Sears to close five Illinois stores

Chronicle Media

Sears Holdings has announced that it will close four Sears and one Kmart in Illinois in early September. The company, after this round of closings, will have about 800 stores, down from 1,000 last year and a peak of 4,000 in 2012. (Photo courtesy of Sears Holdings)

Illinois will lose four more Sears stores and a Kmart store by this fall.

Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears and Kmart, announced the closings last week as the company tries to streamline operations.

Sears stores that are closing are in:

  • Aurora – Fox Valley Center
  • Gurnee – 6136 W. Grand Ave.
  • Vernon Hills – Hawthorne Center
  • Springfield –White Oaks Mall

The one additional Kmart in Illinois that is closing is in:

  • Rockford – 5909 E. State St.

While the Sears stores are slated to close in early September, the auto centers at the Illinois stores will close sooner.

The Sears Auto Center in Gurnee will close in late June, while the company’s auto centers at Fox Valley, Gurnee and Vernon Hills will close in late July.

In a statement, Sears Holdings said, “As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline the company’s operations and focus on our best stores, we have identified approximately 100 non-profitable stores, many of which will begin store-closing sales in the near future. We continue to evaluate our network of stores, which is a critical component in our transformation, and will make further adjustments as needed and as warranted.”

The announced Illinois closings were part of 15 Kmart stores and 48 Sears stores nationwide that are being closed.

Associates impacted by the store closures will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart and Sears stores.

Sears Holdings advised customers that they could use the “Store Locator” function at www.sears.com or www.kmart.com to find the nearest Sears or Kmart.

Liquidation sales at closing stores will begin as early as June 14.

Sears Holding officials noted that a small group of stores were pulled from the original closing list of 72 as they are being further evaluated.

 

 

 

 

 

— Sears to close five Illinois stores —-