If you’ve typed “k mart near me” recently, you might be wondering whether any stores are still around. The honest answer depends on where you are in the world: Kmart has all but vanished from the continental United States, but the brand is still going strong in Australia and New Zealand, where hundreds of stores serve millions of shoppers weekly.

4 related posts

Remaining US Kmart locations: 3 ·
Active countries: Australia, New Zealand, US ·
AU/NZ combined stores: 325 ·
Last mainland US big-box closed: 2024 ·
Store locators: kmart.com, kmart.com.au

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact Australian store count (325 combined AU/NZ, NZ=26)
  • Whether remaining US territorial stores face future closure plans
  • Whether more USVI/Guam/Florida closures occur after February 2026
3Timeline signal
  • 2002–2005: US bankruptcy filings (Wikipedia – Kmart)
  • October 2023: Westwood NJ closes after 40+ years (Wikipedia – Kmart)
  • October 2024: Bridgehampton NY closes — last mainland big-box (Fortune)
  • July 2025: St. Croix USVI closes early (Wikipedia – Kmart)
4What’s next
  • AU/NZ: Wesfarmers continues operating as dominant value retailer
  • US: Minimal territorial presence, no expansion noted
  • Use official locators to verify current store status before visiting

The table below consolidates key facts about Kmart’s global presence and operations.

Label Value
Founded 1962
US stores remaining 3 (2026)
AU/NZ stores combined 325
Primary markets Australia, NZ, limited US territories
Owner (AU/NZ) Wesfarmers
Store finder URLs kmart.com/store-locator, kmart.com.au/store-locator
NZ store count 26 (as of February 12, 2026)
NZ cities with most stores Auckland (7), Hamilton (2), Christchurch (2)

Are Kmart stores still around?

Yes — but how many and where depends on which country you’re in. In the United States, Kmart has dwindled from over 2,000 locations at its peak to just three stores as of 2026, all confined to US territories rather than the mainland. Meanwhile, in Australia and New Zealand, the brand continues to operate hundreds of stores under Wesfarmers ownership.

Kmart in the US

  • As of 2026, three Kmart locations remain in US territories: big-box in Tamuning, Guam; big-box in the US Virgin Islands; and a smaller store in Kendale Lakes, Florida (Wikipedia – Kmart)
  • The last full-sized mainland US store closed on October 20, 2024, in Bridgehampton, New York (Wikipedia – Kmart)
  • US store locator remains functional at kmart.com/store-locator for remaining locations

Kmart in Australia and New Zealand

The contrast

Kmart once operated over 2,000 stores in the United States. By 2026, that number has shrunk to three territorial locations, while the same brand thrives with 325 stores across the Pacific.

How many Kmarts are left in the world?

The global picture splits sharply between struggling US operations and thriving Oceania presence. Kmart’s worldwide footprint in 2026 amounts to roughly 328 stores across three active markets — down from peak numbers that once made it a retail powerhouse.

US store count

  • Kmart once had over 2,000 US locations at its peak (Fortune)
  • Post-October 2024, only small Miami store plus Guam and USVI locations remain (Fortune)
  • Three stores remain as of 2026: Guam, USVI, and Kendale Lakes, Florida (Wikipedia – Kmart)

Australia and NZ presence

  • 325 stores combined across Australia and New Zealand (7NEWS Australia)
  • Australia accounts for approximately 299 stores as part of the 325 total
  • New Zealand has 26 locations spread across 11 regions, with Hamilton and Christchurch each hosting 2 stores (ScrapeHero NZ Report)

The implication: the US holds 0.9% of Kmart’s global stores. Australia and New Zealand together account for more than 99% of all remaining Kmart locations worldwide.

The math

The math shows a dramatic geographic shift in Kmart’s fortunes, with Oceania now representing virtually all of the retailer’s meaningful store presence globally.

Does Kmart still exist in other countries?

Beyond the US and Oceania, Kmart has no significant presence in Europe or other major markets. The brand’s international footprint is essentially limited to Australia, New Zealand, and the remaining US territorial stores.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Kmart thrives in Australia under Wesfarmers ownership, with the company continuing to expand its store network (7NEWS Australia)
  • New Zealand operations run independently, with 26 stores as of early 2026 (ScrapeHero NZ Report)
  • Both markets use suburb and postcode search on their official store locators (Kmart Australia Store Locator)

UK and Europe status

  • No Kmart stores exist in the United Kingdom
  • No expansion plans into European markets have been announced
  • The UK market is served by other discount retailers instead

What this means: if you’re searching for “k mart near me” in Europe, you won’t find any results — the brand exited those markets long ago and has no plans to return.

What to watch

Kmart has no UK presence. European shoppers seeking similar value retail experience must look to alternatives like Wilko, Poundland, or KiK.

Why did Kmart go out of business?

Kmart’s decline in the US stems from a combination of financial mismanagement, competitive pressure, and strategic missteps over several decades. The story involves bankruptcy filings, massive store closure programs, and the eventual sell-off of assets that left the brand a shadow of its former self.

US bankruptcy history

  • Kmart filed for bankruptcy in 2002 and again in 2005 (Wikipedia – Kmart)
  • On January 14, 2003, Kmart announced 316 store closures as part of its restructuring (Transformco Corporate Timeline)
  • In 2018–2019, Kmart announced closures of 38 US stores among 79 total Sears/Kmart closures (Wealth Management)
  • Florida and Ohio each lost 6 Kmart stores during the 2018–2019 closure wave (Wealth Management)

Survival in other markets

  • Australia’s Kmart operations continued under Wesfarmers, which acquired the business and invested heavily in the brand
  • The AU/NZ model focused on value pricing and store format improvements that the US operation never implemented
  • As US stores closed, AU/NZ stores expanded — creating a stark divergence in outcomes across the same brand
The pattern

Same brand, different fate: Australian and New Zealand operations received sustained investment and format innovation, while US operations cycled through bankruptcy, closures, and ownership changes that ultimately hollowed out the domestic business.

