CHICAGO, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Chicago-based retailer Sears & Roebuck Co. will close eight of its namesake stores in what it says are underperforming locations, company officials said.
The announcement comes a day after parent Sears Holding Corp. said it was closing 13 Kmart stores, Crain's Chicago Business reported Friday.
Sears and Kmart stores together total 3,530 nationwide. The company has closed 98 locations since 2008, Crain's said.
Sears said it would shutter stores in Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, New Jersey, Wisconsin and New Hampshire.
The closings will be effective by May 9, the company said, and will affect around 1,000 workers.
Workers are being offered severance packages and the chance to apply for other open positions at nearby Kmart or Sears stores, company spokeswoman Kimberly Freely said.
