Will 14% of Sears Auto Centers close?

Sears Holdings Corp. is located in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Sears Holdings Corp. is having financial difficulties. How will that affect the 837 Sears Auto Centers?

Sears recently announced it is closing 100 to 120 Kmart and Sears full-line stores; 788 of the auto centers are located in full-line stores, including 20 in Kmart stores. Conceivably, up to 120 Sears Auto Centers, or 14.3% of the total, may close their doors or be sold.

Modern Tire Dealer Editor discusses the move in his latest blog, "Sears Auto Centers may be in a state of flux." He puts the news in context, and gives you a short preview of the 2012 MTD Facts Issue at the same time.

Sears has yet to announce all of the stores that will be closed. But you can find a link to the announced store closings by clicking here.

Would you be sorry to see a competitor of Sears' caliber in your area go by the wayside? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment!

Related Topics: B.O.B., Mass merchandisers, Sears Auto Centers

comments

1. april | December 29, 2011 at 11:07AM
   Everyone in the community feels sadden by the closure of the smaller mom and pop shops that have been around for more than 50 years and started the auto business in their respective area, but when you hear a store like Sears closing its doors, it means a whole neighborhood is going away. Sears, like many others started off small in community centered malls where most items were ordered by catalog. Yes, they have grown with the times and have provided a wide variety of items for everyone. Sears may not be your usual mass merchandiser, but they are definetly not your 'bulk' merchandiser. Although large, depending on the area, they still offer customer service that other mass merchandisers don't consider. I remember my family going to a Sears store when it was a walk-in 40X60 space with catalogs lining the counters, a few mowers and a washer and dryer set 45 years ago and today where you can actually see and feel the product. Back then there was no auto center, we had gas stations and a few independants for that. Now with Kmart, together they offer everything. I am a independant tire dealer going on 27 years now and I can still feel the economic struggles, I can only imagine what a large corporation feels. Even though they are my competitor, I will surely miss them if they leave my area.

2. rich | December 29, 2011 at 12:38PM
   No one ever should like to hear a businss is closing these days even if it is a competitor! All that really means is more American workers are left unemployed, and their family will suffer the consequences.

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