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Frandor property owner confident Sears will remain open

Photo: Mark Bashore/WKAR
Photo: Mark Bashore/WKAR

By Mark Bashore, WKAR

LANSING, MI –

The owner of Lansing's Frandor shopping center property says he's optimistic the location's Sears store will not be among those closed by the company. Pat Gillespie of East Lansing's Gillespie Group says he was reassured by Sears officials earlier this year when the retailer announced similar plans.

"They said the demographics of the store and the volume that this store does is one that really--is in its upper echelon of stores and they're looking to get rid of the bottom 20%, is what they told us last time," he says. "And this was nowhere near the bottom 20%."

After reporting disappointing holiday sales, the retailer--which also owns K-Mart-- announced Tuesday that will close up to 120 stores nationwide. There are single K-Mart locations in both Lansing and St. Johns.

Sears Holding operates more than 4,000 Sears and K-Mart locations in the United States and Canada.

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