Citrus Park Sears, Busch Boulevard Kmart To Close

TAMPA, FL -- As Sears officials continue trying to pull the beleaguered company out of financial hot water, the retail store has announced more store closures. Among the latest round of closures are the Sears at Westfield Citrus Park mall and Kmart at 5400 E. Busch Boulevard, Tampa.

In all, Sears Holding Corp. said it has identified 100 stores that are no longer profitable and released a list of 72 of them that it will close.

Sears said the stores will close in early September. However, the Sears Auto Center at Westfield Citrus Park will close its doors in late June.

Illinois-based Sears and Sears-owned Kmart stores have been dropping like flies since last fall.

The 126-year-old company reported a $424 million loss for the period ending May 5.

In January, the company announced it was closing 64 Kmarts and 39 Sears stores including the Kmart at 501 N. Beneva Road in Sarasota. Two months later, the Kmart at 1602 W. Brandon Blvd., was added to the chopping block.

Two weeks later, Sears announced more closings including the Sears at Countryside Mall, 27001 U.S. 19 N., Clearwater.

Brandon Kmart Latest Brick-And-Mortar Casualty
Sears At Countryside Mall Latest Brick-And-Mortar Casualty

Sears stores in Tampa Bay that remain open include the Sears at Westfield Brandon, 686 Town Center Drive; 303 U.S. 301 Boulevard W in Bradenton; the Sears Appliance Outlet at 5251 110th Ave. N., Clearwater; the Sears store and auto center at 3800 U.S. 98 N., Lakeland; the Sears store and auto center at 9409 U.S. 19 N., Port Richey; the Sears Appliance Outlet at 4600 Park St. N., St. Petersburg: Sears and Sears Auto Center, 599 Westshore Plaza; Sears store and auto center at University Square Mall, 2266 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa; the Sears Appliance Outlet Store, 5245 N. Florida Ave., Tampa; and the Sears Appliance Outlet in Winter Park.

Kmart stores still open include 7350 Manatee Way, Bradenton; 6126 U.S. 301, Ellenton; and 4501 66th St. N., St. Petersburg.

The company closed nearly 400 stores during the past 12 months, and now has a total of 894 left, including the 72 slated for closure. The two chains had a total of 3,500 U.S. stores between them when they merged in 2005.

Sears said eligible associates impacted by the closing of these 72 stores will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other area Kmart or Sears stores.

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