Troubled retailer Sears is closing more locations. Sears Holding Co. announced yesterday (Thursday, November 2, 2017) it will close 18 Sears stores and 45 Kmart locations. The only store in the area that will close in this latest round is Kmart in Cookeville, Tennessee. Employees were informed of the closures. The stores are set to close in late January 2018 with clearance sales starting this week. Eligible associates will receive severance pay and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other stores. The closures bring the total number of Sears stores in the U.S. to about 680, down from 3,500 locations in 2010. There are currently 610 Kmart locations in the U.S.