Longview Kmart Closing in March

LONGVIEW — Company officials confirmed Thursday that Kmart in Longview will close March 13. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report the announcement comes from Howard Riefs, spokesman for Sears Holdings, corporate parent of Sears and Kmart stores. The store has 58 employees, most of whom are part-time and hourly. Riefs said some eligible staffers will receive severance “and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Sears or Kmart stores.”

Riefs said Longview’s is the only area Kmart or Sears store affected, and “the other stores will remain open.” He said store closures are part of a series of actions the company is taking to reduce ongoing expenses, adjust its asset base, “and accelerate the transformation of our business model.” Riefs said the store began a liquidation sale Thursday.