By Alberto Gilman
After more than 70 years, Sears is no longer a part of the Newburgh Community
The retail chain officially closed its Newburgh Mall location on Sunday, October 16. No decisions have been announced on what the future holds for the space.
On August 31, Sears Newburgh released a statement via their Facebook page to make their customers aware of their closure. Facebook comments in the thread shared sadness and memories of either working at the store location or shopping there for their goods. “Its with a heavy heart to be announcing the Sears Store at the Newburgh Mall is closing its doors on October 16. We want to thank the community for its support over the last 43 years here in the Newburgh Mall.”
The Sears location at the mall was reported to have been the last remaining Sears location in the Hudson Valley while many across the country were reported to have closed. The well known and recognized box store had once operated on the Broadway corridor and operated in the spaces that now make up the current 2 Alice’s Cafe, Ann Street Art Gallery and GRITWORKS. The SEARS store had moved to the Newburgh Mall location following the construction of the mall and remained in their space till their closure.
Entering into the store on its final day, what was once a fully stocked store with appliances, clothes, jewelry and other items were empty floor spaces, several dozen racks left with clothes and other signage with the discounts. Over the course of the early morning till closing, customers came and browsed what available products were left on the sales floor with discounts from 30 to 75% off.
Over the past several years, several businesses in the mall have closed but across the mall in the former BONTON store location, the newly highly anticipated Hudson Valley Resorts World Casino has been under construction for the majority of the year and has been recruiting residents and any interested for various positions at the space. The parking lot in front of the mall has also seen repaving work done on it in preparation for its opening later this year.
Inquiries to receive a statement from a manager or store representative upon entry into the store were deferred to corporate communications. The Sears communication office did not respond to requests for comment.