Sears at Northwoods Mall set to close

Peoria, IL, USA 1470 & 100.3 WMBD

Nov 8, 2019 | 7:14 AM

FILE - In this May 14, 2012, file photo, shoppers walk into Sears in Peabody, Mass. Sears recorded its fourth straight year of falling profit and revenue, even as cost cutting and store closures helped narrow its loss for the fourth quarter, the company reported, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria’s Sears store at Northwoods Mall is one of two Sears stores in Illinois that will close in early 2020. The other Illinois location to close is in West Dundee.

The Chicago Tribune and other media have reported that Transformco, the company that bought Sears out of bankruptcy earlier this year, will shutter 96 stores nationwide. The closures include 51 Sears stores and 45 Kmart stores.

Transformco is owned by former Sears CEO Edward Lampert.

Store-closing sales are expected to begin Dec. 2.

In a statement, Ryan Whalen with Northwoods Mall said:

“Washington Prime Group, the owner of Northwoods Mall, is working closely with Sears and other stakeholders regarding future redevelopment opportunities for the space. Washington Prime Group is committed to making further investments in Northwoods Mall and maintaining its longstanding presence as the gathering place to shop, play, eat and drink in Peoria.”