Kmart closing stores in Springfield, Branson

The parent company of retailers Kmart and Sears announced Wednesday that it is moving forward with plans to close dozens of stores under both brands across the United States, including Kmart locations in Springfield and Branson.

Sears Holdings said that, between this week and last week, it informed associates at 108 Kmart stores and 42 Sears stores that their locations would cease operating this spring.

Five Kmart stores in Missouri will be closing at the end of March. The affected locations are:

• Springfield: 3101 S. Glenstone Ave.

• Branson: 1477 State Highway 248

• Rolla: 1003 S. Bishop Ave.

• St. Louis: 6650 Manchester Ave.

• Jefferson City: 2304 Missouri Blvd.

Additionally, Sears stores in Jefferson City and St. Joseph will be closing.

In a statement, Sears Holdings called the store closures "a difficult but necessary step as we take actions to strengthen the Company’s operations and fund its transformation."

"Many of these stores have struggled with their financial performance for years and we have kept them open to maintain local jobs and in the hopes that they would turn around," the company said. "But in order to meet our objective of returning to profitability, we have to make tough decisions and will continue to do so, which will give our better performing stores a chance at success."

The company said affected associates will receive severance and be able to apply for positions at Kmart and Sears stores that remain open.

Liquidation sales at stores that are closing will begin as early as Jan. 6, the company said.

Once the closures occur, Kmart will no longer have a presence in southwest Missouri. The company will still have a Missouri presence; in addition to the closing locations, the company's website lists locations in Sedalia, Cape Girardeau, Crystal City, Florissant, Independence, Kansas City, Poplar Bluff, St. Joseph and St. Louis.

Springfield had three Kmart locations as recently as 2014. A location at 3700 S. Campbell Ave. closed that year, and a store at 1930 E. Kearney St. closed last year.

Separately, retailer Macy's said Wednesday it has either already recently closed, or will be shuttering, 68 stores. No stores in Missouri were affected.