Kresge’s Dept. Store | Rouyn-Noranda – Abitibi-Temiscamingue
The message on the back of this vintage postcard is dated July 31st, 1962. It depicts Rouyn Noranda’s busy Main Street in front of Kresge’s Department Store. Note the classic cars! Rouyn Noranda is now the capital of the region of Abitibi-Temiscamingue.
Before researching this postcard, I thought that Kresge’s had gone bankrupt because I haven’t seen them around Quebec in the last few decades, but I just found out that Kresge’s is now known as Kmart! If you’re interested in the history of shopping centres,
you should really drop by Pleasant Family Shopping, where Dave provides “A nostalgic look back at supermarkets, discount stores and more from the past”.
“New” memories of Rouyn’s Kresge’s Dept. Store – by Alain Bernier
I grew up in Rouyn-Noranda, from the early ’60s to the mid ’90s.
When I was a kid, going to S.S. Kresge was the best treat ever. We would go explore the toys department in the basement. But the best treat was when my mom would take me to the “Dinette” snack bar on the main floor for French Fries and grape juice. I never came across the specific taste of their grape juice. I still remember it now, 40 years later! I also remember the “Blue Light Special”.
When I was 16, I applied for a job as a security guard at Kresge. Didn’t get it but I remained a regular of the camera department, by the big front windows, where all our family photos from that time were developed.
Message from reader George Ayotte – Thanks!
Nice to see this postcard, I have managed that store in the early 80`s for K-Mart (previously S.S. Kresge Co.). I have very fond memories of Rouyn and the nice people working inthat store, it was then the main store in Rouyn. It had 3 different levels of salesfloor.
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Family History Posts About Shopping
“… To Scan A Poem From A Shopping List” pt.1
“… To Scan A Poem From A Shopping List” pt.2
Sisters in the Sixties: Memories of the Ville Lasalle Mon Mart
External Links
Rouyn-Noranda Group | Facebook
A Canadian Family 
I didn’t know that there were Kresge and Kmart stores outside the U.S.
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How interesting! I had no idea Kresge became KMart. Learn something everyday. Wonderful card — love the cars! Thanks!
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Nice one! I visited HBC in Calgary as a kid, but we did most of our Canadian ‘shopping’ in Coutts, Alberta. No Kresge’s in that town.
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1962 doesn’t seem such a long time long ago for the cars to look so very vintage! How time flies.
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wonderful! it’s strange how powerfully evocative of a period of history these images are…i guess cinema has a lot to do with that, there’s a kind of shared collective memory of times past that we all have, wherever we happen to have grown up, and in whatever era…
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great card!
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I had no idea about the Kresge/Kmart connection. We used to have a Kresge downtown when I was growing up. I love the old cars on the vintage postcard.
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Wow! I had NO idea. I’ve been shopping Kmarts for years and years. Wonderful postcard, delightful history! Happy PFF!
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Add me to the list of shocked Kmart shoppers! This is fascinating! Congratulation on your wonderful blogging and the recognition that it deserves. I’m off to vote for you:)
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Nice to see this postcard, I have managed that store in the
early 80`s for K-Mart (previously S.S. Kresge Co.). I have
very fond memories of Rouyn and the nice people working in
that store, it was then the main store in Rouyn. It had
3 different levels of salesfloor.
Georges Ayotte
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I grew up in Rouyn-Noranda, from the early ’60s to the mid ’90s When I was a kid, going to S.S. Kresge was the best treat ever. We would go explore the toys department in the basement. But the best treat was when my mom would take me to the “Dinette” snack bar on the main floor for French Fries and grape juice. I never came across the specific taste of their grape juice. I still remember it now, 40 years later! I also remember the “Blue Light Special”. When I was 16, I applied for a job as a security guard at Kresge. Didn’t get it but I remained a regular of the camera department, by the big front windows, where all our family photos from that time were developed.
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Wow,I spent lots of time here as a kid.They had the best grilled cheese and fries.The floors were wooden and had a certain scent.The picture booth at the door was where I spent a lot of time as well,great memories.
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