On a recent visit The Rego Park Shopping Center, shelves at Sears were practically empty. The sales floor of Sears was no longer busy, you can hear a pin drop in that parking lot. Walking around the store the shelves are empty and racks aren’t as full. There is kind of a mellow attitude. The workers don’t really have that pep in their step. The entrance of the store is empty, what used to be a shoe section is now completely gone. The dated stained carpets from customers past and the cracked shiny beige tiles reflect the now dim fluorescent lighting. Signs flood the entire store with “Everything Must Go” and “Nothing Held Back”. This such a common thing to see with store closings the bright red and yellow signs are used to draw attention to the window displays so in result customers end up coming inside.
Just days later, the Sears store shuttered for good, part of a massive downsizing by Sears, which shut 42 stores nationwide after they failed to turn profits. The mall opened in 1996 and Sears was one of the first stores for that opening.
It was an iconic landmark of Queens that has been a part of its culture for over 20 years. As of April 7th 2017, the shoppers of Queens lost one of their anchor stores of this shopping center. Sears has been a part of the Center for the longest out of all the stores along with some of its neighboring stores like Old Navy, Marshalls and Bed Bath and Beyond. Sears has left an everlasting impression on not only the community but for the people of Queens as well.
Gloria Billups an avid shopper has been going to the Rego Park Shopping Center for years. She is 64 years old and lives in Flushing Queens. Recently retired she loves to shop during her newfound free time. Since she used to commute from the city every day Sears used to be a little stop on the way home. I found that interesting how she would take time out of her long work day to come and shop. She found it to be relaxing and her “me” time. It meant something to her since it has been in the neighborhood for so long. “I love to shop and no matter how tired I may be there’s always enough energy for shopping.”
Speaking to other residents of the neighborhood Carol Schumer 65, was shopping with her best friend stated how “…the store reminds me of my father. We used to get the catalogs sent to us every month but now it’s gone.” Joseph Giraldo 30, who lives in Corona told me that his parents were the ones to shop in Sears “…anything I need I get from Walmart or Walgreens.”
The customers banked on this opportunity for a new found sale. So many appliances were gone and that is a main category of items for Sears to sell. The house ware section somewhere shoppers go to enrich their home was empty. The only appliances that was left were lawn mowers and that was given. For a store located in the heart of Queens there aren’t many lawns to be mowed. Amanda Perez an 18 year old resident of Rego Park said “I never really shopped at Sears until I found out that it was closing. I am leaving for college at the end of this summer and I needed a microwave for my dorm and Sears had a great one for 60% off. I am excited to see what is going to be opening up next though.”
No announcement has been made as to what is going to replace this store, the residents of Queens will just have to wait.