The imminent closure of Chatham's sears outlet has shoppers worried about downtown revitalization.
Sears has been an anchor store in the downtown core for 35 years. Recently it was converted to an outlet centre, selling surplus items from the catalogue and other retail locations.
But it will close in October 2017, when the store’s lease expires.
Mall General Manager Lynn O’Brien says the company’s decision not to renew “is simply a business decision for an organization that is struggling to capture their share of the market in Canada."
In a statement issued to CTV News, Vincent Power of Sears Canada says the exit from Chatham is not at all due to the quality of the 56 employees.
Power adds they will look for opportunities to consolidate, and offer employment to workers interested in relocating for other positions within the company.
Some residents have expressed concerns about how the mall will survive. Ron Barkwell hopes the mall can find a new anchor store to replace Sears in the near future.
