You remember the catalog, right? That massive book that would show up at your door. It was basically the internet before the internet existed. You’d flip through pages of Craftsman tools your dad wanted, Kenmore appliances your mom was looking at, and the latest clothes you hoped to get for back-to-school. Sears was more than a store it was a part of American life. Which leads a lot of people to ask the big question today, especially as we head into 2025, is Sears still in business?
The answer is, well, it’s complicated. Yes, they are technically still in business. But the Sears you remember, the one with a giant store in every mall across the country, that Sears is mostly a ghost. It’s a very different company now, a shadow of what it once was, and it’s important to understand what that actually means for shoppers today. It is a fact that things have changed a whole lot.
What in the World Happened to Sears? A Quick Look Back
Sears, Roebuck and Co. was at one point the biggest retailer in the entire world. They were the original everything store. The Sears catalog basically invented mail-order shopping. You could even buy a house from them, a kit home that would be delivered by train. That is how big they were. They were an absolute giant.
But then things started to change. Big-box stores like Walmart and Home Depot came along, they offered low prices and huge selections. Sears just couldn’t keep up. Then the internet happened, and Amazon started eating everyone’s lunch. Sears was really slow to get online in a big way. They just missed the boat.
The big turning point was probably the merger with Kmart back in 2005. The idea was that combining the two struggling companies would create a new powerhouse. It did not work out that way. The stores stayed separate, the problems got worse. The whole thing was generally considered to be a massive failure that just sped up the decline. It all led to the massive bankruptcy filing in 2018.
So, How Many Sears Stores Are Actually Left in 2025?
This is where the reality of the situation hits hard. At its peak, Sears had thousands of stores. You couldn’t go to a mall without seeing that big, blue Sears logo. Today, in 2025, that number is shockingly small. We’re talking about maybe a dozen full-line department stores left in the entire United States. That’s it.
These last few stores are scattered across the country, from California to Florida. Finding one is like finding a rare collectible. The company has closed hundreds upon hundreds of locations over the last decade. It’s been a slow, painful process for the communities that relied on those stores for jobs and shopping. The landscape has totally been rearranged without them.
Sears Full-Line Stores vs. Sears Hometown
It’s good to know there’s a difference here. The few remaining big stores are the “full-line” department stores you remember. They have clothes, appliances, tools, and all that stuff.
Then you have Sears Hometown stores. These are typically smaller, sometimes locally owned and operated. They mostly focus on the hard stuff: appliances, mattresses, lawn equipment, and tools. Many of these have also closed, but they operate a bit differently from the main company.
Finding a Sears Store Near You
If you’re curious to see if one of these retail dinosaurs is still hanging on near you, the best bet is to check the official Sears website. They have a store locator. Don’t be surprised if the closest one is several states away though. It’s just the reality of where the company is now.
The Sears Website: The Ghost in the Machine
While the physical stores have mostly vanished, Sears.com is still up and running. This is where most of the business is done now. The website is kind of the modern version of the old catalog. It is the place where the brand continues to exist for most people.
You can still buy many of the things Sears was known for on their website:
Kenmore appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers.
Craftsman tools (though this is a bit different now, more on that below).
DieHard car batteries and other auto parts.
Mattresses from brands like Sealy and Serta.
One thing that’s changed is that the website is now also a third-party marketplace, a lot like Amazon or Walmart.com. This means many of the items for sale on Sears.com are not actually sold by Sears. They are sold by other smaller companies that just use the Sears website as a platform. This can sometimes be confusing for shoppers who think they are buying directly from Sears.
What About the Famous Sears Brands? Kenmore and Craftsman
For many people, the Sears brands were even more important than the store itself. Kenmore was a mark of a good kitchen. Craftsman tools came with a lifetime warranty and were passed down from one generation to the next. The fate of these brands is a big part of the Sears story.
Kenmore is still around, and you can mainly find it through Sears or Kmart’s websites. It’s a brand that is still pretty closely tied to what’s left of the company. The quality is still generally seen as decent.
Craftsman is a totally different story. To raise cash, Sears sold the Craftsman brand to Stanley Black & Decker in 2017. This was a huge move. Now, you can find Craftsman tools everywhere. They’re sold at Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, and even on Amazon. The lifetime warranty has some different rules now, depending on where you buy the tool, so that’s something to watch out for.
The Legacy of Sears House Brands
It really shows you how powerful those brands were. Even with Sears mostly gone, the names Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard still mean something to people. They stood for quality and reliability, and that reputation has lasted longer than the stores that sold them. It is a testament to the old company that these names still have pull with consumers.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Is Sears Still in Business
1. So for real, is Sears still in business at all?
Yes, Sears is still in business in 2025. But it’s a very small company compared to what it once was. It operates a handful of physical department stores and a much larger online business through Sears.com.
2. If Sears is still in business, why are there no stores near me anymore?
Most likely because Sears closed the vast majority of its locations following its 2018 bankruptcy and ongoing financial struggles. They’ve reduced their physical footprint from thousands of stores down to just around a dozen.
3. Is Sears still in business online, and is it safe to order from them?
Yes, Sears.com is fully operational. It functions as a regular online retailer and also as a marketplace for third-party sellers. It’s generally as safe as any other major online marketplace, but always check who the actual seller is for an item.
4. Since Sears is still in business, can I still use my old Sears gift card?
This is a tricky one. Gift cards issued before the bankruptcy filing in October 2018 are likely worthless. For cards issued after that by the new company, you should check the terms and conditions, but they can typically only be used at the few remaining stores or online.
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Key Takeaways
Sears is not completely gone, but it exists in a much, much smaller form.
There are only about a dozen full-line Sears department stores left in the U.S.
Sears.com is the main focus of the company now, operating as an online retailer and a third-party marketplace.
Famous Sears brands have new fates: Kenmore is still tied to Sears, while Craftsman was sold and is now available at many other retailers like Lowe’s.
The Sears of your memories, the retail giant in every mall, is a thing of the past.
