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Illinois-based Sears Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: SHLD) has announced it is closing three Kmart stores in Indiana. A spokesperson for Sears says the Kmart locations in Lafayette, Elkhart and Merrillville will close to the public in mid-December.

Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears, the parent of Kmart, says the stores will begin their liquidation sale on September 22. The company is not releasing the number of employees who will be affected by the closures, but says those who are eligible will receive severance and have the opportunity to apply at other area Sears or Kmart stores.

"We have been strategically and aggressively evaluating our store space and productivity, and are accelerating the closing of unprofitable stores as we have previously announced," said Riefs. "We often hear from our members who are disappointed when we close a store, but our Shop Your Way membership platform, websites and mobile apps allow us to maintain these valued relationships long after a store closes its doors."

Riefs says most of the works affected by the closures are part-time/hourly. Kmart still has 17 locations open throughout the state.

The three Indiana stores are among 60 being shuttered throughout the country, according to Business Insider

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