Kmart, Sears woes not affecting local stores

Nearly 80 Sears and Kmart stores across the country may close before Christmas, many financial news outlets reported late last week, but Cape Girardeau's stores appear to be safe from the cuts despite few specifics on the parent company's planned closing list.

The closings are a result of continued financial struggles for Sears Holdings Corp., which have worsened since the company bought Kmart stores in 2005, the Associated Press reported Friday.

Only one store in Missouri, a Kmart in Florissant, was included on a closings list compiled through liquidation notices by Seeking Alpha, a financial market news website. No official announcement of closings has come from Sears Holding Corp. A company spokesperson also told the Associated Press the store count and list of closures was inaccurate and declined to offer details, though local media in many communities with stores on the list were able to confirm closings with local store representatives.

Cape Girardeau's Kmart and Sears stores also were spared during a two-part round of closings in late 2011 and early 2012, though two Sears stores in Lee's Summit and Crestwood, Missouri, were closed.

Both Cape Girardeau stores are hiring as the holiday shopping season approaches.

The Cape Girardeau Sears Grand store, on Siemers Drive, posted job openings for salespeople as recently as Tuesday and was among employers that participated in a career fair for job seekers Thursday; Kmart, on South Kingshighway, also has posted seasonal openings at the store this month.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent address:

330 Siemers Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

11 S. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO