Newark, NJ Memories

10/25/2026

10/23/2026

One of Newark's most recognizable sights, was the enormous blue Sears building on Elizabeth Avenue.

With its striking turquoise-blue exterior, towering Sears sign, and massive presence along the roadway, it was a landmark that was hard to miss. Even people who never shopped there remember driving past that unmistakable building.

The Sears, Roebuck and Co. store opened on October 21, 1929, just days before the infamous Wall Street stock market crash.

It was part of Sears' nationwide expansion from its mail-order catalog business into large retail department stores, bringing customers a huge selection of clothing, furniture, appliances, tools, automotive supplies, and household merchandise.

During the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, Sears was a familiar shopping destination for Newark families.

By the 1970s, changing shopping habits and the growth of suburban malls were taking a toll on older urban department stores.

The Elizabeth Avenue Sears eventually closed, with historical store listings placing its closure in 1976. But for longtime Newark residents, the building itself remained an unforgettable part of the neighborhood's history