Asheville News

New life for Asheville’s Kmarts

Jason Sandford August 30, 2009

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Don’t hate on the Kmart. This is interesting, from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s business blog:

Recently I stopped into a Kmart and couldn’t help but notice some significant renovations underway and yesterday all four Asheville Kmarts rejoined the Chamber. So when I saw someone mingling at the Business AfterHours last night with a Kmart name tag on, I immediately sought him out to learn what is happening. I talked with Randy, a senior management leader with Kmart corporate / Sears, for quite a while about a “Rediscover Kmart” program.

To summarize Kmart in Asheville is:

Remodeling stores with wider aisles and new fixtures, resulting in greater “shopability.”

Expanding Home and Apparel items

Lower prices on many items, thousands of items he said

The most interesting change is a program called mygofer:
Place an order online at mygofer.com or call them. They collect your order and notify you via text, email, or phone when your order is ready for pickup. If you want something that Kmart doesn’t stock, they will get it from another store and have it waiting for you. No extra charge!

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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4 Comments

the Brevard Kmart September 2, 2009

The Brevard Kmart has looked like it’s been on its last legs for the last few years. The last time I visited — which was about a month ago — I was stunned by how much floor space and empty rack and shelf space there was. I think it’s death blow was when the Wal-Mart opened up in Brevard. Still, it’s like they aren’t even trying at the Kmart in Brevard.

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Abra Cat August 31, 2009

How about if they started by giving their stores a good cleaning, and having more than one register open at a time?

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But who knows August 31, 2009

Very nice, I figured they were all but washed up.

I went in one the other day, which is rare, and it felt like I had stepped back in time. The Kmart on Hendersonville road in South Asheville not only looked like a relic from the seventies but the staff was a bit moth ridden at best. I was left to walk the store by myself without a employee in sight or available to answer my question. I preceded to go up and down avery isle until I found the section I was hunting. I still did not find what I was looking for and I was glad for that because it appeared the only cashier working might have been sick or something.

Another reason to shop Target for now at least, but I can’t wait to see the changes implemented at this store if I come back. Hopefully staffing changes and dress code are in the works also.

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Dad August 31, 2009

I’m afraid this is a sign of trouble for the Sears/Kmart initiative. They are also doing ‘lay away’ if you want it. Lay away, went away a few years ago because it’s not financially good for the store. (All that extra handling and processing cost.)

Amazon is my-gofer.

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