Gurnee, Vernon Hills Sears Stores To Close

After announcing the closing of more than 100 stores earlier this year, along with closing its last store in Chicago, struggling Illinois-based retailer Sears will close another 72 of its Sears and Kmart locations, including stores in Gurnee and Vernon Hills. The company made the announcement Thursday morning, saying it identified 100 stores as non-profitable.

"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. "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."

These are the Illinois locations set to close, with liquidation sales set to begin as early as June 14:

Sears

• Fox Valley Center, Aurora
• Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills
• 104 W. White Oaks Hall, Springfield
• 6136 W. Grand Avenue, Gurnee

Kmart

• 5909 E. State St., Rockford

The Fox Valley, Vernon Hills and Springfield Sears will close in late July. The Gurnee location will close by late June.

"The company on Thursday, May 31 informed associates at 15 Kmart stores and 48 Sears stores that we will be closing these stores in early September 2018," the company said. "Eligible associates impacted by these store closures will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores."

Other Illinois stores may also close, as the list posted Thursday is not complete:

"A small group of stores was pulled from the closing list of 72 stores on May 31 as they are being evaluated further," Sears said.

In January, Sears announced it was laying off 220 employees at its Illinois headquarters.

Written by Shannon Antinori

Photo: Signs advertise the closing of a Sears store on May 3, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The store, which opened in 1938, is the city's last remaining Sears store. Sears opened its first retail store in Chicago in 1925.

(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)