Kmart's closure marks the end of an era for a once-mighty retail chain that peaked with over 2,000 stores but fell victim to changing consumer habits and economic challenges.
From its opening in 1962 in Michigan, Kmart quickly grew into a global retail giant, but filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002, triggering a chain reaction of store closures.
With the last full-size Kmart closing in Bridgehampton, the chain's diehard fans and local residents are left reflecting on the loss of their affordable shopping destination.
The decline of Kmart underlines the broader retail struggles faced by traditional department stores amidst the rise of e-commerce and competition from other big box retailers.
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