More than 600 Kmart employees will lose jobs
Five Michigan Kmart stores will close in early December, Sears Holdings announced Tuesday.
The stores will begin their liquidation sales on September 28.
“Store closures are part of a series of actions we’re taking to reduce on-going expenses, adjust our asset base, and accelerate the transformation of our business model,” said Sears Holdings spokesman Howard Riefs in a statement.
Here are the five stores set to close:
• Burton (85 employees)
• Flint (81 employees)
• Madison Heights (179 employees)
• Port Huron (188 employees)
• Rochester (77 employees)
Overall, Kmart says 610 employees will lose jobs due to these closures.
“Those associates that are eligible will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Sears or Kmart stores. Most of the associates are part time/hourly,” said Riefs in a statement.
The Detroit Kmart location on Telegraph Road, just south of 8 Mile Road, and the Southgate location on Fort Street will be closing in October. Those closures were announced earlier this year.
Kmart was founded in 1962 when the S.S. Kresge Corp. opened the first store in Garden City, Mich. Kmart’s roots date back to 1899, when Sebastian S. Kresge founded the S.S. Kresge Co. In 1977 the S.S. Kresge Corp. was renamed the Kmart Corp.
