Community reacts to closing of Kmart

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The Kmart on Maple Avenue is getting closer to shutting their doors for good.

Sears Holding company announced Wednesday that they were closing 78 Kmart stores and 26 Sears stores nationwide.

The community expressed mixed emotions about the news.

“Some people seem sad and some people seemed excited to see what [is] going to come next to Zanesville,” said shopper, Amber Gatwood.

Gatwood said she thinks the community is anxious to see if a new business will be coming to town.

The Kmart located at 3515 Maple Ave. has already started their liquidation sales, which increased traffic to the store. However, most shoppers are sad to see the store go because of the exclusive layaway program that the store offered.

Ashley Landers said that she did all her Christmas shopping there solely for layaway and its convenient payment program.

“It helped out a lot and I’m going to be sad that it’s gone,” said Landers.

The Zanesville store is one of seven slated to close throughout the state. Aside from convenience the closing will create another problem for the community to face; unemployment.

“It’s going to be sad because a lot of people are going to lose their jobs, and that’s the main thing,” said Landers.