Losing the "Big K" (Formerly of Lost Retail City)

In 2002, the "Blue Light" at the Carolina Circle Mall K-Mart went out. Now in 2007, it looks like the "Blue Light" is being shattered.

I rode past the K-Mart this afternoon and noticed that heavy machinery was picking away the garden center. K-Mart appears to be the next to be demolished.

Also, I'm assuming the rest of the shopping center including the former Big Lots will be demolished as well.

I'm still not sure why they're doing this. I did hear that one of those home improvement stores was looking into that location. Also, the K-Mart was also broken into a few weeks ago and was caught on fire. Those are two possibilities.

We'll miss you, K-Mart.

Fresh K-Mart Pictures (Formerly of Lost Retail City)

About a year ago, I took some pictures of the Carolina Circle Mall area K-Mart. Well, I went back there today and took some more.

Obviously, the place looked about the same as it did a year ago, but I was able to get some more higher quality pictures this time. It's all in the weather.

Like last year, I took some pictures of the inside of the store from the window. It was a very interesting view. They sure didn't get rid of a lot of stuff when they closed about 5 years ago. They still even have the cash registers!

You can take a look at all 9 pictures here. Again, let me know if you have difficulties looking at the pictures.

Knuckles (Formerly of Lost Retail City)

Let's take a look at one of my favorite defunct restaurants.

Known as Knuckles, this restaurant opened in the '50s or '60s has some what of a truck stop. It matured over the years into a nice little cafe with good plate lunches.

Sadly, it closed in I think 1995 or 1996 and was reborn as Woodard Funeral Home in the late '90s.

It was located on Sands Drive in Greensboro just up the road from Carolina Circle Mall.

Urgent Closer Update (Formerly of Lost Retail City)

I went by my all time favorite Pizza Hut at the corner of Cone Boulevard and Summit Avenue today for lunch. I wasn't able to get lunch there today because they were closed... permanently! Man I have so many great memories of that Pizza Hut. I wish it didn't close.

Service Merchandise (Formerly of Lost Retail City)

This is the old Service Merchandise store that was once located across from our favorite mall Carolina Circle Mall. Let's take a look behind the scenes of this very interesting store. Unfortunately, I don't have much information about this store, so hang in there.

This store opened sometime in the '70s or '80s. Just like all of the other stores in this area, this store was predicted to be a success, however was squashed like a bug soon after.

There really isn't another store to put up against Service Merchandise. It was sort of a downsized version of Sears and Montgomery Ward. But it did specialize in jewlery. I also remember buying a typewriter there in the early '90s.

Around 1996, the store decided to move all operations to the other side of town. Service Merchandise packed their bags and moved from Carolina Circle to the Landmark Center area off Wendover Avenue. It was located in the former Best store.

In its new location, the store started to sink real deep into demise. In the early '00s, all Service Merchandise locations went out of business nationwide including the Carolina Circle/Wendover one.

Today, the store's Carolina Circle location has been left abandoned and the store's Wendover location is now I believe Hamricks. Also, Service Merchandise has reopened as an Internet retailer only.

Lost Toys 'R Us (Formerly of Lost Retail City)

I've got to do 10 minutes worth of work in 1 minute. Help!

This Toys 'R Us is the one across the road from Carolina Circle Mall. It opened in 1985 with a bang. I remember going there as much as Carolina Circle. Hey, it's less than walking distance from there!

Due to poor sells, the store closed in August of 2002. Everything closed in 2002 in this area!

In May of 2005, it was demolished in one day. This was because of the Wal-Mart.

Toys 'R Us seems to be a dying chain and within 10-20 years, it'll probably end up like Montgomery Ward and Service Merchandise. More on Service Merchandise later here at LRC.

K-Mart (Formerly of Lost Retail City)

This store isn't lost... yet. Anyway, I'd like to take some time to honor this very interesting store called K-Mart.

The K-Mart in the picture above is the K-Mart near Carolina Circle Mall. This one opened in 1976 and was the first K-Mart I ever went to.

The K-Marts of the 80's and early 90's have been know to be very unique. Why? Most of these are actual memories of mine.

I remember walking through this particular K-Mart near Carolina Circle way back in the early-mid 90's. K-Mart had this unique smell to it. Sort of a popcorn/rubber ball type smell. And the sandwhich shop. The food there sort of reminded me of Drive In movie food. The moist hot dogs, popcorn, candy. Who can forget the oversized air vents that made that loud whooshing sound? Couldn't tell you were at K-Mart or the mothership. Finally, the music. They'd always play 80's music like Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

Unfortunately, the blue light burned out in 2002. The Carolina Circle K-Mart closed leaving only the Super K-Mart on Wendover.

Nowadays, I do my big box shopping at Target, but when it comes to nostalgia, you can't beat K-Mart.