Kmart: A Chronology

• 1897 — Sebastian Kresge and John McCrory open "five-and-dime" general merchandise retail stores in Detroit and Memphis.

Kmart: A Chronology

• 1899 — Partners split and Kresge founds S.S. Kresge Company in Detroit area.

Kmart: A Chronology

•1912 — The company is incorporated as S.S. Kresge Co.

Kmart: A Chronology

•By the 1950s, Kresge is one of the largest general-merchandise retailers in the United States.

Kmart: A Chronology

• 1962 — Kresge opens first Kmart discount store in Detroit.

Kmart: A Chronology

•1977 — The company name is changed to Kmart.

Kmart: A Chronology

•1984-1991 — Kmart adds several lines to its business including Walden Book and Builders Square in 1984, Payless Drugstores Northwest in 1985, PACE Membership Warehouse in 1989, The Sports Authority in 1990, a 90% stake in OfficeMax in 1991, and Borders bookstores in 1992.

Kmart: A Chronology

•1994-1995 — Kmart has brush with bankruptcy amid falling earnings. Kmart sells or spins off OfficeMax, The Sports Authority, Pace and Borders. More than 200 stores closed and Chief Executive Joseph Antonini, architect of the diversification strategy, is replaced by Floyd Hall.

Kmart: A Chronology

•1997 — Kmart launches Martha Stewart bed and bath product line.

•1998 — Kmart acquires 45 former Venture stores and converts them to Big Kmart stores.

Kmart: A Chronology

•1999 — Kmart signs pacts with Supervalu and Fleming Companies to distribute groceries in all stores nationwide; begins $1 billion stock repurchase program; launches online bluelight.com venture.

Kmart: A Chronology

•July 2000 — CEO Charles Conaway announces restructuring plan aimed at making stores, inventories and information systems more productive. Some 72 stores are closed, affecting about 5,000 employees.

Kmart: A Chronology

•August 2001 — Kmart cuts prices on 30,000 items in bid to compete with Wal-Mart. Company posts a fiscal second-quarter loss of $22 million and cites pricing pressures.

Kmart: A Chronology

•September 2001 — Kmart announces plans to shut several distribution centers to improve flow of goods from warehouses to stores.

Kmart: A Chronology

•Oct. 11, 2001 — Kmart September same-store sales fall 1.8%.

Kmart: A Chronology

•Nov. 8, 2001 — Kmart October same-stores sales fall 4.4%.

Kmart: A Chronology•Nov. 27, 2001 — Kmart reports loss of $224

million on lower sales for its fiscal third quarter ended Oct. 31, citing reduced advertising and charges from measures taken to overhaul its method of shipping goods to its stores.

Kmart: A Chronology

•Dec. 6, 2001 — Kmart November same-stores sales fall 2.6%

Kmart: A Chronology•Dec. 14, 2001 — Moody's cuts Kmart debt covering $4.7 billion to "junk" status based on lower-than-expected sales.

Kmart: A Chronology•Jan. 2, 2002 — Prudential Securities analyst

Wayne Hood recommends selling Kmart stock and says he would not be surprised at bankruptcy filing if trends do not improve.

Kmart: A Chronology•Jan. 10, 2002 — Kmart reports December

same-store sales fell 1%, warns that earnings will be below expectations and discloses it is in talks with lenders on supplemental financing. Kmart stock closes at $4.20.

Kmart: A Chronology•Jan. 11, 2002 — Moody's cuts Kmart debt rating again. Kmart stock closes at $3.30.

Kmart: A Chronology•Jan. 14, 2002 — Kmart board of directors

begins meeting to discuss its financial options, including bankruptcy. Moody's and S&P both cut Kmart debt ratings again.

Kmart: A Chronology

•Jan. 15, 2002 — Board of directors continue meeting. S&P says it is dropping Kmart from its index of 500 top stocks. Kmart stock closes at $2.45.

Kmart: A Chronology

•Jan. 16, 2002 — Moody's and S&P again cut Kmart debt ratings. Kmart bonds slide to levels that signal bankruptcy filing could be imminent. Company keeps silent on plans. Kmart stock closes at $1.60.

Kmart: A Chronology• Jan. 17, 2002 — Kmart breaks a week of silence to

announce it has ousted President Mark Schwartz, and named director James Adamson as chairman. Conaway remains CEO. Company also says it is reviewing its liquidity position and talking to lenders about financing.

Kmart: A Chronology• Jan. 21, 2002 — Fleming Companies, Kmart's sole

grocery products supplier, suspends shipments to the retailer after it failed to make its regular weekly payment. Moody's again downgrades the long-term rating for Kmart debt to low junk.

Kmart: A Chronology

•Jan. 22, 2002 — Kmart files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.