New York CNN —Kmart, once one of America’s leading discount retailers, is closing its last full-size store in the mainland United States. It also has stores in Guam and the US Virgin Islands, where it does not face competition from more successful big box stores. At the time of the 2005 merger Kmart had about 1,400 stores and Sears nearly 900 full-line US stores. Today only a handful of Sears stores remain, although it has outlets thatoperate under the Sears Hometown brands. The chain grew rapidly for several decades, claiming the discount segment of the market that big box stores now dominate.

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Persons: Transformco, Eddie Lampert, Lampert, Sebastian Spering Kresge Organizations: New, New York CNN, Kmart, Sears, Sears Holdings, Virgin Islands, Walmart, Target, Sears Hometown Locations: New York, United States, Bridgehampton , New York, Long, Miami, Guam, Virgin, Detroit