Nothing Lasts Forever, Not Even the Mighty Sears
A lesson in creative destruction as the once dominant retailer seeks bankruptcy protection.
Not your average big-box store.
Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg
Late last week, after Bloomberg News reported that Sears Holdings Corp. was preparing to file for bankruptcy protection — a prediction that came true in the wee hours Monday morning — I decided to visit a Sears store, something I hadn’t done in at least 30 years. There’s still one left in New York City, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, so that’s where I headed.
As I approached the building, I was startled by what I saw. I had expected something generic, along the lines of a Walmart Inc. or a Best Buy Co. big box. Instead, I found myself facing an enormous art deco structure1, built out of cement, with the words Sears Roebuck & Co. etched proudly over several massive doors that appeared to be permanently closed. It was highlighted by a square tower that made it look more like a medieval castle than a retail store. It was an impressive sight — and a reminder of what Sears had once been.