Kenmore ... solid as Sears! (Oh, my .... oops.)
Everything You Remember And Miss About ... Sears
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Kenmore ... solid as Sears! (Oh, my .... oops.)
The popcorn. Air-popped and smeared with buttery flavor oil, the scent was better than the taste.
There WAS more for your life at Sears. I saved all my 1980 and after to when they ended the catalog.
#15...Brian and I did a FB post from Fort Lauderdale a couple years ago where the location at US1/Sunrise (an amazing Deco masterpiece from about 1952) closed roughly 1/1/22. The store was depressing but it was a nostalgic visit. Got some responses on FB but the one that caught us in the feels was from a friend (gifted auto designer who collects Bentleys and Aston Martins!) who mentioned that his family was going to really really miss Sears...because it was the only store where his grandmother could try on clothing.
See, Richard's Black--and even the respectable family (Ebony on the coffee table, Jack and Jill after school, etc etc) couldn't have his grandmother try on a frock or chapeau.
(another cool Richard story--he saw a story in Ebony on Ed Welburn--the first Black car designer in Detroit--wrote a letter which started a correspondence...Ed was the president of GM Design in the late '00s and Richard followed him, recently designing the interiors for the Rivian)
See, Richard's Black--and even the respectable family (Ebony on the coffee table, Jack and Jill after school, etc etc) couldn't have his grandmother try on a frock or chapeau.
(another cool Richard story--he saw a story in Ebony on Ed Welburn--the first Black car designer in Detroit--wrote a letter which started a correspondence...Ed was the president of GM Design in the late '00s and Richard followed him, recently designing the interiors for the Rivian)
Trying on clothes
In Washington, DC, knowledgeable Black women would call up and order garments to be delivered and try them on in the privacy of their homes.
RE: Greg's post about the popcorn reminded me of my experience with Cinnabon. After years of enjoying the fragrance, I bought one and the flavor was nowhere near as good as the aroma.
In Washington, DC, knowledgeable Black women would call up and order garments to be delivered and try them on in the privacy of their homes.
RE: Greg's post about the popcorn reminded me of my experience with Cinnabon. After years of enjoying the fragrance, I bought one and the flavor was nowhere near as good as the aroma.
flavor was nowhere near as good as the aroma.
Tom, I've heard individuals make the same comment regarding coffee.
Tom, I've heard individuals make the same comment regarding coffee.
I agree. If the brewed coffee tasted like its fragrance in the ground state or like it smells while brewing, it would taste far more pleasant to me than the beverage. Tea, on the other hand has very little aroma in the dry state, but tastes good as the beverage, with sugar, of course.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
We know there is a business of making aromas, right? $$$
Yes the stuff you can buy at the store is one.
Another are the industrial strength aromas that some businesses have specifically made for their product.
Have you ever walked into a restaurant or store and and were suspiciously blasted at the door with a fan blowing ....the smell of.... what you HOPE to find inside.
Fresh made Bar-B-Q perhaps,
Cinnamon buns baking maybe,
or Warm Apple pie is another possibility.
etc.
And don't forget the "New Car smell" most likely sprayed around new AND used cars of a certain age or quality.
It's so slightly annoying..... 'cuz you know it's fake.
The most recent one for me was walking into a Lucky's grocery and being blasted at the door with the smell of something baking. Never mind that they probably import most all the baked goods and the bakery dept is all the way at the back of the store so ... how did that smell happen to be, RIGHT THERE, at the front of the store?
Another annoying one is going to a place like Applebees., once my parents favorite place to go, so I doubt I'll ever be going there again before their final bankruptcy. The front door is literally at the tippy toppy corner of the building and the kitchen is all the way at the back of the building. It wouldn't make any sense to vent all the ACTUAL kitchen grease and odors to the front of the building when they could just go straight up and out the roof. So it's so fake
Yet is smells of .... ribs and potatoes seasoned just right.
As fake as the menu pictures are compared to what's ACTUALLY delivered to the table.
Yes the stuff you can buy at the store is one.
Another are the industrial strength aromas that some businesses have specifically made for their product.
Have you ever walked into a restaurant or store and and were suspiciously blasted at the door with a fan blowing ....the smell of.... what you HOPE to find inside.
Fresh made Bar-B-Q perhaps,
Cinnamon buns baking maybe,
or Warm Apple pie is another possibility.
etc.
