Local Community Advertising
After 47 years of sales and service, Sears in Kelowna closed its doors on Monday, with only racks and shelving units left to liquidate. (Sears Home in Kelowna closed in late 2017)
Today, a few business owners pulled up outside to load their vehicles with the remaining fixtures.
A small group of staff remained inside the vacant space, packing up the last few items.
Sears employees learned about the closures in October, but the company remained tight-lipped about actual closing dates.
One employee, helping pack the remaining items, said she's not sure what she'll do for work after this.
Kelowna's two locations are among the 12 Sears stores in B.C. closing their doors.
Orchard Park has not yet lined up a business to fill the two significantly large spaces.
Donna Markin, general manager of Orchard Park, said it doesn't have possession of the building until after the liquidation sale ends on Jan. 21.
That's when Markin and her team can begin an audit and take stock of whether it's a tear-down or renovate situation.
Markin plans to be strategic in determining what type of business will replace Sears.
"The market isn't as flush as it used to be," she said.
But she's confident there's still room to turn a profit and is working to consider the best option possible.
Sears Canada announced it was seeking court approval to shut down its remaining stores, including Sears and Sears Home locations at Orchard Park, on Oct. 10, 2017.
Kelowna's Sears first opened in conjunction with the opening of the Orchard Park Shopping Centre in 1971.
Since then, it's seen little in the way of renovations and updates.
The original mall included Simpsons-Sears and The Bay, along with 35 other stores.
Sears has closed its doors in the following locations in B.C.:
- Sears Victoria Store
- Sears Cottonwood Mall
- Sears Metrotown Store
- Sears Nanaimo Store
- Sears Capilano Store
- Sears Brentwood Town Centre Store
- Sears Willowbrook Mall Store
- Sears Coquitlam Store
- Sears Prince George Store
- Sears Guildford Town Centre Store
- Sears Kelowna Home Store
- Sears Kelowna Store
Local Community Advertising