MASON CITY – As Mason City leaders continue to give huge tax breaks to new big-box retailers locating on the city’s extreme west side, older, established merchants and businesses continue to suffer, diminish and ultimately close, with the Mason City KMart being the latest casualty.
Today, a spokesman from Sears Corporate Communications confirmed a news tip NIT had received in recent days, saying that the Mason City KMart store will close in late April. The store will remain open for customers until that time. The store opened in June of 1972.
“The store will begin its liquidation sale on February 9,” said Howard Riefs, Director of Corporate Communications for Sears, the parent company of KMart. “Store closures are part of a series of actions we’re taking to reduce on-going expenses, adjust our asset base, and accelerate the transformation of our business model. These actions will better enable us to focus our investments on serving our customers and members through integrated retail – at the store, online and in the home.”
The store in Mason City has 49 employees. Those associates that are eligible will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Sears or Kmart stores. Most of the associates are part time/hourly.
Last year, the Mason City council and mayor approved hundreds of thousands of dollars in incentives for Marshall’s Department Store to locate to the Indianhead Shopping Center. The developer, North Iowa Growth, LLC, will receive economic development grants of tax increment (TIF) – totaling $480,000 over 7 years.
Southbridge Mall, another old retail center, is struggling and may lose two anchors in the near future. JC Penney is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, and the store is noticeably more bare than in previous years. The west entrance to the store was closed, as well.
Perhaps the best example of old retail in Mason City peetering out into nothing is the Southport Shopping Center. A former Target Department store was once located there, until it collapsed from neglect. A green tarp surrounds that property now, infested with weeds and debris. City leaders have taken no action to clean up the mess, and the eyesore sits on the city’s southside year after year. The other anchor at Southport, Sears, rarely has more than a few cars in the parking lot.
I don’t think you can even can compare Kmart with Marshall’s. I would never shop at the Mason City Kmart.
I personally am happy that Marshall’s is coming to town, though I feel it might take away business from Younker’s and J.C. Penney.
When the Blue Light specials come to an end, where is LVS, maybe and observer going to buy a soul?
HyVee is buying the property… HyVee gas, etc. Henkel is set to start construction in the Spring. I would guess Sears will close soon too. Sad.
Kause Mexicans Are Rich Too. KMART. Really??
Dont worry everyone mercy will take that over just like every other property in this town. They will either kick them out or wait for them to close and snatch it up.
This a shame to have this old business go down, not to mention the people who will now be out of a job. Mat is correct in his view that the city has no business setting up winners and losers in the retail world. especially with out tax dollars. I don’t want to go so far as to say this is why K-Mart is closing but it certainly isn’t fair to the other retailers in town such a Kohl’s and Target. Walmart will stand on it’s own.
HOW you’re blaming Kmart closing on City leadership is beyond me. Have you been to Kmart recently? It’s dirty and unorganized. Their merchandise is more expensive than Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. If you take away pricing, customer experience, and overall quality of merchandise, then there isn’t much that is going to save you.
The City Council has some issues but the lead in to this article is ridiculous. Some businesses fail on their own accord. The good news is that with a location right in the middle of town, a larger, better run business could easily take on that building and be profitable.