Police Blotter 
Cause Of Fire Determined

Analysis 
Warring Democratic Duo To Smoke Peace Pipe 
Ray Musto Likely Believes 
Trinisewski Truce Would Be 
Politically Helpful To Brother Joe

Wednesday, December 23, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: BIZ PAGE QUICK WORDS: SEARS CUTS 





CHICAGO (AP) -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. plans to close up to 100 of its
smaller stores, eliminating up to 5,000 jobs nationwide, a newspaper reported
Tuesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Apparently none of the stores in Northeastern Pennsylvania would be
affected, according to a local survey. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Chicago Tribune, citing company sources it did not identify, also said
Sears plans to shrink its money-losing "Big Book" mail order catalog, which
dates to the company's beginnings in 1886. It said Sears will probably switch
to specialty catalogs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The store closings are to be announced next month, the Tribune said. The
newspaper did not say when the closings would take place. Sears has cut more
than 48,000 jobs since 1990, but no stores have been closed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mary Jean Houde, media relations manager at Sears headquarters in Chicago,
called the Tribune report "speculative," and said rumors have been flying for
some time as the company undergoes a review of its operations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sears operates three classes of stores. The 416 "A" stores, which carry all
lines of general merchandise, would be unaffected by the closings. That
includes the Scranton store at the Viewmont Mall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The closings would come from among the 400 "B" stores, which carry a more
limited selection of general merchandise, and the 51 "C" stores, which carry
only major appliances, sporting goods and automotive supplies, the Tribune
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre Township and the Columbia Mall in
Bloomsburg both have "B" stores. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ken Eaton, assistant manager for the Wyoming Valley store, said, "This one
is pretty much safe. ... As far as I know this store is staying right where it
is." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Harry Lutz, general manager of the Bloomsburg store, said, "I don't think
there's any chance" of closure, since the store opened just four years ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Stroudsburg has a "C" store. Manager Charlie Shaffer said he had no word on
its future except that "the path is clear" for it to move to the Stroud Mall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Independently-owned catalogue stores in Tunkhannock, Hazleton and numerous
other locations would not be affected, Houde said in a telephone interview. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There is a natural, ongoing review of the merchandise group to determine
what actions are needed to make the group more profitable. The review is
ongoing and until actions are announced and taken we can't comment on this
speculation," she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sears, which has fallen behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Kmart Corp. to
third place among U.S. retailers, has been slower than some rivals to lower
prices, cut costs and improve its tired-looking stores. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In October, Sears reported an $833.7 million third-quarter loss, its first
quarterly loss since 1933. The company blamed a costly auto-repair scandal and
enormous insurance claims for hurricane damage.

Local Sears Not Part Of Nationwide Cut Newspaper Reports Famous Catalog Will Lose Some Of Its Bulk