Riverhead Kmart will close in November, company announces

Riverhead Kmart is closing its doors in November, according to a list released Wednesday by Sears Holdings, which owns both Sears and Kmart. 

The Riverhead location was the only New York Kmart on the list, which included a total of 13 Kmart and 33 Sears stores across the country. The only Sears to close on Long Island is in New Hyde Park, according to the list.

The company called the 46 stores unprofitable in its statement on the closings.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline Sears Holdings’ operations, strengthen our capital position and focus on our best stores, this week the company informed associates at 46 unprofitable stores that we will be closing these stores in November 2018,” the statement read. It continued to state that “eligible employees will receive severance” and be given the opportunity to apply for employment at other Sears and Kmart locations.

The nearest Kmart stores are in Bridgehampton and Farmingville, according to the company website. Bohemia, West Babylon and Huntington are the only other remaining Suffolk County locations.

Riverhead Sears closed in 2006 after more than 50 years in business, according to past reports.

Riverheadlocal reported last January that the Kmart building had already been listed for rent by its Manhattan landlord “just in case.”

The local Kmart joins several other big box retailers to shutter along Route 58 in recent years, including the nearby Walmart, which moved to a location farther west on the corridor. OfficeMax and Sports Authority are among the others with no reported new tenant in place.