Kmart Closing in Cary

Story and photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Kmart has notified the North Carolina Department of Commerce that it is closing its Kildare Farm Road store in Cary on November 13, 2011.

According to the filing, 71 workers will lose their jobs.

It’s sad to see a longtime retailer in Cary closing its doors. And it’s bound to be very painful for the laid off workers. But even an economy as buoyant as Cary’s couldn’t support a business as weak as Kmart.

In fact, it’s the very buoyancy – and competitiveness – of Cary businesses that spelled doom for Kmart in our market. Just in the last week, we’ve written about imminent plans to remodel Belk at Cary Towne Center and a coming out party for redeveloped Waverly Place.

The Kmart on Kildare Farm was certainly a welcome merchant to downtown residents and the local community. But it could hardly be considered a destination retailer for residents from any other area in the town.

Meanwhile, a new Target is set to open at the corner of Cary Parkway and NC 54.

So it is farewell to Kmart in Cary after many years of serving the community. Workers may look to find new and perhaps better opportunities at Belk or Target or Waverly Place. Shoppers will certainly find other places to buy necessities and sundry items, boosting other local retailers.

Who knows? Maybe some great business will go into the space. After all, this is Cary.