Sears files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy One South Florida store will close among 142 nationwide
Sears Holdings — owner of iconic retail brands Sears and Kmart — will close one South Florida Kmart store among 142 other closures, as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization filed Monday.
The Kmart in question is at 12350 SW Eighth Street in Miami. That will leave the tricounty region with five Kmart stores: in Boca Raton, Lantana and Hollywood, and two others in Miami.
Additionally, Sears has eight department stores left in South Florida including in Palm Beach Gardens, Boynton Beach, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Miami and Cutler Bay. It also has auto centers, appliance stores and outlets. It is unknown whether auto centers are part of the latest closings.
The Illinois-based retailer will stay open during the restructuring process.
The closures announced Monday are in addition to the closing of 46 under-performing stores in November, a move that was revealed in August. These 46 stores will include 13 Kmart and 33 Sears locations in several states, including a Sears in the Doral area of MiamiDade County. Sears in Boca Raton store closed in April, and the Westfield Broward mall in Plantation closed this summer.
Sears Holdings had a total of 506 Sears stores and 360 Kmart locations as of Aug. 9.
Here is what Sears and Kmart customers can expect during the process, according to the company’s site:
Q: How are Sears and Kmart stores affected by the site closures?
A: Sales will be held at a number of stores near the end of the year, in time for holiday shopping. Other stores will be conducting sales and closing by November.
Q: Will the company continue to honor warranties on products?
A: Sears says it is currently honoring warranties, protection agreements and guarantees as normal.
Q: Will Sears and Kmart still offer leasing and layaway programs?
A: Yes, leasing and layaway continue as normal.
Q: Can consumers gift cards?
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A: Yes, the stores are accepting gift cards. You can also use them online.
Q: Will there be an impact on Sears Credit Card or Sears Mastercard?
A: The cards should work as normally do.
they Q: Will my appliances still be serviced by Sears Home Services technicians?
A: Yes, Sears Home Services is operating as usual.
Q: Will Sears Auto Center remain open, and will the warranties on car repairs be honored?
A: Yes, Sears Auto Centers remain open. Sears Auto is currently honoring warranties, protection agreements and guarantees as normal. In an undated photo, Ruth Parrington, librarian in the art department of the Chicago Public Library, studies early Sears Roebuck catalogs. The catalog Parrington is holding features women’s fashion from 1902.