Sears At Countryside Mall Latest Brick-And-Mortar Casualty

CLEARWATER, FL – Struggling Sears Holding Corp. has announced that it will close more Sears and Kmart stores including the Sears at Countryside Mall, 27001 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater.

The Clearwater Sears is the latest brick-and-mortar casualty for the company.

It’s among two dozen stores slated to close this year in 17 states by mid-July. These latest closures follow Sears’ previously announced decision to close 166 Sears and Kmart stores around the country.

Sears spokesman Howard Riefs said some employees at the closing stores would be eligible for severance and have an opportunity to apply for open positions at other area Sears or Kmart stores.

Most of the stores on the newest closing list will begin liquidation sales by April 27.

In the last five years, Sears has cut the number of stores it operates in half. In 2013, Sears had 1,980 stores. With the latest closure, it’s store count will be down to less than 1,000 stores.

Nevertheless, Sears chairman/CEO Eddie Lampert said the 126-year-old company isn’t ready to throw in the towel.

In a statement released last month, Lampert said he believes the company is making a profitable transformation with the decision to open stores with smaller formats, its increased emphasis on online sales and its "game-changing partnership" with Amazon, which will sell two of its iconic brands online, Kenmore and DieHard.

Sears still has stores at Westfield Brandon mall, Westfield Citrus Park, University Square Mall in Tampa, Westshore Plaza, Lakeland Square Mall, Gulf View Square Mall in Port Richey, DeSoto Square Mall in Bradenton

While the latest list of closures includes the Kmart in Brandon, Sears has not announced plans to close Kmart stores in Ellenton, Bradenton, St. Petersburg and Tampa.

Image via Sears