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Sadness, shock, even anger over loss of Rochester Kmart

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Members of the Garland family of New Durham in the common area outside Kmart Sunday. Mrs. Garland said she was very upset and saddened by news of the store's upcoming closure. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - For many who grew up shopping at the Lilac Mall Kmart, Friday's news that the store was closing was a bitter pill to swallow.

The Garlands of New Durham are the typical dyed in the wool Kmart shoppers.

"I've been coming here to Kmart ever since I can remember," said Mrs. Garland, who declined to give her first name. "My first job was at JC Penney and I loved coming to the mall. And Kmart was where our family has done all its shopping."

Sears Holdings, the parent company of both Kmart and Sears made the announcement on Thursday that they would be closing the Rochester Kmart in early April, and that liquidation sales would begin as early as next Friday.

The main hallway of the Lilac Mall on Sunday showed little traffic.

The closure will leave another gaping hole in the mercantile space at the struggling mall, which opened some 30 years ago.

Garland said she had made many memorable purchases at the store as her family grew and said she'd always preferred Kmart over Walmart because "it's more relaxed."

She said her family would likely do their shopping at the Somersworth Target when Kmart closes for good.

The Rochester Walmart, which opened in 1997, sounded the death knell for the venerable discount giant, which despite a litany of new slogans and logos, has continued losing market share to Walmart, the nation's largest retail chain.

Garland's sentiment was echoed by most around the mall on a chilly Saturday.
"I don't come to the mall too much, but I'll be sad to see them go," said Paul Boisvert of Rochester.

A 16-year-old sitting in the vestibule to the Kmart front entrance lamented not only was she losing one of her favorite stores, but her friend, a clerk at the store, would be losing her job.

The company has offered current employees the chance to apply for openings at other Kmarts, but the only other stores in New Hampshire are in Salem, Hooksett and West Lebanon.

In Maine you'd have to move to Augusta or Lewiston.

While sadness abounds, some were more pragmatic and practical.

"I guess they'll be having some good sales, huh?" quipped one cashier at another mall store.

A store manager at Kmart declined comment for this story.

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