Liquidation sales to begin as early as Friday.
Four Kmart stores in New Jersey will close as part of larger downsizing across the country, the big box retailer's parent company announced Wednesday.
Kmart stores in Clementon, East Brunswick, Pleasantville and Rio Grande are set to shut down, according to Sears Holdings. Liquidation sales were planned as early as Friday.
The locations are among 150 Kmart and Sears stores set to be closed nationwide this spring, according to Sears.
"The decision to close stores is a difficult but necessary step as we take actions to strengthen the Company's operations and fund its transformation," the company said in a statement.
Macy's to close 3 N.J. stores, cut jobs
"Many of these stores have struggled with their financial performance for years and we have kept them open to maintain local jobs and in the hopes that they would turn around," the company's statement added. "But in order to meet our objective of returning to profitability, we have to make tough decisions and will continue to do so, which will give our better performing stores a chance at success."
The announcement said eligible store employees will receive severance pay and can apply for positions at other area Kmart and Sears locations. The company did not disclose how many jobs in New Jersey would be impacted.
The overall closures make up approximately 10 percent of the retailer's locations, Business Insider reported.
Also on Wednesday, Macy's said it planned to shut down three locations in New Jersey as part of larger plan to close stores around the country.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.