STEUBENVILLE – The Sears and Sears Auto Center at the Fort Steuben Mall will close in late June, a spokesman for Sears Holdings Co. announced Wednesday afternoon.

Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings, said the local store will start its liquidation sale on April 22.

“Store closures are part of a series of actions we’re taking to reduce on-going expenses, adjust our asset base and accelerate the transformation of our business model,” said Riefs.

He said the Sears store and Sears Auto Center have 53 employees who will receive a severance package and have the opportunity for open positions at area Sears and Kmart stores.

Mall manager Stephanie McVicker said Wednesday she had no comment on the Sears closing.

Sears was an original tenant of the Fort Steuben Mall when the facility opened in 1974.

The chain has a long history in Steubenville with a store located in the downtown business district and then on Third Street before it moved to the mall. The Sears store was moved to a new addition at the mall in 2000.

Sears Holdings announced in January the Kmart store located in the Tri-State Plaza will shut down in April.

The final day of public business at the Kmart store is set for Sunday with a clearance sale now under way.

The 65 Kmart employees who are eligible will receive a severance package and also be eligible for open positions at area Sears or Kmart stores.

The Kmart has been been an anchor store at the plaza, which is located on Mall Drive.