Sears Closing 70+ More Stores: What Maryland Ones Will Remain?

BALTIMORE, MD — Sears is closing at least 72 more locations across the country, the beleaguered retailer said on Thursday. The announcement follows a decision made earlier this year to shutter more than 100 stores. The list of closures was made public Thursday afternoon, and didn't include any Maryland Sears or Kmart sites.

The Sears store at 7885 Eastern Boulevard in Baltimore closed in late January 2018, while the auto center shut down in early December 2017, according to Sears Holdings. Earlier in 2017, Cockeyville's store at 126 Shawan Road and a location at 17318 Valley Mall Road in Hagerstown were slated to close.

There are only 15 Sears stores locations - not including appliance outlets, HomeTown stores or auto centers - left in Maryland:

• Annapolis, 1040 Annapolis Mall
• Baltimore, Security Mall, 6901 Security Sq Blvd.
• Baltimore, White Marsh Mall 8200 Perry Hall Blvd.
• Bel Air, 658 Baltimore Pike
• Bethesda, 7103 Democracy Blvd.
• Bowie, 15700 Emerald Way
• Columbia, 10300 Little Patuxent Pkwy.
• Cumberland, 1262 Vocke Rd.
• Frederick, 5500 Buckeystown Pike
• Gaithersburg, 701 Russell Ave.
• Glen Burnie, 7900 Ritchie Hwy.
• Salisbury, 2306 N Salisbury Blvd.
• Silver Spring, 11255 New Hampshire Ave.
• Waldorf, 11170 Mall Circle
• Westminster, 400 N Center St.

"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 Illinois-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."

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.

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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)

Shannon Antinori contributed to this report