Sears Holdings is closing more stores including one in the Rochester area.
The company this week announced another 46 locations to close, including 33 Sears stores and 13 Kmart stores.
The latest list will include the Sears store at Eastview Mall in Victor. It will close down in November. Also, the company says the Sears Auto Center at that location will close in late September.
Sears was an original anchor store at Eastview when it opened in 1971.
Sears issued this statement:
"As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline Sears Holdings’ operations, strengthen our capital position and focus on our best stores, this week the company informed associates at 46 unprofitable stores that we will be closing these stores in November 2018. We continue to evaluate our network of stores, which is a critical component to our integrated retail transformation, and will make further adjustments as needed.
We thank associates affected by these store closures for their many contributions to our company. Eligible associates will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores."
Liquidation sales at those 46 stores are expected to begin as soon as next week.
Earlier this year, Sears said it was planning to close more than 100 stores.
The Sears at Greece Ridge mall closed in July.
With the closure of the Victor location, the only Sears store in the immediate Rochester area will be at Marketplace Mall.
Dennis Wilmot, Senior Vice President of Leasing and Development at Wilmorite issued this statement:
“The announcement that Sears at Eastview will be closing in November is disappointing but not entirely unexpected. The general public is well aware of Sears ongoing struggles in the rapidly changing retail environment. Wilmorite has invested millions of dollars over the past two decades to keep the mall a vibrant super regional shopping destination. The same cannot be said for the Sears store in Victor. The store at Eastview, similar to over 200 stores nationwide, is owned by Seritage Growth Properties. Seritage has successfully redeveloped many of these locations into vibrant retail complexes that complement and in most cases enhance the adjoining malls. Given the success Eastview continues to experience in a difficult retail climate, the closure may be a result of the intangible value of the real estate and what it could become.”
There was no immediate word on what Wilmorite might do with the Sears space when that operation leaves.