What does anko stand for?

Anko is the private label brand for home goods and lifestyle products sold exclusively in Kmart Australia and Kmart New Zealand stores. It’s not an acronym — the name was chosen for its simple, memorable sound and has no hidden meaning.

Anko brand origin

  • Anko originates from Kmart Australia as its in-house home and lifestyle brand (Kmart Australia Official Site)
  • Wesfarmers developed the Anko brand to offer affordable home goods, kitchenware, and seasonal items
  • The brand has expanded significantly since its launch, becoming a significant part of Kmart AU/NZ’s product strategy

Connection to Kmart

  • Anko products are sold only in Kmart Australia and Kmart New Zealand stores
  • The brand represents Kmart AU/NZ’s commitment to value pricing in non-clothing categories
  • US Kmart stores do not carry the Anko brand — it’s exclusively an Oceania line

The catch: if you’ve seen Anko products at a Kmart, that store is either in Australia or New Zealand. The brand doesn’t exist in the US — another marker of how different the two Kmart operations have become.

The takeaway

Anko serves as a useful litmus test for identifying which country’s Kmart you’re shopping at, given the complete divergence between US and Oceania operations.

Timeline of Kmart’s US decline

Kmart’s contraction from thousands of stores to a handful spans more than two decades. Here are the key turning points:

Date Event Source
1962 Kmart founded as S.S. Kresge Corporation Wikipedia – Kmart
January 14, 2003 Kmart announces 316 US store closures during bankruptcy Transformco
2002–2005 US bankruptcy filings and restructuring Wikipedia – Kmart
October 2023 Westwood, New Jersey store closes after 40+ years Wikipedia – Kmart
October 20, 2024 Bridgehampton, New York store closes — last mainland US big-box Fortune
July 5, 2025 St. Croix, USVI store closes early Wikipedia – Kmart
2026 3 US territorial locations remain Wikipedia – Kmart

The pattern: Kmart’s decline accelerated after each bankruptcy filing, with the most dramatic contraction occurring in the 2020s as the last mainland big-box stores shuttered.

What’s clear and what remains uncertain

Confirmed

  • Australia and New Zealand operations are active via official sites
  • 3 US territorial stores remain as of 2026
  • Last mainland US big-box closed October 20, 2024
  • AU/NZ stores combined total approximately 325
  • Wesfarmers owns Kmart AU/NZ
  • Anko brand originates from Kmart Australia
  • No UK Kmart stores exist

Unclear

  • Exact Australian-only store count (325 combined)
  • Whether remaining US territorial stores face future closure
  • Whether additional closures occurred after February 2026 data
  • Online vs in-store stock availability for US remaining stores
  • Current operating hours for Guam and Florida locations

What people are saying

Attention, Kmart shoppers, the end is near!

— Associated Press coverage via Fortune

Kmart’s US end has been called the ‘slowest, most …’ decline in retail history, while the retailer’s popularity continues to grow in Australia.

— 7NEWS Australia

Bottom line: Kmart is a brand with two distinct lives — thriving in Australia and New Zealand with hundreds of stores, and barely surviving in the US with just three territorial locations. If you’re searching “k mart near me” in the continental United States, your nearest option is likely a long drive away. If you’re in Australia, New Zealand, or nearby areas, the brand remains a major retail presence with accessible store locators at kmart.com and kmart.com.au. For US shoppers: check the official Kmart store locator before making the trip. For AU/NZ shoppers: the brand is going nowhere — use the locator to find your nearest store.

Related reading: Trade Depot Locations Near Me: Auckland, Christchurch & Hamilton · Double Sided Tape NZ: Strongest at Kmart, Bunnings, Mitre 10

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Frequently asked questions

How do I find Kmart near me?

Use the official store locator for your region: kmart.com/store-locator for US locations, kmart.com.au/store-locator for Australia, or kmart.co.nz/store-locator for New Zealand. Each uses postcode or suburb search to find nearby stores.

Does Kmart still exist in the US?

Yes, but only in US territories — Guam, US Virgin Islands, and one small store in Kendale Lakes, Florida. The last mainland US big-box closed in October 2024. There are no longer any Kmart stores in the continental 48 states.

How many Kmart stores are left in the world?

Approximately 328 total — 3 in US territories and 325 across Australia and New Zealand combined. The vast majority of remaining stores are in Oceania.

Does Kmart have stores in the UK?

No. Kmart has no presence in the UK or Europe. The brand exited those markets long ago and has no announced plans to return.

What is Anko and is it a Kmart brand?

Anko is Kmart Australia’s in-house brand for home goods, kitchenware, and lifestyle products. It originated from Kmart Australia and is sold exclusively in Kmart AU/NZ stores. US Kmart locations do not carry the Anko brand.

Where are Kmart locations in New Zealand?

New Zealand has 26 Kmart locations as of February 2026, spread across 11 regions. Auckland has the most with 7 stores. Use the official Kmart NZ locator to find your nearest store by suburb or postcode.

Is there a 24-hour Kmart near me?

24-hour Kmart locations are no longer common, even in Australia where the brand is strongest. Check individual store hours on the official locator for your region. Extended hours may be available at select locations, but no current 24-hour stores are listed in major markets.

Why did Kmart close so many stores in the US?

Kmart’s US decline resulted from multiple factors: bankruptcy filings in 2002 and 2005, inability to compete with Walmart and Target, poor store locations, and sustained underinvestment in store format and e-commerce. The company shrank from over 2,000 locations to a handful over two decades.