Michigan is Losing Its Final Sears Store
Sears was once one of America’s biggest retail brands, but now, the final Sears stores around the country are closing their doors. That includes the final brick-and-mortar Sears store in Michigan.
According to a release, more than 100 independently owned and operated Sears Hometown Stores are in the process of closing in 36 states. Liquidation sales are taking place at 115 Sears Hometown stores. Gift cards will reportedly be honored during the store-closing sales, which will take place during regular business hours at all 115 stores.
The last standing Sears store in Michigan is the Sears Hometown Store on N. Fenton Road in Fenton Township. Ala Hasan purchased the store in April 2022. This week, Hasan said (via the www.TCTimes.com), “This was a complete surprise to us and we are truly saddened. We would like to thank all of our loyal customers for the past 13 years. We have not decided what direction we may go in the future.”
“Shoppers who acquire higher-ticket items such as riding lawn mowers or home appliances will still be able to protect those investments by purchasing an additional, third-party warranty,” added Billy Nichols, senior vice president and director of merchandising for B. Riley Retail Solutions. “While the joint venture partners are managing the sales, local Sears Hometown dealers and associates will be on hand to provide advice and answer any questions consumers might have.”
A Retailwire.com article published in December 2022 discussed what’s going on with all the closings. According to the article, “What is happening here is this company is going out of business,” Mark Minuti, an attorney for Sears Hometown, said at the first bankruptcy hearing, according to Bloomberg. “Make no mistake about it: this is a sad day for our company.” The article added, “The ending of Sears Hometown marks another disappointing and demoralizing chapter in the larger story of Sears under the control of Eddie Lampert. Sears Hometown, which was spun off by Sears Holdings in 2012, had around 1,250 stores operating in 2014 under the banners Sears Hometown Stores, Sears Home Appliance Showrooms, Sears Appliance & Hardware Stores and Sears Outlet Stores.”