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After more than 29 years in business, the Washington Kmart at 70 Cherry Tree Shopping Center will close its doors April 3.
According to Sears Holdings corporate spokeswoman Kim Freely, the store’s 71 employees were notified Jan. 4, adding the liquidation sale began Sunday.
Freely said those employees who qualify will be offered severance packages, while others will be notified of job openings at nearby locations, though they would still have to apply to obtain those jobs.
Freely would not go into details about why the Washington Kmart, which opened in 1981, was closing. She would only say the lease was coming to an end and it would not be renewed.
While Kmart employees were told not to speak with anyone regarding the closing, one woman spoke with the Times-Reporter anonymously.
“We were all kind of told that the lease was (ending)and the owner didn’t want to renew it,” she said. “It’s kind of hard to believe for such a business like that to go out of business — for that to happen is kind of silly I think.”
After working there for several years, she said she believed the store was just starting to come around after going through several managers.
“During my times we’ve gone through five managers — we finally had the same one — (it was) starting to get back on its feet,” she said. “It was a shock to everyone, even management.”
While the company said it would help employees find jobs at other stores, our source said the company has yet to even discuss it with their employees.
“We were told (we) were going to be offered something and no one has heard anything about it,” she said. “All they know is they are going to be letting go of people in March. (We’re) all pretty numb about it because it was pretty sudden.”
About five years ago, Sears, Roebuck and Co., was purchased by Kmart Holding Corp., which then changed its name to Sears Holdings Corp. and continued to operate each brand under their own names.
“This is part of our normal course of business,” Freely said. “We continue to evaluate our portfolio. It could be our decision, the landlord’s decision or a mutual decision to not continue the lease.”
Long-time Washington resident, Cindy Miller said she was upset when she heard the Washington Kmart was closing.
“I’ve never known Washington without a Kmart,” said Miller, born in 1972. “It’s kind of like Harold’s in Sunnyland. I’ve never known life without it. I have a lot of memories going there with my parents.”
After more than 29 years in business, the Washington Kmart at 70 Cherry Tree Shopping Center will close its doors April 3.
According to Sears Holdings corporate spokeswoman Kim Freely, the store’s 71 employees were notified Jan. 4, adding the liquidation sale began Sunday.
Freely said those employees who qualify will be offered severance packages, while others will be notified of job openings at nearby locations, though they would still have to apply to obtain those jobs.
Freely would not go into details about why the Washington Kmart, which opened in 1981, was closing. She would only say the lease was coming to an end and it would not be renewed.
While Kmart employees were told not to speak with anyone regarding the closing, one woman spoke with the Times-Reporter anonymously.
“We were all kind of told that the lease was (ending)and the owner didn’t want to renew it,” she said. “It’s kind of hard to believe for such a business like that to go out of business — for that to happen is kind of silly I think.”
After working there for several years, she said she believed the store was just starting to come around after going through several managers.
“During my times we’ve gone through five managers — we finally had the same one — (it was) starting to get back on its feet,” she said. “It was a shock to everyone, even management.”
While the company said it would help employees find jobs at other stores, our source said the company has yet to even discuss it with their employees.
“We were told (we) were going to be offered something and no one has heard anything about it,” she said. “All they know is they are going to be letting go of people in March. (We’re) all pretty numb about it because it was pretty sudden.”
About five years ago, Sears, Roebuck and Co., was purchased by Kmart Holding Corp., which then changed its name to Sears Holdings Corp. and continued to operate each brand under their own names.
“This is part of our normal course of business,” Freely said. “We continue to evaluate our portfolio. It could be our decision, the landlord’s decision or a mutual decision to not continue the lease.”
Long-time Washington resident, Cindy Miller said she was upset when she heard the Washington Kmart was closing.
“I’ve never known Washington without a Kmart,” said Miller, born in 1972. “It’s kind of like Harold’s in Sunnyland. I’ve never known life without it. I have a lot of memories going there with my parents.”
Miller said the “Walmart effect” can’t be overlooked in all of this.
“As much as I hate the Walmart economy, I have to shop there because we’re on a budget,” Miller said. “I guess I’m guilty as well.”
Miller said she even tried to go Walmart-free for a year, but just couldn’t stay away.
“With Walmart you have the grocery store, but (there are so many people),” Miller said. “I liked Kmart for its quietness, they had great workers and much better customer service.
(While abstaining from Walmart) I had to make four to five extra trips ... it was so hard because you can get everything at Walmart.”
While Miller still made frequent trips to Kmart, she said she never thought business slowed down for Kmart.
While there was speculation Kmart was leaving after it declared bankruptcy in 2002, the unnamed employee at Kmart said she didn’t see a dropoff in business.
“Some people thought Kmart has been going down hill for years and I never saw that,” she said. “It’s been pretty steady ever since I started working there (in 2006). We get a lot of the same customers because they like going there more than Walmart, so they get to know us better.”
Cherry Tree Shopping Center itself is listed as being “For Sale” by its owner, Cherry Tree Associates. The largest player in Cherry Tree Associates is Draper and Kramer, a Chicago commercial real estate holding and management company.
Officials at the Cherry Tree Shopping Center refused to comment on anything having to do with the closing of Kmart or any future plans for the shopping center.
Mayor Gary Manier said he hopes the property manager is going to fill the spot quickly. “They said they have a lead on a couple of businesses,” Manier said. “Our hope is that they can get somebody in there after the first month (Kmart closes) — same with the furniture store.”
Manier said he thinks the stores on the far side of Cherry Tree Shopping Center struggle more than most simply due to accessibility issues.
“Kroger and Monical’s are at the beginning of Cherry Tree and quick off of Business 24 and Cummings, but if you look at Kmart, it’s at the very end,” Manier said.
He said the city is hoping to get a traffic light installed at West Lake on Business 24 to help traffic enter the shopping center.
“Expansion is being discussed for Cherry Tree — if we get (a traffic light) anywhere on (Business 24), that is where the next one would be.”
— Ed McMenamin, Ken Harris and Paul Gordon contributed to this story
