Westchester's last Sears store and automotive center to close in February

Westchester County's last Sears store and automotive center, located at the Galleria in White Plains, will be closing its doors in February.
The New York State Department of Labor says 59 employees will be losing their jobs.
Through the 1980s, Sears was the largest retailer in the nation. At its peak, it was operating in more than 3,000 locations.
After several years of declining sales, Sears' parent company filed for bankruptcy two years ago and closed hundreds of its stores.
Despite new owners, the trend of closures continues amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many department stores are closing their doors due to the pandemic. The first department store in the United States, Lord and Taylor, is closing up every single one of its stores.
JCPenney is expected to exit from bankruptcy protection. The retailer filed an agreement that would allow Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management to acquire all of its retail and operating assets, which would save roughly 70,000 jobs.
White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach says they've been preparing for this day, discussing what could be next for the hot real estate.
Roach says he's not concerned about the city's economy, and more than anything, he's concerned about the employees losing their jobs.
A Galleria Mall spokesperson says they will assist them in finding new jobs.