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photo by Jeff Findley
KMART TO CLOSE MAY 9. The local store is one of 13—out of 1,300 nationwide—to close.
Kmart closing May 9
Published Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Kmart store located on Shotwell Street in Bainbridge is slated to close in May.
Local officials informed the 68 associates employed at the store during a meeting on Wednesday.
Kim Freely, a spokesperson for Sears Holding Corp., the parent company of Kmart, confirmed the store closing sale will begin on Feb. 21 and continue through the store’s closing on May 9.
Freely indicated that the Bainbridge location is one of 13 Kmart stores, of the 1,300 nationwide, closing at this time because of “business reasons.”
Kmart was originally located across the street in the location where the Sears is currently located. It moved to its present location, at 1615 E. Shotwell St., in 1990.
Matt Palmer, the chairman of the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, was disappointed to hear of the closing.
“This is certainly disappointing news, not only from a retail perspective, but from the lost jobs due to the closing,” Palmer said. “The Chamber is committed to help fill the void left by the Kmart closing.”
In 2002, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and more than two years later, emerged from bankruptcy, but it had closed 300 stores in the United States and laid off approximately 34,000 workers as part of restructuring the company. In 2004, Kmart announced its intention to purchase Sears, Roebuck and Company.
Comments
Posted by Sowega_girl (anonymous) on February 4, 2010 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sorry for the loss of more jobs, but considering the lack of customer service lately, I can't say I'm surprised. We were in there a few days ago and were treated very rudely. Couldn't wait to get out of there and go to WalMart!
Posted by SeminoleJack (anonymous) on February 5, 2010 at 3:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep, same story here. The employees act as if they were doing the customers a favor by just being there. One actually let out an exasperated breath, when I asked her to please reach for something on the top shelf. It was so much bother to get a ladder.
I guess management has a lot to do with the attitude. It's a shame - I once loved shopping at K-Mart .
Posted by josey54 (anonymous) on February 6, 2010 at 7:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a shame that people find the time to bash other's.These people just found out they were losing their jobs.K'Mart has been a part of this community for 30 years.I do agree that at times the service was not 100%,but that can be said for every retail store in this town. 68 people without a job. another empty building.
Posted by SeminoleJack (anonymous) on February 8, 2010 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They brought it on their own selves with the lousy job they are doing. Their performance was not up to par and I wondered for years how they stayed in business.
Sorry about their jobs. Tough times.
Posted by sweetpeach1 (anonymous) on February 8, 2010 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
With the unemployment line growing every day, you'd think these people might have appreciated their jobs more and been a little more eager to help a customer, rather than lose that customer and therefore their job. I truly feel for those in this situation, however, I stopped shopping there long before Walmart came to town. A person can only pay for so much rudeness.
Posted by blpr1120 (anonymous) on February 16, 2010 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes so true that so many are losing their jobs but Wal Mart is no better the staff here in my store are SOOOOOO rude and they do not even acknowledge you as a human being.
I guess I wonder why staff at Kmart is also rude but not as bad as Walmart. I have had asked an associate at Walmart many times for help and I get the same sigh. It is just a sign of the times in the big box stores and customer service.
Posted by Sweetjanice39897 (anonymous) on February 18, 2010 at 4:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I also agree about Walmart.In the summer time,it is so hot in there that you hurry and buy as little as possible just to get out.I complained to the manager and he said he was sorry but Walmart made them set it at a certain temp.I emailed the home office and got no reply. Also about the customer service,it is so very hard to find someone to help you as a customer,they always get on the phone and call someone else, who never comes.On the first of the month when most people get their retirement checks,the one in Cairo will have ONE register open.At times, when it is so hot,my Mother just leaves her buggy standing and leaves.
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