And don't forget the "New Car smell" most likely sprayed around new AND used cars of a certain age or quality.
It's so slightly annoying..... 'cuz you know it's fake.
The most recent one for me was walking into a Lucky's grocery and being blasted at the door with the smell of something baking. Never mind that they probably import most all the baked goods and the bakery dept is all the way at the back of the store so ... how did that smell happen to be, RIGHT THERE, at the front of the store?
Another annoying one is going to a place like Applebees., once my parents favorite place to go, so I doubt I'll ever be going there again before their final bankruptcy. The front door is literally at the tippy toppy corner of the building and the kitchen is all the way at the back of the building. It wouldn't make any sense to vent all the ACTUAL kitchen grease and odors to the front of the building when they could just go straight up and out the roof. So it's so fake
Yet is smells of .... ribs and potatoes seasoned just right.
As fake as the menu pictures are compared to what's ACTUALLY delivered to the table.
I remember when some grocery stores in our area used to have these big rotisserie broilers with glowing elements at the back and conveyors of chickens going round and round and up and down in front of them. The heat coming through the glass door was intense and the smell was delicious. My parents would never spend money on something like that, but one time when mom was sick some friends brought one of those chickens for our dinner. All the flavor was on the skin. If mom had been feeling better, she could have seasoned it to make it have more flavor. I suppose it would have made good chicken salad. My parents grew up during the Great Depression and ate a lot of chicken so the rotisserie birds held little attraction for them. Once when we went to visit daddy's mother she served us chicken that she had canned. That had no flavor either.
Popcorn that had real flavor was the kind that was popped in a pot inside a glass enclosure. What was that called, a popcorn machine? It was popped in oil and the flavor was in each kernel. Air popped is like rice cakes.
Popcorn that had real flavor was the kind that was popped in a pot inside a glass enclosure. What was that called, a popcorn machine? It was popped in oil and the flavor was in each kernel. Air popped is like rice cakes.
Sprouse-Reitz! That brings back memories.
Was driving around the Big Island today and was surprised to see a Sears catalog store open for business in Kona...
Was driving around the Big Island today and was surprised to see a Sears catalog store open for business in Kona...
Been only to Sears a handful of times. The one I've been to had many of the washers and dryers plugged in so one could play with the controls. That's something I hadn't seen before in Germany. Unfortunately, the company I work for closed the appliance store and "integrated" it into the main store. The pathetic number of appliances I have left, however, are all plugged in (mostly in demo mode).
Come to think of it, Harrods in London also had many (luxury) appliances plugged in.
One of the Ralphs supermarkets in Palm Springs has a poorly-ventilated deli--the fried chicken smell overpowers the sushi counter right at the entry.
48bencix
Well-known member
Sears San Francisco
We had a Montgomery Ward Catalog store in downtown Martinez so that's where we ordered stuff when I was a kid. When I lived in San Francisco from 1970 to 1990 I usually went to the Sears store at Geary and Masonic Streets. It was a big two story store with parking at several levels. There was an auto department at the top where I bought Diehard batteries for my cars. They would do a free battery test for you. I also bought paint there. Guaranteed one coat. So you would go back the next day and get free paint for the second coat!
I got a portable dishwasher for one house that we were remodeling. Had the kitchen torn up so we hooked up the dishwasher to the bathroom sink for a while. Then when we were ready we built in that dishwasher.
Another time I got a stack washer/dryer and we brought it home on top of the 1979 Buick Riviera. I also got a table top stereo system with cassette player. Later I got a dual cassette player and CD player I still have those.
I bought a hoe and the wood handle broke immediately. I brought it back and since it was not Craftsman they refused to replace it. After I yelled at them they did refund the money.
I moved to Sacramento in 1990 and there used to be 5 Sears stores here. None remain. I bought a Kenmore Ultrawash dishwasher which lasted 20 years. Still have the Craftsman lawn vacuum which we use during the fall for the huge amount of leaves that fall. I also bought some clothes from our local Sears store, pants and pocket tee shirts. Miscellaneous tools, Weed Wacker, DieHard batteries for the cars.
Lots of visits to the store over the years. I went there when it was closing to mourn the loss. We still have two Sears that are open in Stockton and Pleasant Hill, both about an hour drive away. I may go just to say goodby. Amazing that they can still be in business with only 18 stores left.
