Sears to close Cherry Vale Mall anchor store in March

By Ken DeCoster
Staff writer

Posted Dec 28, 2018 at 1:43 PMUpdated Dec 28, 2018 at 8:07 PM

Bankrupt retailer announces 80 Sears and Kmart store closings nationwide

CHERRY VALLEY — Sears Holdings will shutter 80 Sears and Kmart stores in March, including the two-story Sears anchor store at CherryVale Mall, the bankrupt retailer announced Friday.

The Hoffman Estates-based company informed employees at the stores Thursday. Liquidation sales at these stores are expected to begin in two weeks. The accompanying Sears Auto Center at the affected Sears stores also will be closing.

The Sears store at CherryVale dates back to the fall of 1973, when the mall first opened.

“In anticipation of this closure we have proactively engaged in discussions with a number of retailers and other users.” CherryVale Mall operator CBL Properties said in a statement. “We are working on plans to redevelop the Sears building, but at this time it’s too early to provide a concrete timeline or tenant names.

“I think what we’re seeing in the retail world is not going to end anytime soon,” Rockford Area Economic Development Council President Nathan Bryant said. “Brick and mortar retailing has changed drastically with the way online commerce works.”

According to Bryant, malls across the country are looking into different uses for what traditionally had been retail space, including warehouse and distribution operations, call centers and entertainment venues.

“There’s a lot of interesting use conversions that could be looked at for those types of spaces,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ken DeCoster: 815-987-1391; kdecoster@rrstar.com; @DeCosterKen

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