From Deseret News archives:
Sears Grand stores come to Utah
Company to offer features for families
The stores in American Fork and West Valley City offer national and private brands of merchandise but also several family-appeal features, including play areas, game tables and video game stations for children, plus free popcorn.
"We have created a distinctive retail format that invites families to look at shopping in a new way," Patricia Recktenwald, vice president and chief operating officer for Sears Grand, said in a prepared statement. "Sears Grand allows busy families to find what they need for running their everyday lives, in a place that is also entertaining."
Other features are the Grand Cafe, which offers food and refreshments, and regularly scheduled home improvement seminars and food samplings in the pantry and appliance departments. An Internet lounge provides free high-speed Internet access, allowing visitors to check e-mail, surf the Web and shop online.
Sears Grand stores also are designed to offer customers "complete solutions," often using vignettes depicting ways to decorate the baby's room, update the kitchen and dress for the season.
In addition to traditional Sears brands such as Kenmore, DieHard, Craftsman and Lands' End, the stores will offer household items such as milk, pet food and shampoo. Overall merchandise categories include apparel, appliances, automotive, baby needs, cleaning supplies, electronics, fitness equipment, health and beauty, home decor, laundry, lawn and garden, pantry, pet care, pharmacy, ready-to-assemble furniture, sporting goods, tools and toys.
The stores previously were Kmarts.
The Sears Web site indicates that it opened a 210,000-square-foot Sears Grand in West Jordan in October 2003.
Sears Holdings has about $55 billion in annual revenues through about 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the U.S. and Canada.
