Kmart store in St. Marys to close

ST. MARYS - The Kmart on Indiana Avenue will be one of 45 Kmart stores and 18 Sears stores to close in late January.

Sears Holdings officials stated in a news release that the stores will remain open during the holiday season, after which eligible associates will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other Kmart or Sears stores. Liquidation sales will begin as early as Nov. 9.

"We will continue to close some unprofitable stores as we transform our business model so that our physical store footprint and our digital capabilities match the needs and preferences of our members," the news release states.

Michael Burkholder, manager of industrial/community development for St. Marys, said the property owners will be responsible for filling the storefront. The center's other anchor, J.C. Penney, and a Radio Shack store also recently closed. A call to City Wide Properties, the agency handling the property, was not returned before press time this morning.