S. S. Kresge Company

Sebastian Spering Kresge and a partner founded the five-and-dime, Kresge’s, in Detroit in 1897. He soon became the sole owner, and by 1935, Kresge’s grew to 745 stores in the Midwest and East. In 1962, the company decided to venture into the discount market and opened the first Kmart outside Detroit. They expanded aggressively, and the corporate name was changed to Kmart in 1977. The remaining Kresge stores were sold off by 1987.