We had a Montgomery Ward Catalog store in downtown Martinez so that's where we ordered stuff when I was a kid. When I lived in San Francisco from 1970 to 1990 I usually went to the Sears store at Geary and Masonic Streets. It was a big two story store with parking at several levels. There was an auto department at the top where I bought Diehard batteries for my cars. They would do a free battery test for you. I also bought paint there. Guaranteed one coat. So you would go back the next day and get free paint for the second coat!
I got a portable dishwasher for one house that we were remodeling. Had the kitchen torn up so we hooked up the dishwasher to the bathroom sink for a while. Then when we were ready we built in that dishwasher.
Another time I got a stack washer/dryer and we brought it home on top of the 1979 Buick Riviera. I also got a table top stereo system with cassette player. Later I got a dual cassette player and CD player I still have those.
I bought a hoe and the wood handle broke immediately. I brought it back and since it was not Craftsman they refused to replace it. After I yelled at them they did refund the money.
I moved to Sacramento in 1990 and there used to be 5 Sears stores here. None remain. I bought a Kenmore Ultrawash dishwasher which lasted 20 years. Still have the Craftsman lawn vacuum which we use during the fall for the huge amount of leaves that fall. I also bought some clothes from our local Sears store, pants and pocket tee shirts. Miscellaneous tools, Weed Wacker, DieHard batteries for the cars.
Lots of visits to the store over the years. I went there when it was closing to mourn the loss. We still have two Sears that are open in Stockton and Pleasant Hill, both about an hour drive away. I may go just to say goodby. Amazing that they can still be in business with only 18 stores left.
Sears Paint
For many years, my neighbors up the street used Sears paint inside and outside their house. They evidently were pleased with the quality. I personally never used any that I can remember.
Sears paint was originally manufactured by DeSoto Inc., the company that also made their wallpaper (United- DeSoto Div.) and detergents. It started as a division of Sears in the early 1900's, but they only held minority ownership by the 1980's. The paint division was sold to Sherwin Williams sometime around 1990, which then took over making their brand.
For many years, my neighbors up the street used Sears paint inside and outside their house. They evidently were pleased with the quality. I personally never used any that I can remember.
Sears paint was originally manufactured by DeSoto Inc., the company that also made their wallpaper (United- DeSoto Div.) and detergents. It started as a division of Sears in the early 1900's, but they only held minority ownership by the 1980's. The paint division was sold to Sherwin Williams sometime around 1990, which then took over making their brand.
My paternal grandparents were Sears nuts! He ALWAYS bought craftsman tools and she ordered sears detergents, light bulbs, vacuums, i don't know what all. They always got the catalog in the mail.
I remember the sears store in Florence, Alabama down close to Court Street. It was a large store and i loved going there, especially the appliance section where they had the dishwasher with a clear plastic front so we could see the wash action. My mother says she remembers the colored and white water fountains in that store...before my time. The mall opened in 1978 and sears moved there. The former store became an office for Martin Industries, makers of cast iron, stoves, and gas heaters and fireplaces.
I remember the sears store in Florence, Alabama down close to Court Street. It was a large store and i loved going there, especially the appliance section where they had the dishwasher with a clear plastic front so we could see the wash action. My mother says she remembers the colored and white water fountains in that store...before my time. The mall opened in 1978 and sears moved there. The former store became an office for Martin Industries, makers of cast iron, stoves, and gas heaters and fireplaces.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
"Movie theatre" (car dealership, lol) Popcorn popper.
You could have one in your own home. That smell is alluring, that's for sure.
Personally I used to do the Stir Crazy popper but I O.D.'d on popcorn by accident last year and I just don't want anymore.
https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1...&utm_campaignid=15514078241&CID=shopping30&ut
You could have one in your own home. That smell is alluring, that's for sure.
Personally I used to do the Stir Crazy popper but I O.D.'d on popcorn by accident last year and I just don't want anymore.
https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1...&utm_campaignid=15514078241&CID=shopping30&ut
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
"Amazing that they can still be in business with only 18 stores left."
That is what some people are pointing out. And it's not like they are all in one area where it would be easy to service and supply the stores. According to the map above it's like they've deliberately spaced them from one far point to the next. Most are on the coasts or border. There are only 4 in the middle of the country.
