Sears closures in Saint John, Bathurst mark end of retailing landmarks, cities say

An additional 15 Sears HomeStores, all 10 outlet stores and 14 Sears Hometown stores will close, but the Sears e-commerce websitewill continue.

Across New Brunswick, 418 people work in the four Sears retail stores and 22 merchandise pickup locations.

"The decision to close these two stores is part of the actions we need to take at this time," Power said of Saint John and Bathurst.

"But it has nothing to do with the quality of our staff there, who have provided excellent service to Sears customers in the both cities for several years, and we will miss them within the Sears family."

Months ago, Sears promised to create 540 jobs at new call centres inEdmundstonand Saint John, both of which are to get millions of dollars in financial support from the province.

• Sears promises 350 jobs in new Saint John call centre

In anemailto CBC News, Sears spokesperson JoelShaffersaid, "nothing is happening to those call centres"and "hiring targets remain intact."

PowersaidSears encourages "those who wish to seek out the call centres"for employment.

No dates for closures yet

Sears has not announced any exit dates for the stores.

The announcement came as Sears Canada went to the Ontario Superior Court for protection from creditors while it restructures.

At McAllister Place in Saint John, mall manager David Greene was asked if he knew when the Sears store at the mall would close.

He said in an email that he was aware of the filing for creditor protection, but that Sears has not been in touch with the mall about its local plans.

Saint John loses landmark store

'It's going to be devastating forMcAllisterPlace.'- ShirleyMcAlary, Saint John deputy mayor

The closure of Searsmarks the end of a landmark for Saint John, said Deputy Mayor Shirley McAlary.

"I think everyone can relate to going to Sears at one time or another and when Sears was in the north end, and that was a few years ago, but you know ... that was a big store in Saint John," she said.

The closure will not only affect Sears employees, McAlary said, but also the rest of McAllisterPlace, which has alreadylost a largeSobeysstore.

"It's going to be devastating for McAllister Place," she said. "I think they're going to have to rethink to who they can lease to and it's going to takesome work on somebody's part to bring back something for retail for that space."

McAlary said the city's new growth committee is trying to attract businesses to Saint John, but the retail business is changing.

Many people like to shop in big box stores or online because of convenience or lower prices, she said.

"Everybody is looking for the best price," she said. "When [people]have time off, they want to do other things. Theydon'twant to go shopping."

No indication of Bathurst economy

Bathurst Mayor Paolo Fongemie said he was saddened for the employees who will lose their jobs.

Word of the closure came as a surpriseto Place Bathurst Mall, which invested millions in renovations this year and had lost Zellers a few years ago,he said.

"And now to have a major tenant leave, it's not good news for them," he said.

ButFongemie stressed the Searsdeparture is not a sign of a worsening Bathurst economy.

"On the contrary, we are climbing the hill," he said, adding there have been investments in majors hotels, new restaurants and renovations at both malls.

It is a shock but it is also an opportunity for a new store to come in.- Paolo Fongemie, mayor of Bathurst

While Sears was a popular store,Fongemie said something positive may yet come from its closure.

"It is a shock but it is also an opportunity for a new store to come in," he said. "I know the mall management will be working hard to find solutions. We have confidence in the management that they will be able to overcome the challenge."

As for the 46 peoplewho work at Sears, he said the city is working with the Chamber of Commerce to find out which companies may be looking for employees.

Fongemiealsonoticed several postings on provincial job boards for retail and customer service positions.

"Ifeel bad for the employees," he said. "There are probably some employees there who have been there for a long period of time and it's probably disheartening for them today."

BernardCormier, themanager of the Place BathurstMall, said he could not comment on behalf of Sears but he was "sad to lose a tenant like Sears who has been in the community for 28 years."

Sears Canada announced in March that its future was in doubt after the company lostmore than $2 billion last year and saw its shares hit an all-time low in February.

Earlier this month, the company acknowledged concerns about its ability to continue operatingandsaid it might have to restructure or be sold.