A Kmart department store near UC Riverside will close in mid-March.

Liquidation sale will begin Jan. 6 at 3001 Iowa Ave., according to an email from Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings, which owns the brands Sears and Kmart.

Sears is accelerating closure of unprofitable stores, he wrote.

The 48,427 square foot store adjoins a Stater Bros. supermarket.

The number of store employees is not available, but according to the email most are part-time.