Iconic Retailer Will Now Close 1 CT Location

Well this is a change. Last week Sears officials announced plans to close an additional 63 stores across the country by the end of the year and at the time no Connecticut stores were scheduled to close. That all changed on Thursday afternoon as the Sears located at 425 Union St. in Waterbury will close in the beginning of September, NBC Connecticut reports.

A Sears official told NBC Connecticut that “As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline the Company's operations and focus on our best stores, the company on Wednesday, June 6 informed associates at the Sears store in Waterbury that it would be closing in early September 2018." Impacted employees will be entitled to a severance package and may be able to move to other stores in the state, according to the report.

A liquidation sale could begin at the Waterbury Sears on June 14, WTNH News 8 reports.

Sears currently has stores in Danbury, Manchester, Milford, Waterbury, Meriden, and Waterford. Kmart currently has locations in Milford, Vernon and Watertown.

Sears Appliance and Hardware in Shelton, which was independently owned, closed its doors last year. The Sears in Enfield also closed in 2017. The Southbury Kmart also closed last year. As of 2011, Sears had locations in Putnam and West Hartford that have since closed and Kmart has closed stores in Cromwell, Waterbury, Southbury, and Torriginton.

"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, 72 of which will begin store closing sales in the near future," the Hoffman Estates-based company said in a statement last week. "We continue to evaluate our network of stores, which are a critical component in our transformation, and will make further adjustments as needed and as warranted."

Sears reported a net loss of $424 million during the first quarter of 2018. During the first quarter last year, Sears saw earnings of $245 million, due in part to a $492 million gain related to the sale of the Craftsman brand.

"In a challenging quarter, we continued to focus on our strategic transformation, identifying additional opportunities to streamline operations and adjust inventory and operating expenses while staying focused on our Best Members, Best Categories and Best Stores," Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Holdings Edward S. Lampert said in a statement.

>>>Read More at NBC CT.

>>>Read More at News 8.

Patch Staff including Shannon Antinori contributed to this story.