"The local Sears store dates back to 1975 when it was one of the original anchor stores at Town Center East. It has been a familiar part of downtown for decades. The closure announcement is unfortunate for the employees and for the region, but everyone should realize that Santa Maria continues to see growth in retail activity. The closure is not unexpected because of the company's bankruptcy and waves of numerous store closures the past few years, including the Santa Barbara Sears closure. The Santa Maria Kmart closed earlier this year, as it was also part of the Sears Holdings Corporation."