Sumter’s Kmart to close in March
Liquidation sales expected to begin in January, parent company says
A car leaves the Kmart parking lot, at 1143 Broad St., on Saturday. Kmart's parent company, Sears Holdings, has announced the store will close by late March.
In a sign of the times for brick-and-mortar retail department stores, Sumter’s Kmart will be one of 80 Sears and Kmart stores closing by the end of March, Sears Holding Corp. announced Thursday.
A management-level employee with Sumter’s Kmart -- who asked to not be identified by The Sumter Item -- said Saturday morning that store employees were informed of the upcoming closing on Thursday. She said company policy prohibits employees from giving out additional details.
The local Kmart, 1143 Broad St., is the only South Carolina-based store in the newest closure announcement.
According to a Sears Holdings’ news release, liquidation sales at the identified 80 stores are expected to begin in the second week of January. Sears Holdings also runs Kmart.
The newest closings list is in addition to 182 stores already slated for closure. Sears Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October.
Read more in Sunday's edition of The Item.