Photo Release -- Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores Renovates and Expands Kansas City Retail and Distribution Center

Leading National Retailer Expands Operations and Services, Stimulates Local Economy


KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 21, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Revamping and remodeling in Kansas City, Sears Outlet Stores, a subsidiary of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:SHOS), has leased the former Sears location on E Front Street, expanding Outlet Store operations and services, while offering an economic boost with mass job creation.

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=26601

Originally leased by Sears Holdings Corporation, the facility included warehousing, distribution, repair service and a Sears Outlet retail location. The lease of the 354,000 square foot property was taken over by Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores earlier this year. As Sears Holdings Corporation wound down its operations in this massive location, situated on railroad tracks, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores saw the opportunity to expand and began repurposing and renovating the facilities in the Spring of 2014. The company expects to have the project complete and operations fine-tuned by early Fall of this year.

"We've processed product and remained open to the public during the repurposing process, as we continue to renovate and expand the facility previously occupied by Sears Holdings," said Peter Nero, vice president of real estate for Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores. "We have been a presence in this community since 1968, and we're looking forward to the continued warm welcome from our neighbors here and the opportunity we have to employ so many new local workers to give this building new life."

The massive size of this location allowed Sears Outlet Stores the ability to develop a new central distribution center for the South-Central region. This new repair and distribution center is expected to create nearly 160 new jobs to be filled by Kansas City locals.

In addition to the development of this new distribution center, Sears Outlet Stores have invested in updating and remodeling both its retail location and the building's exterior. The retail space in this location has expanded over 50 percent, increasing the selection of home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools, sporting goods and household goods available to the public. The retail store, which now boasts more than 27,000 square feet of retail selling space, has also expanded its assortment of merchandise, bringing in new categories like apparel and furniture. The Sears Outlet Store located at 3632 E Front Street in Kansas City, Mo. is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information about Sears Outlet or employment opportunities, visit www.searsoutlet.com or contact the local facility at (816) 483-2693.

About Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:SHOS) is a national retailer primarily focused on selling home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools and hardware. As of May 3, 2014, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. and its dealers and franchisees operated 1,250 stores across all 50 states as well as in Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

In addition to merchandise, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. provide consumers with access to a full suite of services, including home delivery, installation and extended service contracts.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. operates through two segments—the Sears Hometown and Hardware segment and the Sears Outlet segment. The Sears Hometown and Hardware segment's stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to a wide selection of national brands of home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools, sporting goods and household goods, depending on the particular store. The Sears Outlet stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to purchase new, one-of-a-kind, out-of-carton, discontinued, reconditioned, overstocked and scratched and dented products across a broad assortment of merchandise categories, including home appliances, apparel, mattresses, sporting goods, tools and lawn and garden equipment at prices that are significantly lower than manufacturers' suggested list prices.

For more information contact: Mary Hedge, Fishman Public Relations, at (847) 945-1300 or mhedge@fishmanpr.com or visit the corporate website at www.shos.com.

Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores Retail and Distribution Center in Kansas City