From the Archives: The Last "Original" Toys Я Us - Clay, NY

While the Retail Regents photostream continues to collapse to nearly dust, I felt it necessary to savor some of the more memorable highlights here.

Here are the pictures I took of the Clay, NY Toys Я Us store during the liquidation. This store went its entire 30 years without the exterior ever being modified, save for the overdue removal of the Kids Я Us sign.

Going Out of Business banner.

All original exterior detail.

Geoffrey's still hanging in there!

TransNav Technologies #336. Most of the current fleet consisted of these.

A couple of rusty Rehrig Vista carts float around. The Tote Carts surrounding this one are reserves.

One of the Tote Carts. Model 1212, DoM 3-97.

Insanely faded seat flap diagram prominently featuring Geoffrey.

Vestibule lined with carts.

Unknown older cart. Possible original Cari-All? One of the ones with the baby seat attached to the top.

Originally the restrooms had blue floor tile. Both the original toilets are still here. Kohler Highcliff (top), Kohler Downing (bottom).

A full-view of the exterior to wrap up this set.

Revised April 5, 2024.

K-Mart #3600 Closing, Pt. 2

Let me preface this by saying, quite frankly, I don't even want to make a part 3. Coverage of the Herkimer Kmart liquidation was already time-consuming as it was, and have practically been burned out from all the long-distance retail trips.

All pictures taken 12/06/2018; blog post uploaded on 12/07/2018.

Quite the redundant statement to be made. The "K" wasn't yet activated.

Everything must go! Except if you're apparel...

Nothing held back! Yet everything has been held back so far...

Everything in store is 20-75% off. That clothing in front is 60% off lowest ticketed item.

Now Technibilt 5341s are coming out the woodworks?! These were almost nonexistent when the store was normally operating!

Plenty of Christmas spirit to be had here. The cinnamon-scented pinecones were further back.

Shoppers shopping the toys section.

Entire section of empty shelving.

Another section of empty shelving.

Goodbye, automotive.

What's this? Who displays an out-of-service Amigo on a pallet?

I think we're still good on shoes.

Restrooms are ruined due to a water main break. Might never be in service again.

Storage items haven't moved much.

Say what?! Thank you for shopping...

Still 20-75% off and this apparel still hasn't moved.

Storage items have still been held back.

Won't you know Pharmacy can never go back?

Change your mind? Leave it and do not come back.

All that laundry detergent?

Must not move very well normally...

Goodbye Big Kmart #3600. And more bellringers from the Salvation Army as usual...

K-Mart #3600 Closing, Pt. 1

As Flickr is cracking down on the amount of photos free accounts have, I found it appropriate to post major talking points here. In this case, we take a look at the closing of Viaport Rotterdam's last anchor, Kmart. This store is expected to close at the end of the year.

Oh, lovely. That "STORE CLOSING" sign is where the "BIG" portion of the logo once was. Any reason why this side was de-bigged but the others weren't?

Clearance clothing is out in the lobby due to the mall's layout.

All over the Kmart side of the mall are these lovely "Kmart Shopping Carts are limited" signs as they are operating at about a quarter of the original fleet.

Waving through clothing at 30% off. Quite difficult to get pictures due to the high amount of middle-aged and older people.

Yes, everything must go. Sad to say that is a Big & Tall order.

Breaking the Sporting Goods with everything 10-40% off lowest ticketed item.

Pantry is a full case and we're still selling Christmas 'sense here!

Are you sure anything's nutritious here? All that's under the nutrition sign is near the former pharmacy and even more Christmas nonsense.

Rite Aid #01051: Stuck Between Two Decor Packages

And now, we present a different kind of bizarre Rite Aid anomaly. Introducing...

...this store, located between Rt. 9 and Rt. 4 in East Greenbush, NY got a Wellness remodel gone wrong.

How can they half-ass a remodel so badly? Those aisle markers are from the pastel Customer World era and those overhead signs are from the first Wellness era. The latter also applies to the pharmacy, which is now under Walgreens control.

In the main action alley, they put a laminate pathway (Wellness) in but left the original blue tiles intact? Normally in a remodel where they keep the tile, the blue ones are replaced with brown ones.

The "Big Daddy" of this topic, the main aisle signs. Clearly from the pastel Customer World decor era.