STAFFORD – For at least the second time, the Kmart on Route 72 in Manahawkin is set to close its doors.
The store, which is operated by Sears, announced that it will be closing in a few months. However, this is not the first time the store was on the chopping block. Last year, it was on a list of stores to close, and then was removed from the closure list. Things might be different now.
“We can confirm that we are making the difficult, but necessary decision to close this Kmart store,” said Howard Riefs, the director of Sears’ corporate communications, in an email. He added that the store will be open to the public until early September. A liquidation sale will begin on June 15.
“We have been strategically and aggressively evaluating our store space and productivity, and have accelerated the closing of unprofitable stores as previously announced. 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,” he said.
The number of jobs at this location is not made public, he said. Most of the jobs are part time, hourly positions. Those who are eligible will be given severance pay and have the opportunity to apply to other Kmart or Sears stores.
The Effect On Taxes
Municipalities depend on commercial ratables to spread out the tax burden. Towns draw their taxes from what the property is assessed at. This includes both the land and the buildings on the land. Whether the building is full or empty does not always matter.
Stafford business administrator James Moran said that the ratable base (the total of all the taxable property in town) is generally not affected by a store closing. If the property remains vacant for a number of years, there is a chance that the property would be assessed lower and less taxes would come in.
