Graphic from Simpsons-Sears, Limited
Sears expanded outside the "Lower 48," with stores in Honolulu (1941), Havana (1942), Mexico City (1947) and Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Australia and Spain. A joint venture was formed with Canada's Robert Simpson Company, with the first Simpsons-Sears store dedicated in 1953.
Catalog Sears stores had been operating in Alaska since the late 1940s. The first Alaskan full-line store opened in 1966. By this time, divisions had been established in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Eventually, only stores in Alaska, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvadore and Puerto Rico would remain in business.
Meanwhile, Montgomery Ward expanded only as far as Alaska, with (apparently) no stores ever established in Hawaii. By the late 20th century, our Big Three merchandisers were in a state of retail retreat. The post-war economic boom, during which all three chains expanded exponentially, was long over.
J.C. Penney attained its largest number of stores ever in 1973, with 2,053 locations. By 1993, Penney's was operating 1,265 stores. Sears clocked in with 859. Montgomery Ward's store count stood at 294...but not for long.
Since the 1970s, The Big Three had been enduring cutthroat competition from discount chains established in the early '60s. First there was Kmart, then came Wal-Mart. Montgomery Ward entered a downward spiral in the 1980s, with rounds of store closings in 1994 and 1997. In December 2000, it was announced that the remaining 251 Wards stores would close, in unison, in March 2001. This ended a retail reign of nearly 130 years.
Meanwhile, Montgomery Ward expanded only as far as Alaska, with (apparently) no stores ever established in Hawaii. By the late 20th century, our Big Three merchandisers were in a state of retail retreat. The post-war economic boom, during which all three chains expanded exponentially, was long over.
J.C. Penney attained its largest number of stores ever in 1973, with 2,053 locations. By 1993, Penney's was operating 1,265 stores. Sears clocked in with 859. Montgomery Ward's store count stood at 294...but not for long.
Since the 1970s, The Big Three had been enduring cutthroat competition from discount chains established in the early '60s. First there was Kmart, then came Wal-Mart. Montgomery Ward entered a downward spiral in the 1980s, with rounds of store closings in 1994 and 1997. In December 2000, it was announced that the remaining 251 Wards stores would close, in unison, in March 2001. This ended a retail reign of nearly 130 years.
