Lemoore Kmart to close its doors. Local store has been a mainstay in local shopping

And one of the businesses is in Lemoore. Sears is the parent company of Kmart, and Lemoore’s long-time store, located in the Save Mart Shopping Center, is on the list of department stores slated for closing. CNN says that liquidation sales could begin within two weeks according to Sears’ bankruptcy filing.

The news surprised some in Lemoore, including Lemoore Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Amy Ward. “We’re obviously disheartened,” she said, upon hearing the announcement today (Oct. 15). “We’re losing another business in our area. I’m still trying to process the impact of how this will affect the community.”

She heard about the closure from television reports. She has not spoken with anyone from the Lemoore Kmart. According to Ward, the Lemoore Kmart – due to company policies – does not belong to the chamber.

California may have taken the biggest hit as plans call for seven Kmarts, including the store in Lemoore, to close. Visalia’s Kmart is also expected to shut its doors. At least 10 California Sears’ stores are scheduled to shutter their doors. The stores are unprofitable.

The Leader contacted the Lemoore Kmart manager, but she referred all questions to the company’s media spokesperson. She did say that the Lemoore Kmart employs approximately 100 employees.

“Kmart has been a long-time partner in Lemoore,” recalled Lemoore Mayor Ray Madrigal. “It’s unfortunate that market factors in retail, particularly the increasing trend of people to shop online, have claimed another victim.

“Our store is one of 142 Kmart and Sears stores that will be closing. Other regional stores Kmart stores will also close in Visalia, Modesto, and Delano. I am personally regretful for the employees who will be out of work.”

Madrigal says there is support for those employees through the Kings Economic Development Corporation (EDC) training office where they can learn new job skills, and of course West Hills College, with its curriculum of new tech and industry classes.

Kings County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director, Lance Lippincott says his agency is ready to step in and assist displaced employees. "In conjunction with our partners at the California Employment Development Department, the Kings County Job Training Office will attempt to schedule a series of onsite visits to workers to provide them information on resources and invite them to visit the Kings County One-Stop Center to take advantage of services in finding re-employment," he said Monday night.

At the same time, Lippincott vowed to market the existing site through the Kings County Economic Development Corporation and seek potential businesses looking to relocate or expand. "These efforts will be comprised of e-outreach to site selectors through email, social media, and website; and physical outreach at events across California."

The 132-year-old company, once one of the largest department store chains in the world, experts say, was the victim of online sales. It has been struggling for several years and is mired in debt.

The federal bankruptcy court filing in New York came Monday morning. The company issued a statement saying it intends to stay in business, keeping open stores that are profitable, along with the Sears and Kmart websites.

As of the filing, about 700 stores remained open and the company employed 68,000 workers. That's down from 1,000 stores with 89,000 employees that it had as recently as February.