The Sears store at Leigh Mall is one of three that Sears Holdings plans to close in Mississippi.
However, employees at the store were not aware of the closure late Thursday afternoon.
A man who answered the phone at the store said it was news to them that closure was imminent. He did not know how many employees work at the store and referred calls to Sears’ corporate office in Hoffman Estates, Ill. The store manager had already left for the day.
The company announced Tuesday its plans to close 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores due to poor fourth-quarter and year-to-date sales. Sears Holdings also owns Kmart.
A list posted to the corporation’s website noted stores in Columbus, Jackson and McComb will close at a date to be determined.
The list included 79 stores, and Sears said additional closings will be posted to its website. A typical store employs 40 to 80 people, a note attached the list said.
Starkville residents will keep their Sears, which is independently owned.
“We should be just fine,” store owner Tiffany Lilley said.
She and her husband, John, bought the store in June 2011.
“We are a hometown store and individually owned,” Lilley said.
The Starkville store employs six people, including the Lilleys.
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