Cape Girardeau Sears, Kmart stores not among first round of cuts

Cape Girardeau's Sears Grand and Kmart escaped the first round of store closings announced by Sears Holdings Corp.

A list of 79 of the 100 to 120 stores closing, first announced Tuesday, was made public Thursday on the company's website. It includes two Missouri Sears stores, one in Lee's Summit and another in Crestwood.

Kmart, on Kingshighway, employs about 70 workers, and Sears Grand on Siemers Drive has 100 employees.

Sears Holdings Corp. cited a combination of lower sales, especially for big-ticket items, and expense increases in its decision.

A date was not specified for when additional store closings will be announced, just that they would be posted on the company's website as they become available.

The store closures are expected generate $140 to $170 million of cash as the net inventory in these stores is sold and additional cash proceeds are expected from the sale or sublease of the related real estate, according to a company news release.

The company said it cannot provide a total number of employees affected because employment varies by store.

Pertinent address:

330 Siemers Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

11 S. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO