Sears, Kmart Closing More Stores: Long Island Not Spared

After announcing the closing of more than 100 stores earlier this year, iconic retailer Sears will close another 63 locations, 48 of its flagship stores and 15 Kmart locations. The company made the announcement Thursday.

Here on Long Island, there is one store getting the ax: the Kmart located at 1000 Montauk Highway in West Babylon.

Sears has closed a number of its Long Island stores in recent years as the company battles a rise in online shopping that has slashed its profits.

"As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline the company's operations and focus on our Best Stores, we have identified approximately 100 non-profitable stores, 72 of which will begin store closing sales in the near future," the Hoffman Estates-based company said in a statement. "We continue to evaluate our network of stores, which are a critical component in our transformation, and will make further adjustments as needed and as warranted."

Initially, the company announced plans to close 72 stores but it pulled nine from the closing list for now.

>>>>See the full list of stores slated to close

Sears reported a net loss of $424 million during the first quarter of 2018. During the first quarter last year, Sears saw earnings of $245 million, due in part to a $492 million gain related to the sale of the Craftsman brand.

"In a challenging quarter, we continued to focus on our strategic transformation, identifying additional opportunities to streamline operations and adjust inventory and operating expenses while staying focused on our Best Members, Best Categories and Best Stores," Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Holdings Edward S. Lampert said in a statement.

Patch Staff including Shannon Antinori contributed to this story.

Photo: Signs advertise the closing of a Sears store on May 3, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The store, which opened in 1938, is the city's last remaining Sears store. Sears opened its first retail store in Chicago in 1925. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)