Kmart on Sandy Hollow Road closes after more than 40 years of business

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- After serving the community for more than 40 years, The Kmart store on Sandy Hollow Road closed its doors for the final time Sunday afternoon.

"I wasn't surprised with all the rumors going around for years, but I was very sad,” said Kmart shopper Ashley Smith.

Ashley Smith grew up shopping at the Kmart on Sandy Hollow Road, but she will now have to find a new place to go.

"There's Dollar General, other dollar stores around here and Walgreens, but it's just not the same,” said Smith.

This location is just one of 64 Kmart’s that are closing across the country. Sears Holdings, the owner of Kmart, says these locations are considered unprofitable. The loss of Kmart now leaves this part of the Southgate Shopping Center empty.

"It doesn't look good for Rockford. I know there's things getting built up, but this area of town it looks like it's kind of dying, I hope it's not I hope they redevelop,” said Rockford resident Edie Webster.

Some shoppers say the closing of this location is an inconvenience as they'll now need to travel across town to do their shopping.

"It's unfortunate when you're used to just being able to shop five minutes away from home,” said Smith.

Shoppers say they're going to miss this location of Kmart, but hope the space will soon be filled so more people will be drawn to the area.

"I'm glad the other Kmart is still around because we'll from time to time go there, but this, we're going to miss this,” said Webster.

"I'm just going to miss everything and I just want to see these empty stores getting filled and let's get something going on for this part of town,” said Smith.