Sad Anniversary: Binghamton Plaza Kmart Opened 50 Years Ago Today

A half-century has passed since the opening of Broome County's first Kmart discount department store.

Thousands of people visited the Binghamton Plaza Kmart when operations started on July 29, 1976

Exactly 50 years later, the 24-acre site that had once been home to a dozens of businesses of all sizes sits quietly, waiting for demolition crews to start work in the coming months.

MORE: WNBF News videos and photos at the end of this article.

An entrance to the closed Kmart store in the Binghamton Plaza on July 29, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The head of New Jersey-based Galesi Realty, which owned the Binghamton Plaza, was enthusiastic when a 15-year lease was signed for the new Kmart store.

John Galesi said it was an expression "of faith in that site and the Binghamton market."

The façade of the abandoned Binghamton Kmart store on July 29, 2026. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The Kmart set up shop in a 55,000-square-foot space that had been used by W.T. Grant.

The Binghamton Kmart was the chain's first and last store in Broome County. It closed in December 2016, a few days before Christmas.

FLASHBACK: A going-out-of-business sale was underway at the Binghamton Plaza Kmart store in October 2016. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The city of Binghamton took control of the Binghamton Plaza property last March after a lengthy eminent domain process.

Mayor Jared Kraham on Tuesday told WNBF News environmental testing is continuing at the site.

He expects the city will seek bids for the demolition project in the fall and expects the massive job could start by the end of the year.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A visit to the Binghamton Plaza Kmart building on July 29, 2026.

THE INSIDE STORY: What the closed Kmart store looked like in February 2023.

BINGHAMTON PLAZA KMART: More photos of the site on the city's North Side.

An undated picture of the "Big Kmart" store when it was operating in the Binghamton Plaza. (Photo: Broome County Government)

Inside the former Kmart store in the Binghamton Plaza in February 2023. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

A Kmart shopping cart inside the closed Binghamton Plaza store. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @bobjoseph.bsky.social on Bluesky or @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.