I was a casualty of the first round of store closings that took place in 2002 when Kmart filed for bankruptcy. I am writing to let the Definance employees know that all of you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers. Be very thankful if you are offered anything. We received absolutely nothing. People who had been with the Corp for close to 30 years were given the opportunity to work until the store finally closed, but otherwise.......we received nothing. Being middle age, it was not easy for me to find a job. For a year I didn't work. Finally I chose to go to another Kmart and work. There I only found the same old things I found in the store I worked in for nearly 14 years before it closed. Poor management. local and corporate is an understatement. Lack of respect and caring for the employees is an understatement. It's all so very sad. I pray God's best for all that loose their jobs. DO NOT BE AFRAID to go to ANY RETAIL and apply for a job. I finally got and went to Kmart's biggest competition. It was a tough decision. I am thrilled with my job. I have no regrets.

Blessings to all............Dea dsipes@bright.net

I was an employee of the Defiance Kmart for 6 years, 2000-06. I worked in almost every area of the store. Working there was a great experience for me. It was where I met and got to know my wife. It is sad to see the store close, although after just a few short years of working there I understood it was only a matter of time. Management at the store level was ok, management at corporate level was beyond poor. Bad decisions, poor investment in how money was spent within the store and lack of good sales were just some of the reasons for the store closing. I spoke recently to some of my friends who still work in the store and how they don't know where they will go from here, I truly feel for them. Along with Kmart's mistakes the city of Defiance is to blame as well, they should be more careful on how many stores they bring into the area. I understand growth is their agenda, but how can that happen when so many of the stores that have come into Defiance have eventually closed due to underperformance.

I honestly think it has nothing to do with Walmart. The store was struggling before Walmart came to town. In fact, look at Walmart's parking lot...it is normally filled with few cars. Going inside is similar, not too many shoppers typically. It's too bad that we will have a big empty building in Defiance.

I was under the impression that the day the new Wal-Mart opened that K-Mart would close. Unfortunately, it didn't happen then and I cannot figure out why. K-Mart has absolutely no business sense and truthfully has had no reason for being at all in at least the last 10 years. And then they added Sears to their woes and started calling them "Sears Essentials". The only cars in those those units are the employees. About the only reason K-Mart is still in business, with what little capital they have remaining, is they can't find a buyer. And who in their right mind would want them. I feel sorry for the employees locally, but in very short order the whole shebang will come tumbling down. And it has nothing to do with the economy. As mismanaged as they are they should have closed years ago.

Sorry. I didn't mean to come off harsh. It wasn't my intent.I meant my words to be directed at the corporate level not the individual employee.

I am indeed saddened when people lose their jobs. When big corporations make decisions like this it is all about the numbers. That real people get hurt in the process is rarely considered.

MY wife works for a company that is going through a tremendous downsizing. It is all about the bottom line. Sadly, good, long term , faithful employees are losing their jobs and no one seems to care.

So, if I came off as uncaring about the K-Mart employees I apologize. I do care, and I do hope and pray that the families affected will be able to find other work.

Bruce Gerencser
http://www.worldofbruce.net

I am very sorry to see that the K-Mart store in Defiance is closing. I really liked that store. It was a nice place to shop & the people that worked there were very friendly.

I don't do Wal-Mart. Now I will have to figure out where I can go to shop that I like. I liked K-Mart!

To Bruce: you say K-Mart did it when they come to town. That may well be, but it is not K-Mart that is "getting a taste of there own medicine", it is the employees who are, for the time being employed there (which I am one of).

In case you hadn't noticed there are not a whole lot of jobs to be had, so there will now be approx. 120 PEOPLE without a whole lot of hope. People who have kids, mortgages, carpayments, etc. to take care of, and now no way to do that, at least temporarily.

That on top of surging energy prices is not going to do a heck of alot to help revitalize the local economy is it.

So why not try to think about those 120 people, facing unemployment, instead of K-Mart (searsholdings) the business.

"The store is being closed for business reasons," Freely said, though she did not indicate anything specific. "We close stores for a variety of reasons."

Right.........Can anyone say WAL-MART?

I wonder how long it'll be until the K-Mart in Bryan closes?

Everyone cheers when Wal-Mart comes to town. As they come through the front door pay attention to who leaves through the back door.

Big box stores always cause store closings in local communities. K-Mart did it when they came to town years ago, and now they are getting a taste of their own medicine.

I hope surging energy prices will bring a revitalization of our local economy. (local stores owned by local people)Local is always better.

Bruce Gerencser
http://www.worldofbruce.net