Kmart is an acronym that stands for S.S. Kresge Company.
The company was founded by Sebastian S. Kresge in 1899, who opened his first five-and-ten-cent store in Detroit, Michigan.
The name "Kresge" was shortened to "Kmart" in 1977 to reflect the company's evolution into a larger discount retailer.
Kmart was a major player in the retail landscape for many years, but faced challenges from competitors such as Walmart and Target.
The company filed for bankruptcy in 2002 and was eventually acquired by Sears Holdings Corporation.
While Kmart still exists today, it is a much smaller and less prominent retailer than it once was.
