West Kelowna Sears store struggling to stay open

WEST KELOWNA – Sears Canada’s West Kelowna location could be shutting down.

Landlord Noll Derriksan says he locked out Sears from its Estates Square location on Old Okanagan Highway Thursday morning, Aug. 13, because of non-payment and frequent late payment of rent.

The voice message for the Sears West Kelowna number says only that the store is 'temporarily closed' and refers further inquiries to the department store’s national service line.

Alicia Richler, a corporate spokesperson for Sears Canada, was not immediately available for an interview.

The Canadian retailer has struggled in recent years to maintain sales in a competitive market segment.

At least one customer was surprised by the sudden closure. Michela Russo ordered shoes online two weeks ago and got an email saying they were available for pick up. She drove from Peachland on Thursday to get her shoes and found the store closed.

“It said nothing in the email this morning that the store would be closed,” she says.

She says she was told to phone Sears Canada but her worry is the shoes are in the store and they can’t get them.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.