Sears Closing 3 Ohio Stores After Filing For Bankruptcy

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH — Two KMarts and one Sears location in Ohio will close as part of the Sears bankruptcy filing. Once America's largest retailer, the down-and-out Sears announced it would close at least 142 of its roughly 700 nationwide Sears and Kmart stores by the end of the year. That's in addition to the previously announced 46 store closings slated for next month.

Only one Northeast Ohio location was impacted, the KMart in Middleburg Heights. A Sears in Niles and another KMart in East Liverpool will both also be shuttered before the end of the year, according to court filings.

"Our goal is to achieve a comprehensive restructuring as efficiently as possible, working closely with our creditors and other debtholders, and be better positioned to execute on our strategy and key priorities."Sears chairman Edward Lampert said in a statement. "As we look toward the holiday season, Sears and Kmart stores remain open for business and our dedicated associates look forward to serving our members and customers."

Here are the addresses for the impacted Ohio stores:

• 17840 Bagley Rd, Middleburg Heights (KMart)
• 5320 Youngstown Rd, Niles (Sears)
• 15891 State Rt 170, East Liverpool, OH (KMart)

Sears became just the latest brick-and-mortar casualty of the digital age. Other iconic chain retailers, like Toys R Us, have been forced to shutter businesses around the nation, and in Ohio, over the past year. Stores that had once served as anchors to shopping plazas throughout the Buckeye State are now either empty or endangered, not wholly unlike many of the retail giants that once dominated the American economy.

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