Sears to Close 89 Stores, Cut Thousands of Jobs

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (Reuters) -- Sears Roebuck and Co. says as a result of lower domestic sales in December due to general industry softness and difficult weather conditions, and it will close 89 stores and eliminate 2,400 jobs, less than one percent of the work force.

Sears, which operates about 860 full-line stores and more than 2,100 retail specialty outlets, said the closings of underperforming stores will take place in the first quarter.

The stores include 53 NTB auto parts stores, 30 hardware stores and four full-line stores, two of which include Sears Auto Centers.