Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 2, 1992 TAG: 9203020125
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY BUSINESS WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Wright and Kmart have been together since, except for the three and a half years she was retired, from 1988 until recently.
She said she came back to work part time as soon as the company's policy allowed. She returned to stationery, where she has always worked.
"I just liked Kmart," she said Sunday at the company's 30th birthday party.
That's the attitude the Michigan corporation is banking on customers also having as it revamps its stores to become more competitive with the formidable Wal-Mart.
The Crossroads location is the first of the valley's three stores to get the new look of more openness in displays, better sign directions for shoppers, and a greater focus on fashion.
Remodeling was completed in November and included the addition of a Little Caesar's Pizza restaurant inside the store. The pizza eatery replaces the store snack bar and is run by Kmart. It is one of 1,000 of the pizza franchises Kmart will add to its stores this year, said Stephen Riser, Crossroads co-manager.
Riser, who has been with Kmart 25 years and in seven states, emceed the Sunday gathering. An "America Then and Now" book was presented to the Roanoke Public Library as part of the store's party, which featured theme cakes made by employees and a video talk from chief executive officer Joseph E. Antonini.
Antonini headed up a similar gathering at the Oak Park, Ill., store, which was the prototype for the chain's new look. He said 1,200 stores will get the "Oak Park" look by year's end.
The top executive also talked about how customers want value for their money and good service.
Some 180 million people shopped Kmart stores in 1991, Antonini said. The results of that shopping will be known Wednesday when the company releases its annual report.
Kmart grew out of the S.S. Kresge Co., founded in 1899. The first Kmart opened in 1962 in a Detroit suburb. The company still is opening stores; one near Christiansburg is scheduled for May.
The Crossroads store replaced the Melrose location in 1983. Wright was one of seven original employees at Melrose who were invited Sunday. But, there are plenty of the earlier employees still working, said Riser.
Lois Johnson started with the company in 1966. She now is an assistant manager.
Despite the turmoil that exists in today's retail market where many large and small stores are failing, she said she doesn't find the retail business all that different.
"It's a little more work," she said. "But, we've still got some of our good customers."
"I should have made two," Johnson said, when a bystander remarked that her coconut cake certainly disappeared quickly.
by CNB