Attention Kmart shoppers: Goodbye

Formerly one of the city's busiest shopping malls, it has fallen on hard times in recent years. (Courtesy photo/Google)

ROCHESTER - Kmart, one of the venerable anchors of the 30-year-old Lilac Mall, will be shuttering its doors for good in early April, its parent company announced Thursday, with liquidation sales likely beginning as early as next Friday.

The Milton Road store's closing is the only one slated in New Hampshire, according to Sears Holdings, which is also closing many Sears stores nationwide, including one in Bangor, Maine.

The loss of Kmart following close on the heels of the impending loss of the state liquor store to the Ridge Marketplace will leave two more gaping holes at the struggling shopping venue, which has been losing market share to The Ridge and Rochester Crossings for some time.

Sears Holdings "continues its strategic assessment of the productivity of our Kmart and Sears store base and will continue to right size our store footprint in number and size," a statement accompanying the announcement reads. " In the process, as previously announced we will continue to close some unprofitable stores as we transform our business model so that our physical store footprint and our digital capabilities match the needs and preferences of our members. "

The company on Thursday told its workers at 64 Kmart stores and 39 Sears stores across the country that it would be closing these stores between early March and early April.

The Rochester store is slated to close for good in early April, the announcement said.

Company officials said eligible associates will receive severance pay and have the opportunity to apply for open positions at other Kmart or Sears stores.