By Joel Langton
Good news — Kirkland’s is having a sale.
Bad news — it’s a going out of business sale
Kirkland’s, located at the Plaza Del Sol Mall, is expected to close its doors at the end of February, according to Elsa Felton, Kirkland’s Del Rio manager.
Felton said being on the border presented the retailer challenges during a pandemic, thanks to the border being closed.
“Laredo closed in July,” Felton said. “With people not being able to come across from Mexico, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.”
However, Blanca Larson, executive director of the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, said not so fast.
“We’re going to do everything possible to lobby the corporation to keep this location open,” Larson said. “This is 11 jobs that our community is losing, a place for people to shop and it fills a niche here. We need Kirkland’s to stick with Del Rio until we get through this.”
Larson said they are considering a petition to show the corporation’s leadership how much the community cares.
However, shutting stores is a nationwide trend for the company. “The home décor retailer said it has further reduced expenses at its corporate office and is planning to close 27 stores in early 2020, with the potential for further closings later in the year as part of its goal to “right size” its store base. Kirkland’s currently operates 432 stores in 37 states,” said in Chain Store Age Magazine, January 2020.
Del Rio’s Kirkland’s closing is coming 14 months after the announcement.
Felton said the store’s last day is scheduled to be Feb. 26. “Unless we sell out sooner,” she said.
