Madison Kmart to close as early as 60 days

By Staff
Thomas Tingle
Record Managing Editor
Following the announcement last week that the Madison Kmart store will be closed, Kmart officials say a transition team will be put into place to help displaced employees find another job.
Kmart spokesperson Jayner Willson said it is the intent of Kmart to help all of the employees who will be displaced by helping them in securing employment at other Kmart locations or elsewhere.
"The Madison store will close in 60 to 90 days," Willson said. "Kmart will appear in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Jan. 28 and we see no problem in getting approval by the court to close the store."
On Jan. 15, Kmart officials announced that five Alabama stores would be closed, including the Madison Boulevard location.
Kmart Manager Beth Smith said 70 people are employed at the local store.
"It's business as usual until our liquidators come in to prepare closing the store," Smith said.
Two weeks ago, Kmart announced that more stores would be closed as the corporation cuts jobs in hopes of emerging from bankruptcy.
Kmart stores will remain in 11 Alabama cities, including one store on North Memorial Parkway in Huntsville, after the shutdown.
Kmart officials said it would reduce its workforce by as many as 35,000 people. Last March, Kmart closed 283 stores, affecting 22,000 jobs. The latest round of store closures involves some 300 stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico.