Of the 19 stores slated to close, nine of them are in California, three are in Georgia, and two are in Florida. Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Wisconsin are each losing one store.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kohl's Department Stores has released its list of the 18 underperforming stores it will close in 2016 -- and none of them are in Ohio.
Kohl's announced on Feb. 25 that it was shuttering stores after a disappointing retail year during which fourth-quarter profits dropped 20 percent and sales -- especially of cold-weather goods -- fell short of company expectations.
Sales at stores open at least one year, an important retail metric called comp-store sales, rose only 0.4 percent to $6.4 billion in the fourth quarter that ended Jan. 30, usually the biggest quarter for retailers.
Of the 18 Kohl's stores slated to close by June 19, nine of them are in California, three are in Georgia, and two are in Florida. Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Wisconsin are each losing one store. One store in Georgia will stay open until Nov. 1
Kohl's Corp., based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, said the locations that will close represent less than 1 percent of total sales at its 1,164 stores in 49 states.
Even better, Kohl's said that "every eligible store associate will be offered the opportunity to work at a nearby Kohl's or, if they choose, can accept a competitive severance package."
At an average of 80 to 100 employees per store, that means that between 1,440 and 1,800 workers could be moving to other stores or getting severance pay this summer.
As part of efforts to strengthen its business, Kohl's also announced it is launching seven smaller-format Kohl's stores around the country (although it didn't say where), opening two Off/Aisle pilot stores in Wisconsin, and opening 12 Fila outlet stores, its first retail outlet.
Kohl's said it decided which locations to close after a comprehensive review of all of its markets across the country, including competitors in the area, the rent and operating expenses of each store, and "how each customer base is evolving and adapting to the company's integrated omni channel efforts."
Kohl's said shoppers whose stores are closing can continue to buy items at Kohls.com and via Kohl's mobile app, or visit other Kohl's stores.
The stores announced Thursday are:
-- Arcadia, CA - 7279 N. Rosemead Blvd., San Gabriel, California.
-- Cypress, CA - 10201 Valley View St., Cypress, California.
-- Ladera Ranch, CA - 27426 Antonio Parkway, Ladera Ranch, California.
-- Mira Mesa, CA - 8140 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego, California.
-- Rancho Cordova, CA - 11051 Olson Drive, Rancho Cordova, California.
-- Santa Ana, CA - 1351 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, California.
-- San Jose East, CA - 2323 McKee Road, San Jose, California.
-- Upland South, CA - 233 S. Mountain Ave., Upland, California.
-- West Hills, CA - 6651 N. Fallbrook Ave., West Hills, California.
-- Hialeah, FL - 700 W. 49th St., Hialeah, Florida.
-- Tallahassee, FL - 6785 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, Florida.
-- Holcomb Bridge, GA - 2342 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell, Georgia.
-- Lithonia, GA - 2929 Turner Hill Road, Lithonia, Georgia - (closing Nov. 1, 2016).
-- Northlake Mall, GA - 4820 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, Georgia.
-- Saint Charles, IL - 3840 E. Main St., Saint Charles, Illinois.
-- Pineville, NC - 9579 S. Blvd., Charlotte, North Carolina.
-- Princeton, NJ - 200 Nassau Park Blvd., Princeton, New Jersey.
-- Brown Deer, WI - 9060 N. Green Bay Road, Brown Deer, Wisconsin.
Kohl's said last month that closing stores will save about $45 million in annual selling, general and administrative expenses, and about $10 million in annual depreciation. The company said the closures and the organizational realignment of its corporate offices in February will cost $150 million to $170 million.
Kohl's stores in Northeast Ohio include locations in Akron, Aurora, Avon, Fairview Park, Highland Heights, Kent, Lorain, Macedonia, Medina, Mentor, North Canton, Parma, Stow, Strongsville, Wadsworth and Wooster.