Retail Apocalypse 2020: Sears Succumbs in Glendale

Before there was Amazon, there was Sears. The retail giant first began as a mail-order catalog service in 1893, later branching out to brick-and-mortar stores as well. How big was Sears at its height? Its headquarters were literally the tallest in the world: The Sears Tower in Chicago. But the Sears Tower isn't the Sears Tower anymore (it's been the Willis Tower since 2009), and Sears isn't close to what Sears once was.

For a variety of reasons, Sears couldn't keep up with the times — and got rid of that mailorder business a few years before Amazon reinvented the concept. After years of declines, Sears was not immune to the retail apocalypse, and continues to shed stores. Next up: Glendale's Sears location, which opened in 1938 and is shutting down next month.

Sears wasn't a regular stop for us, but we did buy some appliances there when we bought our house, including our refrigerator and our oven. And when Blogger Teen was born, we took him several times to the Sears Portrait Studio (long since closed) to take his picture.

On Monday, Maria and I stopped by to see the inside of Sears one more time and also check out the clearance sales. I bought a suit jacket, a shirt and some ties, and got a pretty decent deal. But I also took a few shots of the store as it began to fade away. Here are some images:

Downtown L.A. and Beyond: A Photo Essay, Part 2

More pics from a recent afternoon driving around Downtown -- including this shot of the Orpheum (above) -- taken from the back.


"Brown-Israel Clothing Company: CLOTHES ON CREDIT."


Fashion district crosswalk


Outside the California Market Center


Skullphone makes it to the East Side -- yes, the *real* East Side.


Tower Theatre


Come for the Hofbrau, stay for the Topless Dancers!


Fine's Foods


The several faces of Sears


Sears Retail Store -- original entrance

Longtime Sears Auto Center Loses Gas

The old Sears Auto Center at Wilton and Santa Monica -- so old that it still says "Sears, Roebuck and Co." on the building -- is shutting down for good on August 14. At least, that's what it says on the fence in front.

The auto center is located down the block from the East Hollywood stand-alone Sears, which City Council president Eric Garcetti says is the best selling Sears per square foot in the country. (Considering the lack of any other chain clothing or department stores around there, I believe it).

I'm hoping someone saves that "Sears, Roebuck and Co." sign. Meanwhile, it doesn't sound like many people will be breaking out tears for the auto center, which doesn't have a lot of fans.