sundance-communications.com Forums Member Forums Phone Booth Sears Store Closing

Just found out that the Sears store that our family always shopped at in Burlington Mass is closing. It is one of only three or four remaining stores that were present in the Burlington Mall when it opened in 1968. Sad to see what has happened to Sears over the years. I'll drive over to see if there are any good deals in the Tool Department once the Liquidation Sale begins.

It's sad to say that this is the state of retail in our lifetimes. I'd like to blame it on the Millennials, but the truth is, we're also responsible for the demise of the traditional retailer. We all shop on-line now, and in many cases, the only reason that we enter traditional retail stores is to touch and feel the product before we buy it elsewhere. Amazon effectively put all of the traditional booksellers out of business years ago (B. Dalton, Borders, and likely soon, Barnes and Noble). After that, they killed the big-box electronics retailers (Circuit City, H.H. Gregg, Radio Shack). They now have their eyes set on what's left of the retail industry. The big ones have stepped up their on-line game in an effort to stay ahead of them, but like the lion chasing a lamb, it's just a matter of time. Wal*Mart will survive by eliminating what's left of K-Mart and Sears. They just announced another 100 K-Mart and Sears store closures on top of the pending 250 today. J.C. Penney and Macy's are next. Macy's just announced the layoff of another 5,000 employees and the closure of 100+ more stores.

Shopping malls have become nothing but hangouts for hood rats. Nobody feels safe in going to them, even in the safest areas. Hoodlums have nothing better to do than steal instead of working. It's too easy for them.

The sad fact is that server farms are a lot cheaper than retail square footage. They can be located anywhere with a good connection to the Internet. Fulfillment centers can be located where labor costs are low and transportation is readily available. There are no employee issues, lower taxes, no liability (injury) issues and there is a much higher level of retained profit. I can't blame them.

In the small town where I lived in VA, many of the traditional entertainment venues, like bowling alleys, skating rinks and movie theaters are closing. They are being replaced by apartment complexes and storage units. The same goes for traditional sit-down restaurants. The new thing is to order on-line and have food delivered. Taxi companies are next. On line services such as Uber are killing them. Millennials ARE to blame for this trend, but it can't be stopped. The only thing that they will leave their homes for are Starbucks coffee and sushi.

Still, I hate it too.

If it's anything like up here, don't get too excited. They rose the prices beforehand, so even with their 40% off or whatever you're still paying about as much as before.

No sales at all at any of the stores that closed around here. They just moved the inventory to the stores that stayed open.

The ones by me are still going strong.

Ed,

You are exactly right, "we all shop on line now" and yet we complain about it when customers do. Strange how the internet has hurt our industry but others tell you it is the greatest technology out there. FYI.....shopping malls are good for homeless people to hang out in during cold spells.......or the library.

It's all about adapting and staying in line with or ahead of.......just not sure when it ends. Can't keep doors open forever if they aren't making money. It is sad.

Who remembers when Sears and Montgomery Ward were mail order catalogue companies? I guess they were ahead of their time then?

I surely remember, mail order was a big thing back then. I also remember Allied and Newark Electronics who are still around. I guess we have gone full circle.

-Hal

Closest one to me closed last year...there was one in Mentor OH, about 30 mins away...it closed six months ago.
Only 2 stores left in Northeast Ohio.

Times change. No more ice delivery, no milk delivery, ect.