Several Macy's, Kmart stores in Pittsburgh region closing

PITTSBURGH — Macy’s, Inc. and Sears Holdings announced Wednesday the closure of several stores in the Pittsburgh region.

According to a Macy's, Inc. news release, 68 stores throughout the country are being closed to "streamline its store portfolio, intensify cost efficiency efforts and execute its real estate strategy."

A total of 3,900 Macy's employees will be displaced. Employees may be offered positions at nearby stores, according to Macy's corporate officials. Eligible full-time and part-time employees will be offered severance benefits.

The following stores in western Pennsylvania are set to close by mid-year:

• Shenango Valley, Hermitage, PA (69 associates)
• Beaver Valley, Monaca, PA (78 associates)
• Washington Crown Center, Washington, PA (67 associates)

The Washington Crown Center store has been open for 18 years.

"(It's) sad because this is a great place to shop for me locally," said shopper Judith Underkoffler.

Employees at the Beaver Valley Mall said clearance sales could start as soon as Monday. Macy's corporate officials had not confirmed that as of Thursday.

Meanwhile, Sears Holdings announced that 78 Kmart stores and 26 Sears stores nationwide will close in the spring.

"Many of these stores have struggled with their financial performance for years and we have kept them open to maintain local jobs and in the hopes that they would turn around. But in order to meet our objective of returning to profitability, we have to make tough decisions and will continue to do so, which will give our better performing stores a chance at success," a release from Sears Holdings said.

The following stores in the Pittsburgh area will close:

• Monroeville (120 Mall Blvd.)
• Mount Pleasant (100 Cross Roads Plaza)

In Mount Pleasant, some workers are losing jobs they've held for decades. It's one of the few big-box stores to which people in the area have access.

Mount Pleasant Mayor Jerry Lucia remembers Kmart being one of the first stores on the shopping scene and employing people as far back as 1983. Lucia said the closure and uncertainty in the retailing forecast strikes a fear in people.

"Are any other stores going to close? Are our economics in this area going down?" Lucia said.

The Sears Auto Center on Mall Run Road in Uniontown will also close its doors.

Cox Media Group