Big Kmart officially opened in Southeast Missouri Friday.
Kmart stores at three Southeast Missouri sites -- 11 S. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau; 2233 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff; and 1110 S. Main, Sikeston, have been converted to the company's "Big K(mart)" concepts.
"We made the transition in nine weeks," said William Marra, manager of the Cape Girardeau store. "Everybody worked hard to make the transformation go quickly.
"Without the dedication and support of our employees, all this would not have happened in nine weeks," he added.
On hand for the official ribbon-cutting early Friday were many of the store's 120 employees, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and city officials, including Mayor Al Spradling III, and Marra who clipped the ribbon.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Marra presented a total of $500 to four groups -- $125 checks to the city's fire department, DARE, Safe House and Easter Seals.
"We're pleased to see Kmart expanding with the City of Cape Girardeau," said Spradling. "We have become the regional center between St. Louis and Memphis. The expansion here will help Kmart and will help our area grow."
The new-look store, with mostly new fixtures and equipment, still has many of its regular departments -- automotive, electronic, women's, men's and youths apparel, electronics, garden shop and others. But, it also features a small coffeeshop, an expanded "kitchen korner," and a "pantry," featuring the essentials in food -- milk, bread, paper products, household cleaners and more."
"We don't have meats or produce," said Marra.
Kmart has been a fixture at Cape Girardeau a quarter of a century.
The store opened here in April 1974, a 64,500-square-foot center, complete with an automotive center.
A decade later, in 1984, Kmart "restyled its store," refurbishing it with new fixtures and equipment. At that time, the kitchen korner was added and the electronics department was expanded.
In 1989, a 20,000-square-foot extension was added to the Kmart facility. The Kmart automotive repair shop was discontinued (the store continues to sell auto parts and accessories) and an expanded line of garden and lawn equipment was added.
The latest refurbishment program will make shopping more convenient for customers, said Marra.
The new Big Kmart concept is being added to many Kmart stores.
"The conversion of the three stores in Southeast Missouri will bring the national total to 1,670 refurbished stores," said Lee Viliborghi, vice president of the Kmart central region.
Kmart has plans to enter the year 2000 with 90 percent of its stores boasting the Big Kmart designation.
Kmart Corp., which has been in existence since 1962, has 2,151 Big Kmart and Super Kmart stores.
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