LOCAL

Albertville Kmart to close

Latest round of downsizing results in 45 Kmarts, 18 Sears stores to shutter

Times Staff Report

Kmart at 7200 U.S. Highway 431 in Albertville will close in late January, according to a news release from Sears Holdings.

The company on Thursday announced that it will close 45 Kmart and 18 Sears stores nationwide in the latest round of downsizing. The company closed 43 stores in June and 28 in July, and recently announced that it will discontinue its 101-year relationship with Whirlpool and its associated brands, Maytag, KitchenAid and Jenn-Air.

“Sears Holdings continues its strategic assessment of the productivity of our Kmart and Sears store base and will continue to right size our store footprint in number and size,” the release said. “In the process, as previously announced we will continue to close some unprofitable stores as we transform our business model so that our physical store footprint and our digital capabilities match the needs and preferences of our members.”

The only other store closing in Alabama is the Sears on McFarland Boulevard in Tuscaloosa.

Eligible employees working at these stores will receive severance and be given the opportunity to apply for open positions at nearby Kmart or Sears stores, the release said. Liquidation sales will begin Thursday.