Sears plans new full-line openings

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 1/14/2002 12:00:00 AM

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL —

With an eye toward revitalizing its full-line stores, Sears, Roebuck and Co. plans to open 15 new full-line stores as well as remodel 50 locations nationwide by yearend. All of the new stores are designed to offer easy-to-shop layouts, with centralized checkouts and simplified signage and fixtures.

Sears plans to create an improved, more convenient shopping experience for its customers while operating with greater efficiency. The 50 stores slated for remodeling are the first wave in a four-year program in which approximately 600 of Sears' largest stores will be updated to incorporate many features of the new stores.

The 15 new store openings include locations in Henderson, NV, in February; Albuquerque, NM, Bel Air, MD, Durham, NC, Glendale, AZ, and Peru, IL, in March; Raleigh, NC in August; and North Riverside, IL, date to be announced.

In addition, seven new stores will be relocations within local markets. Slated for March openings, relocations include Annapolis, MD, Fort Worth, TX, Hagerstown, MD, Manassas, VA, and Prescott, AZ. The Coon Rapids, MN, relocation will open in August and the Tampa one in October.