Kmart closing 2 area stores, 13 nationwide By: Monée Fields-White Feb. 18, 2010
(Crain's) —Two Kmart stores are shuttering in the Chicago area, part of a nationwide closing of 13 locations.
A spokeswoman for the retail chain’s parent, Sears Holdings Corp., said 57 employees at the Woodstock store and another 71 at a store in Crestwood will lose their jobs.
“As part of our normal course of business, we continually evaluate our store portfolio and make decisions accordingly,” she said.
The stores are expected to close by May 9.
Other Midwestern states impacted include Ohio, which reported five stores closing and 314 job losses.
The closings come amid an upswing in Kmart’s sales. In the retailer’s third quarter, comparable store sales rose 0.5% and likely jumped 2.6% in the fourth quarter, ended Jan. 31.
