The Apocalypse and Judgment Day: monumental events that will declare the fate of our very own planet. Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you might as well forget about those as they are absolute jokes compared to what has been announced to happen within two months: our local Kmart will close as part of its parent company closing more than 100 locations around the country.

After declaring bankruptcy, Transform HoldCo., the parent company of the beloved store, has announced that its Clemmons location will close Dec. 15, according to USA Today. I know, it’s hard to believe. Kmart has, for many people, been a haven, a safe place to go when wanting to buy anything. Let me put it this way: have you ever had a bad day? Have you ever been sad or disappointed in any way? No problem, because you knew where to go: Kmart. A couple could go in there with divorce papers in hand and come out with a relationship stronger than Trump and Putin. But soon, these problems will be left without a solution. 

There were many things that made Kmart the beloved place it was. Their small but amazing selection of flannels and their huge gallery of seasonal decorations were just a few of the items I could spend hours browsing through. We also can’t forget about another monumental pillar of its greatness, the Little Caesars inside. Little Caesars is a part of what makes this place great. Its cheap but delicious pizza was always one of my go-to foods, but unfortunately the restaurant will shrivel alongside it. 

Following my devastation and mourning, I recently decided to go and visit it again after their announcement, seeing as how it’s going to leave me in just a few short months. Right off the bat, changes were noticeable. For a start, the store was decorated with giant “CLOSING SALE- EVERYTHING MUST GO!” signs, which were sad, but also kind of appealing. Walking in was a different story. The shelves were mostly empty, the clothing racks had been stripped of any high quality stuff that might’ve been left behind, I speed-walked to the flannel section only to find them all gone. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw near the entrance: black emptiness left by the closed Little Caesars. Sadness and despair immediately hit me and reality was kicking in. A thriving store with tons of business and profit to spare, is now merely an empty shell of what it once was.

If there’s anything to take away from this, it’s that all good things must come to an end. But no matter what, Kmart will live on in our hearts, and we must remember it as time passes, so that our kids and their kids can know that there was once hope in this world.