was simply because, at the time, they carried Winnie the Pooh merchandise. I was a huge fan of the story franchise back then, and Sears had everything, even shoes dressed up as Winnie. In one of my first moments of anguish as a consumer, I was mortified when the contract expired. Welcome to the world of business! I always remember getting my childhood portraits done there. And I feel badly for the portrait staffers who had to deal with me, as I was a rather emotional sort when it came to pictures. I remember their portrait studio was on the second floor on the west end. For years, I felt they totally underutilized the second floor, as there was not enough floor space for merchandise. In one of their most radical interior changes, in the early 1990s they had a kitchen furniture department styled in the way of a museum. The mood of the settings was very comforting to me, as everything was done up dark to where only natural light showed up on the furniture pieces.
Shortly after that department was phased out was about the time I visited less and less. I was aware of their financial difficulties, but I was still lucky to make more than one visit per year. I would drive past the store hundreds of times, but would never go in. I knew back then the writing would be on the wall with this Sears store, and I was actually surprised that it survived as many rounds of store cuts as it had.
The accompanying pictures were taken just as the Out of Business signs were being posted inside, so it was likely only a matter of days since Sears had made the announcement. It was rather depressing to see the condition of the store. The biggest shock to me was the fact there was no more candy department. Something didn't smell right about Sears for the first time ever. The atmosphere wasn't necessarily one of panic, as even the Out of Business announcement wasn't initially gathering too much of a crowd to help buy out the remaining merchandise. The store was understaffed and, in places, disorganized. Many departments, such as electronics, were shuttered. The auto service bays were devoid of cars. Morale was understandably unsure. |
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Subsequent drives by the building have not yielded too much of an increase of cars in the parking lot. It appears that one of the grand dames of retailing Downriver is destined to go quietly into the night.
But what a run it has had. For a few short years, the city of Lincoln Park had well-deserved bragging rights as having the best in the world.
But what a run it has had. For a few short years, the city of Lincoln Park had well-deserved bragging rights as having the best in the world.
Coming in the spring of 2019 will be a Sears photo album with over 100 individual photographs taken in October, 2018. Or, if you are a Facebook member, we will provide information on how to access the album.