Sears Hometown to close permanently, tentative closing date is May 1, interim manager says

DeKALB – The employees at Sears Hometown are preparing for the store's swan song, which will happen at the beginning of May.

Tom Russell, interim manager for Sears Hometown, 2478 Sycamore Rd., DeKalb, said the projected closing date is May 1. He then talked about the store's liquidation.

"We'll sell everything, including the fixtures and shelving [inside the store]," he said.

Yellow signs are situated on the grass along Sycamore Road, and in the store's windows that state "Sears Store Closing Blowout Sale Reduction Storewide." Russell said the store, which has been at its current location for seven or eight years, will remain open until the tentative closing date.

Russell said he and his coworkers are considered essential workers, because they sell appliances and hardware, and it's why they're remaining open.

He said they're keeping the place clean and sanitizing the store every day.

Russell said he didn't find out the store was being closed until recently.

"They told us a week ago Friday," he said. "March 20."

Russell said they were not told why the store was closing, but said the store hasn't done well.

"This store has been in the red," he said. "It hasn't made money."

Russell also said the store is one of 39 throughout the country that is closing its doors.

Russell, who's worked for Sears for 43 years, said he's going to call it quits once the store closes.

"I'm retiring," he said.

Russell said until then, the store remains open during regular hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.