Comments on: Kmart: Coon Rapids, MN

By: chris

chris — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:59:50 +0000

I used to love coming to this K-mart only for the possibility of a Little Caesar’s pizza- amazing stuff. With Circus Pizza next door, Boston Market and Toys-R-Us across the parking lot it was a little slice of heaven to a 5-year old. Everytime I go past this place now I can’t believe K-mart is still standing, much less still in business.

As noted above, I remember the old K-mart by CRHS off of Hanson and 10, now Lifetime Fitness. The only thing I remember about when it was K-mart was the second floor, even though it was only office space up there it was still interesting.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:34:24 +0000

The pizza shop is actually called “The K Cafe” I’ve worked in that store for the past 2 years, and I smiled seeing it on here.

As for the blue light special, I’ve actually only had to do an announcement once, and that only lasted a few weeks.

The store has its days, but for the most part it is dead

By: OLD GUY

OLD GUY — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:33:35 +0000

OMG! WIDGETS was amazing in the 80′s.

They just converted the chuck-e-cheese dance floor into a lame disco tech. But if you were 15-17 with no place else to go, it was amazing!

They need more places like that today in the burbs!

By: Disco Studd

Disco Studd — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:37:51 +0000

Ooh, just wanted to add that Little Sleazer’s is making a comeback!!! They just opened a store in the former Starbucks on Hwy 65 and Main St. in Blaine. They’re large pizzas for only $5 (at that price, your only choices for toppings are pepperoni or plain cheese.) Just ask for a “Hot-N-Ready” pizza and you’re in and out in less than 3 minutes! I will say it’s pretty damn good pizza for only $5. Had to mention it after seeing the picture of the old Sleazer’s inside the Blaine K-Fart.

By: Disco Studd

Disco Studd — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:29:42 +0000

Wow, can’t believe I missed this one! I’ve lived in various places all within 5 miles of this store for the past 21 years, and can’t honestly say I’ve set foot inside since 1995 (when I got my first apartment.) Amazing to see that it looks exactly the same as I remember it! About the only real memory I have of this place is one time I took a friend of mine there to buy a pair of winter boots right after the Thanksgiving Blizzard of 1991. I was trying to do a Rockford in the unplowed K-Mart parking lot in my 1980 Buick Skylark and I ended up snapping a CV joint in one of my car’s front axles!!! The K-Mart auto center was still in business, so I had them fix the car for me ($60 was almost half of what I made per week when I was a senior in HS, so that little bit of clowning around hit me in the pocketbook!)

The one thing I miss the most about this K-Mart has nothing to do with K-Mart itself, but with the restaurant that used to reside in its parking lot: Boston Market. They turned this one into Leann Chin (and also closed the one in Coon Rapids) so I believe the closest one to my house is the one in Roseville. Mmm, rotisserie turkey…

I remember the Chuck-E-Cheese here started out as such, but in the early 90′s it became Circus Pizza. When that chain went belly up, it reverted back to CEC. I took one of my nephews there a couple of years ago, and CEC is nothing like the ones I remember going to in the 80′s. The place is so bright and “airy” compared to the dark and dinginess of CEC circa 1984. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they serve beer there! Good thing too, as it’s a great way to drown out the taste of their absolutely horrible pizza.

By: rayman

rayman — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:51:43 +0000

That nostalgic feel is why I like Kmart. You really need to look at their stuff. Even though I love Target, there seems to be something magical about Kmart. Their stores are not the best, but their not as bad as people say they are. They have great shoes and clothes.

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:26:06 +0000

This strip mall is actually in Blaine. (Barely, by being just east of University Avenue.)

There was a K-Mart in Coon Rapids at one time on Northdale and Hanson. It has since become a Lifetime Fitness.

By: 10 Stores I Wish Were Still Around « Dumpy Strip Malls

10 Stores I Wish Were Still Around « Dumpy Strip Malls — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:32:00 +0000

[...] childhood, the way my poor mom is written about in this blog – so far, she’s deprived me of a slushie in Kmart…movies, and a wood-paneled mini van. But no, that’s really not the case [...]

By: The Old Scowl

The Old Scowl — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:22:39 +0000

That Chuck E. Cheese used to be a playplace for a slightly older set of kids. It used to be known as Widgets. It was one of THE teen places to go to in the 1980s for kids in the Twin Cities. I once saw a French teenager go there and table dance to the Beastie Boys “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”! Well okay. My sister and I brought the guy there, and he was surprisingly enthusiastic for a place that looked like a poor substitute for a discotheque.