Iconic anchor store in 29 states is closing location for good

SHOPPERS have been left heartbroken by the sudden news that a major department store is closing one of its locations.

Dillard’s which was founded over 80 years ago, has announced the closure of its location in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

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The department store chain with over 250 locations across 29 states, broke the news in a letter to the city’s mayor Shane McFarland on Wednesday.

Dillard’s, which is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, confirmed in the letter that the closure will be permanent.

While no reason was given for the closure, a company representative confirmed that it is the only location slated for closure.

The department store will remain open for the holidays but will close its doors for the final time in mid to late January.

“The purpose of this letter is to inform you that the Dillard’s store located in Stones River Mall (now called Stones River Town Centre), 1120 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129, will cease its operation and be closed in its entirety on a date no earlier than Jan. 17, 2025, and no later than January 31, 2025,” the letter reads.

“We anticipate that the closing will be permanent,” Dean L. Worley, the vice president for Dillard’s added.

The iconic department store has been part of Stones River Mall since the 1990s and was expanded in 2007.

Shoppers have shared their shock at the news on Facebook, with many distraught at the upcoming closure.

“I am so sad. That’s the only nice store we have,” one wrote.

“This is heartbreaking. Dillard’s is the one store in Murfreesboro that stayed consistent with high-quality and a clean store,” another said.

“This breaks my heart, but we’ll see more and more of this as everyone shops online only,” a third added.

Another said: “Wow, gosh I really hate to hear this!… I’ve shopped here since the 90s.

“Loved shopping here at Christmas. The last of the big department stores. Pretty soon, I feel they will all be obsolete.”

POOR SALES

The news comes as Dillard’s posted a bleak quarter-three report on Thursday with declining net income, total sales, and comparable sales.

Dillard’s has reported 4% reduced sales year on year after a 3% decrease in Q2.

The chain’s CEO William T Dillard II is looking to the holidays for a more positive sales report in Q4 while saying that sales have been “respectable.”

“While retail sales declined 4%, we focused on gross margin, reporting a respectable 44.5% of sales while working on expense control,” the CEO said in the earnings report.

“We reported cash and short-term investments of over $1.1 billion after repurchasing $107 million in stock.

“We are looking forward to welcoming our customers and serving them this holiday season.”

Dillard’s spokesperson Julie Johnson Guymon told the Daily News Journal that the 75 employees at the shuttering store will be hired at other nearby locations.

“Importantly, we have assured all Murfreesboro associates of continued employment in other Nashville area Dillard’s locations,” she said.

Meanwhile, Murfreesboro Mayor McFarland is requesting to learn from the owner of the property what the plans are for the soon-to-be vacant lot.

“They have been a valued member of the community, and I hate to see them go,”  County Mayor Joe Carr added.

The U.S. Sun has previously reported on the mass closure of over 300 stores across 41 states after a furniture chain filed for bankruptcy.

Meanwhile, a raft of stores are set to close for 24 hours later this month as the country celebrates Thanksgiving.

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