St Augustine K-mart one of 100 to be closed

Historic City News has learned from a report released earlier today by Sears Holdings Corp, that the K-mart located in Seabridge Square at 1777 US-1 South in St Augustine, is one of an estimated 100 to 120 Sears and K-mart stores that it plans to close.

The local K-mart anchored what was St Augustine’s first and largest shopping center; besides K-mart, Radio Shack remains as the lone original tenant in that center today. St Augustine’s first Publix, another anchor in the center, was relocated to Cobblestone Shopping Center on SR-312 several years ago when Cobblestone first opened. Card Country, a Hallmark gift store owned by the Chitwood family, was another early tenant who closed after Ponce de Leon Mall was opened.

The list released to the press today, named only 79 stores that will be closing after a holiday season that fell short of sales goals. The only other store named in the Jacksonville market was K-mart in Fernandina Beach; located at 1525 Sadler Road.

A list of impacted employees was not provided, however the typical store employs between 40 and 80 associates. The exact closing date has yet to be determined for either store.