Bad news, bargain-hunters: There will soon be one less blue light special in Central Florida.
One of the last remaining Kmarts in Florida will shut its doors this March. “Store closures are part of a series of actions we’re taking to reduce ongoing expenses, adjust our asset base, and accelerate the transformation of our business model,” says Howard Riefs, a Sears Holdings spokesman, to Daytona Beach News Journal.
The store, located on International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, was the last in Volusia and Flagler counties and has been in its current location since 1970.
There is good news, however. The liquidation sale starts Thursday – perfect for a weekend road trip?
The closure is affecting 86 full-time and part-time employees, all of which are invited to apply at other Sears (Kmart’s owner) locations in the area. Those who are eligible will receive severance.
There used to be at least six stores in the Flagler-Volusia area.
An Old Time Pottery is reportedly replacing the Kmart on International Speedway. If you're really needing those deals on batteries, there are Kmarts left out in Kissimmee and Clermont.
This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. Kmart closures are occurring throughout the nation, including in Hawaii, Ohio, Kansas and Idaho.
But here's something that is surprising: According to this post on BuzzFeed, called "21 Things You Know if You're Only Slightly Obsessed With Kmart," Kmart appears to be a thing in Australia. Apparently, we just didn't appreciate the former retail giant they way the Aussies do.
