Thread regarding Sears layoffs

1844 went to one level and top level is an entertainment place but sears below zero traffic

You cant go by saugus and Burlington as they are both Seritage properties. Simon bought back the 50 percent of the Burlington one so it's being redeveloped. Peabody ma has closed its top floor and it's not seritage but I heard it was closing end of year. Simon taking over. But no official announcement yet.

Sears in Saugus MA goes to one floor and stays open even after losing the tenant scheduled for the former 2nd floor space.

Sears in Burlington MA goes to one floor and gets successful tenant Primark to use the former 2nd floor. The now 1st Floor only Sears closes completely.

So you can't predict.

I recall a while ago (last fall?) that it was a thing some stores were supposedly doing or planning to do simply to downsize as part of that "simple store" plan. (Right?) Mine was talking about it. We never got to it as we ended up on that Jan. closing list, but when it was spoken about we were not under any impression or belief that we'd close this spring and I don't believe it was related. Collectively it isn't a great sign for the company as a whole, I guess, though I would not assume a closure is emanate for a particular location unless you see liquidation signs involved. Could they otherwise still randomly end up on the next chopping block? Sure... Seems most any could at this point, including stores that wouldn't have expected it so soon.

Sears New Brunswick NJ is two miles away from a newly renovated 255,000 sf Walmart with full grocery, and expanded footwear/apparel. Also, hardlines departments that are five times the size in scope of merchandise. Bright, new, clean and sparkling Walmart compared to leaky ceilings, dirty musty carpets, and rusting fixtures in a 1960s-built store that got renovated one time in the 1990s.

Interesting. So closing off a level could be extending the life of some stores. I noticed though, that on the 1st floor main level a once prominently visible cashier stand was also removed. For a Friday evening, very little staff anywhere. How long can a store like that survive? Guess we'll find out.

Hopefully, employees of #1484 Berkshire Mall are job hunting now. Things can change quickly, as many employees of the now liquidating Bon-Ton chain have experienced.

Rambling on. I don't see how #1484 can survive for long with so little inventory and staff in a mall that itself continues to decline. There's a lot of competition nearby, including numerous big-boxes (Best Buy, Home Depot, etc), high-end strip malls, and power-centers.

Seems to be a trend. New Brunswick NJ freestanding store is moving it's lower level floor merchandise to its main floor. Escalators break down several times a year. Few customers ever make the effort to go "downstairs".

Sears doesn't usually section off part of the store before closing it, but that's something they've done at both Sears and Kmart when they don't have the inventory/sales/employees to support such a large space.

Possible. However, no way to access 2nd floor from mostly single level mall.

Might the vacant floor be leased to another retail tenant?....They have done that to a number of Sears stores in the Northeast.....