Macy’s, Kmart to close in Alton; Kmart leaving Granite City

 

The city of Alton suffered a double dose of terrible business news Wednesday when two companies, Macy’s and Kmart, separately announced plans to close store locations in the community.

Additionally, the Kmart location at 3655 Nameoki Road in Granite City is to be closed as are several Sears and Kmart locations across the two-state area, as part of a national cutback. The Kmart in Alton is at 2851 Belt Line Parkway.

The Kmart closings are expected by the end of March. The Macy’s closings will be completed by spring. Final clearance sales will begin on Monday, Jan. 9, and run for approximately eight to 12 weeks, Macy’s said.

Cincinnati-based Macy’s announced that the Alton store is among 68 that are being closed, part of the approximately 100 closings that were announced, but not detailed, in August 2016.

Some 54 associates are affected by the Macy’s closure in Alton. The 180,000-square-foot store was the anchor of Alton Square, starting in 1978, when the company was still known as Famous-Barr.

No other Macy’s stores are slated for closure in the immediate area, but two others are closing in Illinois, in Bloomington and Bloomingdale.

Macy’s calls the closures a move to streamline its store portfolio, intensify cost efficiencies and execute its real estate strategy.

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This is the list of other stores in the bistate area to be closed by Sears Holdings, which owns the Kmart and Sears chains:
• Kmart – 1477 State Highway 248 – Branson, Mo.
• Kmart – 2304 Missouri Blvd. – Jefferson City, Mo.
• Kmart – 1003 S Bishop Ave. – Rolla, Mo.
• Kmart – 3101 S Glenstone Ave. – Springfield, Mo.
• Kmart – 6650 Manchester Ave. – St Louis
• Sears – 3702 Frederick Ave – Saint Joseph, Mo.
• Sears Auto Center – 3600 Country Club Drive, Jefferson City, Mo.