Stores Like Kmart: 12 Discount Retailers That Absorbed Its Customers
Text
About Kmart
Founded
1899
USA
Ships to
US (limited remaining stores), online
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
The blue light special was a genuine ritual — a rotating siren over a random aisle, a garbled PA announcement, and a scrum of shoppers descending on marked-down towels or Christmas tins. Kmart sold the whole middle of American life: Martha Stewart Everyday sheets and cookware, the Jaclyn Smith clothing line, Route 66 jeans, layaway that let families spread out a big purchase over a paycheck or two, and a garden center that smelled like fertilizer and rubber hoses every spring.
It was the store where you could grab a rotisserie chicken adjacent to a lawnmower and a pack of tube socks in one trip.
The collapse wasn't a quality slide or a pricing scandal. It was simple erosion — Sears Holdings loaded the company with debt, starved the stores of remodels, and let Walmart and Target eat the discount department-store category alive. A chain that once ran over 2,000 U.S. locations is now down to a literal handful, most shoppers nearer to a closed one than an open one. The good stuff didn't vanish so much as scatter to competitors who kept their shelves stocked. Here's where Kmart's customers actually went.
It was the store where you could grab a rotisserie chicken adjacent to a lawnmower and a pack of tube socks in one trip.
The collapse wasn't a quality slide or a pricing scandal. It was simple erosion — Sears Holdings loaded the company with debt, starved the stores of remodels, and let Walmart and Target eat the discount department-store category alive. A chain that once ran over 2,000 U.S. locations is now down to a literal handful, most shoppers nearer to a closed one than an open one. The good stuff didn't vanish so much as scatter to competitors who kept their shelves stocked. Here's where Kmart's customers actually went.
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The 12 Best Alternatives to Kmart
1
Walmart
Est. 1962
Bentonville, Arkansas, USA
≈
similar
Families who want everything in one trip at the lowest everyday price
The clearest heir to Kmart's one-stop discount department store model — groceries, apparel, home goods, garden, and auto under one roof at rock-bottom prices.
Pros
- Everyday low prices across nearly every category
- Stores within reach of most Americans
- Strong grocery and pharmacy integration
- Robust online ordering and free pickup
Cons
- Crowded, sometimes chaotic store experience
- Apparel quality is basic at best
- Customer service can be thin
2
Target
Est. 1962
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who want cheap goods that don't look cheap
The discount department store that out-designed Kmart on the same footprint — apparel, home, and general merchandise with a more polished feel at similar prices.
Pros
- Designer collaborations and in-house brands like Good & Gather
- Cleaner, easier-to-shop stores
- Strong home and apparel lines
- Solid app and Drive Up pickup
Cons
- Slightly pricier than Walmart on staples
- Grocery selection weaker than a full supermarket
- Popular items sell out fast
Visit Target
Full guide: Stores Like Target
3
Big Lots
Est. 1967
Columbus, Ohio, USA
$
cheaper
Bargain hunters who enjoy the thrill of the find
Closeout and overstock retailer that captures the treasure-hunt feeling of Kmart's clearance aisles — furniture, seasonal, food, and home at deep discounts.
Pros
- Deep discounts on furniture and seasonal goods
- Rotating closeout inventory keeps it interesting
- Good for one-off household needs
- Friendly, less-crowded stores
Cons
- Financial troubles have shuttered many locations
- Inventory is unpredictable
- Quality varies widely by item
Visit Big Lots
Full guide: Stores Like Big Lots
4
Dollar General
Est. 1939
Goodlettsville, Tennessee, USA
$
cheaper
Rural and small-town shoppers who need a quick, close-by stop
Serves the same small-town and rural shoppers Kmart once did, with pantry staples, cleaning supplies, and basic goods within a short drive of almost everyone.
