By Chad Ingram

Published Oct. 12 2017

The Sears stores in Haliburton Countyare closing in the wake of the retailer's announcement this week thatit will shut its remaining locations and liquidate its inventory.

Sears Canada announced Tuesday Oct. 10it was seeking court permission to liquidate about 130 remainingstores and their merchandise across the country. In June the chainannounced the closure of 59 stores and was granted protection fromits creditors. Its stocks were also halted as the company planned arestructuring.

However it became clear thelongstanding chain will close its doors.

Both the Sears store in HaliburtonVillage and the Sears catalogue depot in Minden will shut down.

Adrian Vargas owner of the Sears storein Haliburton said he received a conference call on Oct. 10 the daythe national announcement was made.

“They basically stated that Sears isgoing out of business” said Vargas who has operated the businessfor the past four years. “We're liquidating everything as of Oct.19.”

Vargas said the store may close for afew days ahead of that date to prepare for the liquidation thenationwide period which could last up to 14 weeks.

As for what Vargas who owns thebuilding along Highway 118 will do next he's not yet sure.

“Right now we're just looking at allthe options” he said.

Vargas thanked his customers andexpressed apology.

“The bottom line it's come down tois we want to say sorry it's happening to all our customers andfriends” he said. “We're saying sorry to the public and to ourcustomers.”

In Minden Rawnie Moore who's run thecatalogue depot for more than 13 years told the paper she receivedan email from Sears with the news.

“I got an email just telling me . . .so sad but it looks like we're closing” Moore said.

As for how the closure of cataloguepickup centres would work “they really don't have any details onthat yet” Moore said but indicated she didn't believe the depotswould be involved in the liquidation sale so therefore probablyclosing as of Oct. 19.

“None of my customers will beaffected” Moore said. She said returns and repairs for appliancesare typically handled through the manufacturer.

Four months ago Moore started a usedfurniture shop in part of the building she owns along BobcaygeonRoad. Between the shop renting out some space and perhaps acting asa depot for something else she told the paper she would be fine.

“It was a fantastic business” shesaid of running the Sears depot. “I'm not really worried as muchas I am sad.”

Sears Canada began as Simpsons-Sears inearly 1950s a partnership between the Canadian department storechain Simpsons and the American company Sears Roebuck and Co.

About 12000 people nationwide willlose their jobs in the closures.