BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week

POTSDAM -- Sears Hometown Store, 6583 State Highway 56, will close later this month.

Long-time store manager Millie French said the closure is a result of supply-chain issues that have impacted nearly everything nationwide from appliances to baby formula.

French, a Canton Central graduate, purchased the store from previous owner Phil Vivlamore in 2017.

Vivlamore first opened Sears in 1994. It was located next to Price Chopper where Dollar Tree currently is.

“We did well,” French said. That was until the pandemic hit.

French said that 2020 was a busy year at her store, noting she sold many refrigerators because it was a hot summer.

Unfortunately, the economy and a lack of product availability resulted in her decision to close.

French said her lease was coming up and now was the best time for a clean break.

“There have been concerns with the flow of goods for the last couple of years,” French said.

Fewer goods to sell led to less money.

‘I was not comfortable with the unforeseen future,” she said.

French said she did not want to close, but also did not want to get into a bind or go into debt personally to continue.

“I will miss my old customers and hope to see them around,” she said.

French, who began working at the store in an entry-level position, had around 25 years experience at Sears.

She plans to stay in the area after the store closes, possibly taking some time off to recharge.

French will be on the job search, along with 5 other employees. She said they are great employees and was glad that there were many jobs available for them to move on to.

Since posting liquidation signage around the store, sales have risen. However, most of the appliances have been sold and no lawn mowers remain.

The store is selling items 40% off and that will ramp up as the closing nears. The final day of operation will be June 27.

French said there is a decent selection of tools left.

Roughly 100 Sears Hometown locations are permanently closing in the coming weeks, representing roughly half of its remaining retail footprint. Sears Hometown locations operate under Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc., which separated from Sears Holdings Corporation in October 2012.