The final Sears store in New Jersey is set to close its doors permanently, causing disappointment among its loyal customers.
Currently, the store hosts a massive discount sale, slashing prices by as much as 70% to sell off all remaining merchandise.
At the Jersey City, New Jersey, Sears store, customers find tools and clothing discounted by up to 40 and 50 percent. This store is among the remaining dozen Sears operating in the United States.
The upcoming closure of this store follows just 14 months after Sears emerged from bankruptcy. Once a retail giant with about 700 stores, Sears has seen a dramatic reduction in numbers, with hundreds of its stores shutting down recently.
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Final Sears Store: A Quiet Farewell
In a silent closure, the last Sears store in Jersey City remained unreachable for comments. When the Daily Voice tried to contact the store at 7 p.m., they received an automated message stating the store was closed.
Attempts to contact Simon Property Group, the owners of Newport Centre, and the Sears corporate office have not received any responses.
The unexpected announcement of the closure, made only through a Facebook post, has left several questions unanswered, particularly regarding the date of the store's final business day.
Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears, has been facing financial troubles since its 2018 bankruptcy filing. After the closure of the Hackensack store in 2020, a notable local landmark, the Jersey City store stood as the last Sears in New Jersey.
Now, the impending shutdown of this store marks the end of Sears' retail presence in the state and highlights another major challenge in the company's ongoing efforts to revive and stabilize itself.
Local Sears Closure: Community Heartbroken
The news of the Sears store closing has been received with sadness by its local customers. The store's announcement on Facebook sparked many responses, as many people voiced their upset feelings and reminisced about their shopping experiences at Sears.
The departure of Sears, a store that has catered to several generations, is set to create a noticeable gap in New Jersey's retail scene.
One customer summed up the mood with a simple online post: "Another bites the dust." The looming closure of the store has left shoppers feeling devastated and confused.
"Why close it? It's an iconic store in a great location," a customer questioned. Another shared a more personal impact: "My son loves Sears, and he's heartbroken over this.
Dedicated shoppers must visit the store one last time before it permanently closes. "I need to know the last day; it's changing my travel plans," one said.
Currently, only 11 other Sears stores are open in the United States, including four in California, three in Florida, two in Washington, and one in Texas and Massachusetts. Sears also maintains stores in Mexico and Puerto Rico.
In May 2022, company officials announced that over 70 stores would shut down as part of Sears' restructuring efforts.
Between 2018 and 2022, hundreds of Sears locations closed as the company battled to stay afloat. Following its emergence from bankruptcy in October 2022, only 22 Sears stores remained operational.
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