No N.D. stores in announced closures

No locations in North Dakota are on the partial list of store closings Sears Holdings Corp. announced Tuesday that it would close 100 to 120 Kmart and Sears, a move that is expected to generate $140 to $170 million of cash after selling the stores’ inventory. As of Dec. 25, Kmart sales were down 1.8 percent and Sears sales had dropped 3.3 percent for the year.

A Thursday announcement included 79 locations that would be closed in 2012, including Kmarts in Willmar, New Hope and White Bear Lake in southern Minnesota.

The Duluth Kmart on Mall Drive by the Miller Hill Mall also will be closed, according to the company. Duluth also has a Kmart located on North Central Avenue that is not on the store closure list.

The company said Thursday’s list represents 79 of the 100 to 120 stores that will be closed sometime in 2012, and additional updates will be posted online.

Sears Holding Corp. did not say how many employees will be affected.

The Grand Forks Herald

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Tags: nd business, news, retail