– Kmart closing stores in SD, Mn, Wisc, Mich

MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) – The Kmart stores in Mitchell and Pierre will be shutting their doors this spring.

The closings will put nearly 100 people out of their jobs.

Sears Holdings Corp. is shutting down 100-120 Sears and Kmart stores nationwide to reduce expenses as it changes it business model.

The Mitchell store, which has 52 employees, will begin liquidating its merchandise on Jan. 24 and close to the public in mid-April. The Pierre Kmart liquidation sale begins Jan. 14 and the store will close in mid-March. That store has 45 employees.

Customers with layaway contracts can either pay it off early or transfer it to another store.

Officials say there are no plans at this time to close any other South Dakota Kmart stores.

Three Kmart stores in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan will close in mid-April, owner Sears Holdings announced Tuesday.

Ironwood, Mich., have been slated for closure. In Superior, the news comes as the nearby Target store prepares to close its doors for good on Jan. 30.

The Superior closure — for the store located at 3015 Tower Ave. — will affect 42 employees, and the Virginia closure — for the store at Thunderbird Mall — will affect 48 employees. The closure of the Ironwood store will affect 47 employees.

The stores will begin liquidation sales Jan. 24, but remain open to the public until mid-April.