scorecardWe visited a Sears store on the day the company filed for bankruptcy, and it felt like a ghost town. Here's what it was like shopping there.
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We visited a Sears store on the day the company filed for bankruptcy, and it felt like a ghost town. Here's what it was like shopping there.

We went to a Sears store in Jersey City, New Jersey.

We visited a Sears store on the day the company filed for bankruptcy, and it felt like a ghost town. Here's what it was like shopping there.

The store seemed like it was in pretty good shape at first glance.

The store seemed like it was in pretty good shape at first glance.

Women's clothing was the first department at the front of the store.

Women

Most things in the store appeared to be on sale.

Most things in the store appeared to be on sale.

Everything seemed to be in order, but it was totally empty.

Everything seemed to be in order, but it was totally empty.

There were no shoppers — or employees — in sight throughout most of the first floor.

There were no shoppers — or employees — in sight throughout most of the first floor.

The store got messier as I went further back. There were a lot of boxes left sitting around.

The store got messier as I went further back. There were a lot of boxes left sitting around.

A lot of accessory racks were half-empty ...

A lot of accessory racks were half-empty ...

... and some displays had nothing on them at all.

... and some displays had nothing on them at all.

The first floor also had a small men's department ...

The first floor also had a small men

... and a kids' department that took up a good amount of the floor.

... and a kids

Most of the signs throughout the store were handwritten.

Most of the signs throughout the store were handwritten.

Downstairs, I found home furnishings and appliances.

Downstairs, I found home furnishings and appliances.

It was eerily quiet downstairs as well.

It was eerily quiet downstairs as well.

The men's department continued downstairs ...

The men

... but parts of it were in pretty sad shape. A lot of displays were set up on metal folding tables instead of the more sturdy displays that were set up throughout the rest of the store.

... but parts of it were in pretty sad shape. A lot of displays were set up on metal folding tables instead of the more sturdy displays that were set up throughout the rest of the store.

And some mannequins were just leaned against the wall instead of being propped up.

And some mannequins were just leaned against the wall instead of being propped up.

Home-improvement products were also on this floor. A handful of products were marked as the last in stock.

Home-improvement products were also on this floor. A handful of products were marked as the last in stock.

The rest of the floor was a bit of a mess.

The rest of the floor was a bit of a mess.

There was a pile of bricks just sitting in the middle of the floor ...

There was a pile of bricks just sitting in the middle of the floor ...

... and products like refrigerators were in random spots instead of in the appliances department.

... and products like refrigerators were in random spots instead of in the appliances department.

The clearance department as a whole was lackluster. There were not a lot of products, and what was left was spread out to make it seem like there was more.

The clearance department as a whole was lackluster. There were not a lot of products, and what was left was spread out to make it seem like there was more.

Even the holiday and toy departments felt empty. I only passed one employee the entire time I was in the store. The store felt abandoned.

Even the holiday and toy departments felt empty. I only passed one employee the entire time I was in the store. The store felt abandoned.

Even though the store was in relatively good shape compared to some other Sears stores, it felt like a ghost town.

Even though the store was in relatively good shape compared to some other Sears stores, it felt like a ghost town.

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