SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Yesterday's announcement that Sears would close its Empire Mall store is just one in a series of department store closures in the city.
Commercial real estate broker Ron Nelson reminded listners of It's Your Business today about the former Shriver's Department store in downtown Sioux Falls. It moved to the Western Mall in 1979 and closed in 1986, according to the website, Greetings from Sioux Falls. The store opened in 1914.
"Shriver's was a big downtown department store," Nelson said. "As a matter of fact, the building, the multi-story building at 10th and Phillips catty-corner from Minerva's, is still called the Shriver's building (Square)."
Having survived the Shriver's closing, and now, the coming closings of Younkers and Sears in the Empire Mall, Nelson says don't panic.
"I guess my message is--relax," Nelson said. "I mean, it's a concern, but guess what, it's not like the first time a department store has closed."
SiouxFalls.Business publisher Jodi Schwan also told the program that the circumstances between Younkers and Sears closing are dramatic.
"We know that the Younkers store was in the top ten percent company-wide," Schwan said. "It was a highly shopped store. It would not have closed if the whole company hadn't gone under."
Sears is a different story, according to Schwan.
"Sears, on the other hand, is probably among the lower performing stores for a variety of reasons," she added.
Thus, she says the Sears closing was not a surprise while the Younkers closing was.
"I know the folks at the Empire Mall and their parent company, Simons, certainly didn't have their heads in the sand when it came to Sears.