Favorite Stores That are No More

I will never stop missing K-Mart! They still had layaway and we used it til the end.

November 1981. I was out of work and desperate. I was out of food and hadn't eaten in four days when I saw the ad for holiday season help at K-Mart.

I filled out my application and was standing in line at the Service Desk when everything went black.

I woke up on the floor with a paramedic leaning over me. First thought: "There goes my job."

I argued with the paramedics and the K-Mart manager, who insisted they were going to transport me to the ER "to get checked out and make sure you're ok." I insisted they weren't. They asked how old I was and what was my parents' phone number.

I told them I was 18 (not true), that I didn't live with my parents (true), didn't want anybody called, I was NOT going to the hospital and YES, I WAS walking home. (Figured the job was to hell and gone)

"I thought you were applying for a job," said the manager.

I blinked at her, dumbfounded.

"Have you eaten today?" the paramedic asked.

"No," I mumbled.

"Okay," says the manager. "Let's get her off the floor. Come back to the snack bar. You need a soda or something."

Still arguing with EMS, who don't want me walking home, we head for the back of the store. I tell the manager not to bring me a soda because I can't pay for it. She says not to worry about that, and assures EMS she'll make sure I get home safely and FINALLY they go.

The K-Mart snack bar attendant brings me a sandwich and a Coke. The manager is reading my application and asking me about my experience.

Now quite thoroughly humiliated, I tell her I'm okay and will just go.

She asks if I can start tomorrow morning. K-Mart pays in cash every Friday, and I can charge a meal during my shift if I like. It will be taken out of my first check.

And that's the story of My K-Mart Angel. My heart for the store grew ten sizes that day.

Thanks, K-Mart. I will forever be grateful.

More stores I miss:

Joske's Department Store in San Antonio, Texas

Sanger-Harris Department Store in Dallas

Hemphill-Wells in Texas

Dunlap's in Texas

Karmelkorn

Hancock Fabrics

World Bazaar

Foley's in Houston

Sakowitz in Houston

Montgomery-Ward

Sears - Craftsmen tools you can still get, thank goodness! Kenmore appliances were all we bought. DieHard batteries

!!!THE SEARS CHRISTMAS WISH BOOK!!!!!!