Pros
- Locations in towns big chains skip
- Low prices on everyday consumables
- Quick in-and-out trips
- Growing DG Market grocery format
Cons
- Small stores with limited selection
- No real apparel or home department
- Hit-or-miss cleanliness
5
Burlington
Est. 1972
Burlington, New Jersey, USA
$
cheaper
Shoppers who want brand-name apparel and home goods for less
Off-price department store covering apparel, home, and baby gear at steep discounts — a natural landing spot for Kmart's clothing and household shoppers.
Pros
- Big markdowns on brand-name clothing
- Strong coats, baby, and home sections
- Wide size availability
- Frequent new arrivals
Cons
- Treasure-hunt layout can be disorganized
- Limited online shopping
- Inconsistent stock across stores
Visit Burlington
Full guide: Stores Like Burlington
6
Family Dollar
Est. 1959
Chesapeake, Virginia, USA
$
cheaper
Neighborhood shoppers needing affordable basics close to home
Neighborhood discount store with the household basics, snacks, and cheap apparel Kmart once anchored in the same working-class communities.
Pros
- Dense urban and suburban footprint
- Cheap consumables and party goods
- Some refrigerated grocery
- Easy quick trips
Cons
- Small format, limited range
- Store upkeep varies
- Apparel is minimal
7
Kohl's
Est. 1962
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, USA
≈
similar
Families who want name-brand clothing and coupon-driven savings
Mid-tier department store that inherited Kmart's family-apparel and home-goods audience, with coupons and Kohl's Cash driving the deal-hunting habit.
Pros
- Kohl's Cash and stacking coupons reward loyalty
- Strong apparel and shoe selection
- Sephora shop-in-shop draws new traffic
- Generous return policy
Cons
- Full-price items overpriced without coupons
- Home section shrinking
- Stores can feel dated
Visit Kohl's
Full guide: Stores Like Kohl's
8
Meijer
Est. 1934
Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
≈
similar
Midwest families wanting groceries and general goods in one stop
Midwest supercenter blending full grocery with a broad general-merchandise department store — the true one-roof successor to Kmart in its heartland regions.
Pros
- Full supermarket plus department store under one roof
- Competitive pricing and mPerks rewards
- Clean, well-stocked stores
- Strong regional loyalty
Cons
- Only available in Midwest states
- Large stores mean longer trips
- Online reach limited outside footprint
9
Ollie's Bargain Outlet
Est. 1982
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
$
cheaper
Deal hunters who love digging for unexpected bargains
Closeout retailer built entirely around the clearance-treasure-hunt experience Kmart shoppers loved — books, home, seasonal, and food at fire-sale prices.
Pros
- Genuinely deep closeout discounts
- Ollie's Army loyalty program
- Fun, ever-changing inventory
- Strong on books and home goods
Cons
- No consistent stock — luck of the draw
- No grocery staples
- Not everywhere yet
10
Ross Dress for Less
Est. 1982
Dublin, California, USA
$
cheaper
Shoppers chasing discounted brand-name clothing and home decor
Off-price apparel and home chain that absorbed Kmart's bargain-clothing customers with brand-name goods at 20-60% off department prices.
Pros
- Low prices on brand-name apparel
- Home and decor bargains
- Frequent fresh inventory
- Widespread West and South locations
Cons
- No online shopping at all
- Messy, self-serve store layout
- Sizing and stock unpredictable
11
Costco
Est. 1983
Issaquah, Washington, USA
≈
similar
Larger households buying in bulk to stretch a budget
Warehouse club offering the bulk-value shopping Kmart's budget-minded families gravitate to, with Kirkland Signature covering apparel, home, and pantry.
Pros
- Kirkland Signature quality at low unit prices
- Excellent return policy
- Gas, pharmacy, and optical add value
- Fair employee treatment
Cons
- Annual membership required
- Bulk sizes don't suit small households
- Limited product selection per category
Visit Costco
Full guide: Stores Like Costco
12
Amazon
Est. 1994
Seattle, Washington, USA
≈
similar
Shoppers who prefer buying the same broad range online
The online everything-store that quietly captured the general-merchandise breadth Kmart used to offer, from tube socks to lawn tools, delivered to your door.
