Sears will close its Bethesda store at Westfield Montgomery Mall on March 31, 2019. The announcement was made late Wednesday not by Sears, but by Westfield, which
recently purchased the Sears store building at the mall.
Given that Sears tightly guards the secrecy of its closure announcements, and that such advance notice will have a severe impact on big-ticket appliance, lawn equipment and electronic purchases at the store, the disclosure was indeed unusual. Westfield says the Sears building will be demolished, and its footprint will be filled by part of a
new, urban-style development on that side of the mall (see my story to follow this report).
The report is sad news for fans of Sears, and of traditional American department stores.
The early termination date was almost certainly included in the lease when it was renewed in January of this year.
ReplyDeleteBig, big, big.
ReplyDeleteWhat's everyone's favorite Sears memory?
End of an era. :( My childhood, along with my Winner II sneakers and Toughskin Jeans, is dead. My first tool set, our annual family pictures at the photo studio, my grandpa buying parts to keep his Kenmore and Craftsmen products operating for decades, all gone.....
ReplyDeleteGood riddance
ReplyDeleteIt really is too bad, and kind of sad the way Sears has been decimated. If you read stories about how the place is run these days it’s apparent that it’s being purposely run into the ground. Sad end for one of America’s most influential companies.
ReplyDeleteI love Sears. It was the Amazon.com of its time. At least Craftsman tools will still be sold at Lowes although hardly as convenient as Monkey Mall.
ReplyDelete11:14 AM Yes, Dyer should link to the Magazine's false report that Sears was closing in March 2018 :)
ReplyDeleteYou’re lying, there was never any such report :)
DeleteDoes someone want to tell 11:14 AM that the vast majority of Bethesda residents, particularly those under 55, do not read Bethesda Magazine...or should I tell him?
ReplyDeleteIs the Magazine staff congratulating themselves here or is it just a fan of old, print media?
1:21 PM An intern at the magazine created a whole false narrative the Sears was closing earlier this year. Sears demanded a retraction.
ReplyDeleteIntern learned a lesson to perhaps ask Sears before claiming they were closing.
Anonymous 1:33 created a whole false narrative about an “intern” and a “retraction.” No such thing ever happened.
ReplyDeleteJust part of a trend but Sears has been suffering for years. I am glad, this could be good news for something new that the DC area doesn't have yet. Cant wait... I think Macys closed at Galleria in Tysons....its happening now as retailers scale back
ReplyDeleteBarry Cohen - I missed that story. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Tysons is now Moribund. Sad!
I worked at Sears Credit Central, a big building where the auto center now sits.
ReplyDeleteThere were 2 types of Sears charge cards, one you'd pay off monthly and also a revolving-credit card where you could make payments. Purchases over a certain $$ amount had to be approved. That's what I did. Assessed and approved/rejected purchases. Later on, phone collections.
The credit center building was actually located where the strip shopping center now sits. ( Ledos Pizza and Corner Bakery ) Are currently tenants there.
DeleteI missed that too. Thanks, Barry.
ReplyDeleteWas it? I remember it being somewhere out behind Sears. At the time the mall was one strip from Sears to Woodies. And huge Woolworth's, near Sears, that sold fish and gerbils and hamsters, and had a cafe.
ReplyDelete