MASON CITY – A sources tells NorthIowaToday.com that the Mason City Sears store will close soon.
According to our source, employees were told this week that the store at the Southport Shopping Center on South Federal Avenue will liquidate and close in September. Employees were told to find new jobs, the source said.
More to come on this developing story.
I won’t miss some of the staff that went blind and deaf when it came to seeing customers or even acknowledging them. Too many times I left there after never once being asked if I needed help, so eventually, we never went back.
I think the empty Sears store would make a great ice hockey arena.
Plenty of parking.
Sears may well be mismanaged as an operation whose time has come and gone, but its closing in Mason City is at least partly due to the shrinking population and stagnant incomes as much as anything else.
KMart, Penny’s, and now Sears. Will the last one left please turn out the lights.
Sears cut its own throat. They cut out catalog dept., paint, plumbing/hardware supplies, most sporting goods, optical, photo studio,,, any finally clothes, that really ended it. They have been more concerned with asking the customer 20 questions instead of just having and selling him what they want. It’s a shame because they did sell good quality mdse. and backed it up but no more.
If Sears could make a profit selling that merchandise, they would do it. They are a tired brand that couldn’t keep up with what consumers want now: lots of cheap, easy and new stuff. American retail is changing and brands come and go. This one is going. New ones are coming.
Sad. Dad worked for Sears in Mason City from 1938 to ’44 before he took the advice of the local Boy Scout Executive that he should become a professional (he was a Scoutmaster in those years). We moved the next year to Charles City and then in 1949 to New Mexico. Dad retired in 1975 as assistant Scout Executive; however he talked often of his days with Sears which had started in 1930 in Green Bay, WI. Some may remember Dad for his summer days as Camp Director of Camp Roosevelt on Clear Lake. Dad left us in 1991 but his remembrances of those days are still fresh in our minds.
Sears Tower in Chicago was sold years ago (now Willis Tower) to stave off bankruptcy. It was too little too late and the famous catalogue empire, retail giant quickly tanked. You cant expect a local operation to be successful when the problems are at the top on the corporate ladder. For Mason City lets cut our losses, develop a new plan and move on. When all is said and done, more is said than done.
ill miss it. bought all our appliances,, tools and tires there. but have to agree it was mismanaged. took out all the clothes and shoes and put in matresses. now do you shop more for clothes and shoes or something to lay on. Go in there now and if your lucky u will get waited on in 15 minutes.
Maybe the fair grounds can move back .
Surprised they’ve lasted this long. They can’t get any businesses to move in to any of the empty spaces. It’s become known as the South Federal eye sore. Any one looking to bring in a business look to the West side of town where traffic is the heaviest. South Port might be a really good place for a grocery store. I know I’d like having one closer then either one of the Hy Vee or Wal Mart grocery stores.
Can’t compete with chinaland and honest Mexico.
I thought it was already closed !!!
I used to do all my shopping at Sears. Had a Sears Credit Card for 21 years. They raised the rates to 24% just after I had purchased new cupboards and dishwasher from them. No late payments ever so I asked them for a better rate and they refused. I dropped the card, and haven’t been in a Sears store since.
Thank God we can finally bury the corpse. Its dead body has been lying around for years. Sears, like Pennys, Monkey Wards and other giants have become extinct. Lets pay our respects and move on.
This should surprise no one. Sears has been mismanaged for years and has almost no customers any more. It is a shame as it used to be a giant in the industry.
Will they sell the merchandise that’s left in the store at reduced prices? Or move the items to another store?
I heard the store will actually be open into November and merchandise will be closed out.Too bad. Definitely POOR management. Sears used to sell EVERYTHING and they just kept cutting away until not much was left.
It’s too bad. This once giant in the retail industry has not adapted and change with the times.