Business Journal: Sears Closures, Malls Adapting

Sears plans to close several stores in July, including ones at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights and the Westfield Galleria in Roseville. That's according to a Business Insider report published this week.

The Sacramento Business Journal's Digital Editor Sonya Sorich says the retail spaces are owned by a holding company spun off of Sears, so it's too early to speculate what might fill those sites.

"It is important to remember that the malls don't own those spaces," says Sorich. "These local closures would leave the Sacramento area with a Sears anchor store in Arden Fair, and one in South Sacramento's Florin Towne Center, along with some smaller Sears stores elsewhere in the area."

All totaled, Sears plans to close nine stores, including sites in Fairfield and Reno...and in Texas, Iowa, Illinois and North Carolina. It's the latest in a series of store closures by Sears which - like other brick-and-mortar retailers - is struggling to compete against online shopping sites.

Malls are considering all sorts of future uses to fill those empty spaces that go beyond traditional shopping. Sorich says that includes experience-oriented offerings.

"Malls are hosting events now to provide those experiences," says Sorich. "Locally, those events range from a program to showcase local artists at Arden Fair to night markets and a dinner focused on local produce at the Roseville Galleria."