Pros
- Enormous selection across every category
- Fast Prime delivery
- Easy price comparison
- Simple returns
Cons
- Overwhelming third-party seller quality range
- No in-person browsing
- Counterfeit and review issues on some items
Closest to the full Kmart one-roof experience
If you miss grabbing groceries, socks, and a garden hose in a single trip, Walmart and Meijer are the truest heirs to Kmart's supercenter format. Target does the same at a slightly higher polish, while Kohl's covers the apparel-and-home side without the grocery aisle. These are the stores that literally absorbed Kmart's floor plan and its shoppers.
For the clearance treasure-hunters
The blue-light-special thrill lives on at Big Lots, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Ross, and Burlington. Inventory changes constantly, prices are deeply cut, and you never quite know what you'll find — the same rummage-and-score feeling Kmart's clearance aisles delivered, just spread across four different signs.
For rural and small-town shoppers
Kmart once anchored towns the big chains skipped. Dollar General and Family Dollar filled that gap with thousands of small-format stores within a short drive of almost everyone, stocking the consumables and basics that used to fill a Kmart cart. Not a full department store, but reliably close by.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Want the whole-store experience under one roof? Walmart is the default nationwide, Target if you want it a little nicer, and Meijer if you're in the Midwest and want real groceries attached. Chasing the clearance-aisle thrill Kmart was famous for? Big Lots and Ollie's are built entirely around closeout bargains, while Ross and Burlington handle discounted apparel and home. Live somewhere the big chains never bothered? Dollar General and Family Dollar keep basics within a few minutes' drive. Buying for a big household? Costco's bulk-and-Kirkland model stretches a budget further than any discount store. And if you'd rather never fight a parking lot again, Amazon delivers the same sprawling general-merchandise range to your porch. Frequently Asked Questions
QWhy did Kmart close almost all its stores?
Kmart's decline came from years of debt and neglect under parent company Sears Holdings, which filed for bankruptcy after failing to remodel stores or compete with Walmart and Target. The chain shrank from over 2,000 U.S. locations to just a small handful, effectively ending it as a national retailer.
QWhat store is most like Kmart today?
Walmart is the closest match — it offers the same one-roof mix of groceries, apparel, home goods, garden, and general merchandise at low prices. Target covers a similar range with a more polished feel, and Meijer replicates the full supercenter model in Midwest states.
QWhere can I get the clearance and blue-light-special bargains Kmart was known for?
Big Lots and Ollie's Bargain Outlet are built entirely around closeout deals and the treasure-hunt experience. Ross and Burlington handle discounted brand-name apparel and home goods with the same rummage-and-score feel.
QIs there a Kmart-like option for small towns without a Walmart?
Dollar General and Family Dollar fill exactly the small-town and rural gap Kmart once served. They operate thousands of small-format stores stocking consumables, basics, and cheap apparel within a short drive of most communities the big chains skip.
QWhat happened to the Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith lines Kmart carried?
Those exclusive lines effectively ended with Kmart's collapse. Martha Stewart's home products have appeared at other retailers over the years, but the Kmart-exclusive collections are gone. For similar affordable home and apparel brands, Target's in-house lines and Kohl's private labels are the closest current substitutes.
Our Verdict
The Best Kmart Alternative For You
Want the whole-store experience under one roof? Walmart is the default nationwide, Target if you want it a little nicer, and Meijer if you're in the Midwest and want real groceries attached. Chasing the clearance-aisle thrill Kmart was famous for? Big Lots and Ollie's are built entirely around closeout bargains, while Ross and Burlington handle discounted apparel and home. Live somewhere the big chains never bothered? Dollar General and Family Dollar keep basics within a few minutes' drive. Buying for a big household? Costco's bulk-and-Kirkland model stretches a budget further than any discount store. And if you'd rather never fight a parking lot again, Amazon delivers the same sprawling general-merchandise range to your porch.