Sears closes last store in Washington, ending three-decade presence in the state

Sears has closed its last store in Washington, located in Southcenter Mall, as of December 15. This marks the end of the chain's presence in the state after over 30 years, leaving only eight locations nationwide. The closure follows a series of store shutdowns since Sears filed for bankruptcy in 2018, when it had 700 stores. The company emerged from bankruptcy in 2022 but has continued to reduce its footprint significantly. Shoppers have expressed sadness over the loss of the iconic store, recalling fond memories of shopping there for household items. Concerns have also been raised about the future of other retail chains, such as Macy's, which plans to close 65 stores by the end of January.