×

Calcutta Kmart to close as Sears files for bankruptcy

CALCUTTA — After avoiding closure the past few years, the Calcutta Kmart will officially go out of business at the end of the year, this after parent company Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection early Monday.

The Calcutta store — located at 15891 state Route 170 — is among the additional list of 142 Kmart and Sears locations that will shutter its doors at the end of the year, after the Chicago-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an attempt to remain in business following years of financial problems.

The Calcutta store is one of three sites in Ohio that will close, along with the Kmart in Middlesburg Heights in Cuyahoga County and the Sears at the Eastwood Mall in Niles. A total of 13 stores in Pennsylvania — nine Kmart and four Sears — and two in West Virginia (a Kmart in Charleston and a Sears in Morgantown) also were among Monday’s list of closures.

Sears previously announced the closure of 46 stores considered unprofitable in August, with those stores expected to end business in November.

Locally, some customers reacted to the news of the closure with disappointment, along with concern.

One shopper, Earl Clutter, considered the closure “heartbreaking,” stating he had spoken with some of the employees while visiting the store earlier in the day. He said with the Christmas holiday approaching, he hoped the company would reconsider.

“I just feel that they need to give this store another chance,” Clutter said. “With Christmas coming up, I’m sure they’re going to make some business, and I’d just like to see them change their mind.”

Another shopper who wished to remain anonymous said she was concerned about the possibility of the Calcutta store’s potential closure following the list announced in August.

“It’s disappointing,” the woman said. “We always come here to shop. We come all the way from Pennsylvania. Since the one in Moon (Township) closed, we’ve been coming here.

“There’s a lot of people that I know from that area that come here. That’s a lot of business that I know. It’s the only place where you could do a layaway other than Walmart.”

When asked for comment, a store manager with Calcutta Kmart referred questions to corporate communications director Howard Riefs, who could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

The list of closures came as Sears made its filing overnight after it faced major debt and struggling losses the past few years, along with a $134 million debt payment that was due Monday the company reportedly was unable to make. The company said the closures were part of their processes “to accelerate strategic transformation and facilitate financial restructuring.”

Liquidation sales for stores on Monday’s list are expected to start within the next couple weeks, with those closures to be finalized by the end of the year.

Last year, the Calcutta building itself — which Kmart leases — was sold to Calcutta Realty Associates LLC of Oakmont, Pa., which had purchased the building from ELO Fields LLC for $1.67 million. The company is controlled by Pittsburgh-area resident Joseph Kallen, who is also chairman and CEO of Busy Beaver, according to published accounts.

A phone message left at Calcutta Realty Associates also was not returned as of press time.

srappach@reviewonline.com

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today