Circa-1931

Circa-1943

Sears expanded operations in spite of the Great Depression. In 1930, there were 351 stores. By 1933, this number had grown to 400. 595 stores were in business by 1941. A move to suburban-type shopping center stores commenced in 1947, with a new Sears at Kansas City, Missouri's COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA. This was followed by the chain's first full-line mall-format store, which opened in 1954. With its dedication, Sears operated 702 stores.