I doubt there is much brand trust at this point. Anyone would fear they'd go out of business anytime now.
That is what some people are pointing out. And it's not like they are all in one area where it would be easy to service and supply the stores. According to the map above it's like they've deliberately spaced them from one far point to the next. Most are on the coasts or border. There are only 4 in the middle of the country.
I doubt there is much brand trust at this point. Anyone would fear they'd go out of business anytime now.
After Christmas Sale
Does anyone remember the (radio) jingle for Sears' after-Christmas sales, circa 1976 or 1977?
"Almost everything you wanted, but didn't get for Christmas, is on sale now at Sears"
lawrence
Does anyone remember the (radio) jingle for Sears' after-Christmas sales, circa 1976 or 1977?
"Almost everything you wanted, but didn't get for Christmas, is on sale now at Sears"
lawrence
Yep i remember that jingle very well!
I STILL have a Sears Charge, although its Citibank now. It's my oldest account, opened in 1983 and I just don't have the heart to close it. I'll use a balance transfer option every once in a while just to keep it active.
launderess
Well-known member
Memories!
vacerator
Well-known member
Where to begin
I have lp records with Sears price tags. I can smell the roasting nuts from the candy department. Allstate insurance counter in the lobby, tires, then road handler radials and aftermarket Mark IV Air conditioning. Gung Ho with the Sears bike.
I have lp records with Sears price tags. I can smell the roasting nuts from the candy department. Allstate insurance counter in the lobby, tires, then road handler radials and aftermarket Mark IV Air conditioning. Gung Ho with the Sears bike.
I miss going to Sears with my Dad on Saturdays. He always shopped for Craftsman tools and lawn supplies and I would go to the appliance department and check out the Kenmore washers. In those days (1960s) they always had two or three models hooked up to water so the salesmen could fully demonstrate all the features. The Kenmores during that era were the most fun.
kenmoreman
Well-known member
Great post
I have enjoyed this post very much! I do miss the old Sears. I worked for them for 32 years many as a service tech. They were a great company to work for back then. The catalog was the best. The stores were a blast to go through and if you had a question, you got an answer from someone who knew what they was talking about. You don’t find that today.
I have enjoyed this post very much! I do miss the old Sears. I worked for them for 32 years many as a service tech. They were a great company to work for back then. The catalog was the best. The stores were a blast to go through and if you had a question, you got an answer from someone who knew what they was talking about. You don’t find that today.
The newspaper ads mostly, everything was branded under their own brand names, and the print was way different from how I'd seen most ads...
We were not Sears people, however... I'd found myself in Montgomery ward way more often and even bought a lot of my own stuff there, even the family Maytag washer of 1992, in almond and an almond Whirlpool dispenser side by side fridge also in almond in a mini 22 cu. ft. so it would ft in our kitchen next to the designer series almond electric range mom bought, a private label proclaiming made by tappan...
I loved the small gifts and rewards I'd also get with my wards credit card, too--and had a service contract on my pioneer CD player covering its annual cleaning which worked for twenty years, though when wards folded, so,did getting it cleaned so a Cambridge player replaced it ten years ago, running perfectly so far without needing any service...
-- Dave
We were not Sears people, however... I'd found myself in Montgomery ward way more often and even bought a lot of my own stuff there, even the family Maytag washer of 1992, in almond and an almond Whirlpool dispenser side by side fridge also in almond in a mini 22 cu. ft. so it would ft in our kitchen next to the designer series almond electric range mom bought, a private label proclaiming made by tappan...
I loved the small gifts and rewards I'd also get with my wards credit card, too--and had a service contract on my pioneer CD player covering its annual cleaning which worked for twenty years, though when wards folded, so,did getting it cleaned so a Cambridge player replaced it ten years ago, running perfectly so far without needing any service...
-- Dave
mayken4now
Well-known member
Thanks Bob
for this posting and all who contributed.
for this posting and all who contributed.
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
We lost another one as of June 15th
bradfordwhite
Well-known member
But then there is this from May
claiming there is only 12 ??
https://bestlifeonline.com/sears-cl...arolina-louisiana-colorado-pennsylvania-news/
claiming there is only 12 ??
https://bestlifeonline.com/sears-cl...arolina-louisiana-colorado-pennsylvania-news/
Steve, you are most welcome!!
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