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In this Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, photo, a Sears store is shown in Hialeah, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

(HAR)

Sears Holdings which owns both Sears and Kmart has announced the closings of 108 Kmart store and 42 Sears stores.

Two Kmart stores and a Sears store will close in the midstate in the Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg and Lancaster areas.

The Sears store at the Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township is closing and is expected to close in mid-February. The closing also includes the Sears Auto Center.

The two Kmart stores that are closing are located at 5600 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township and 1890 Fruitville Pike in Manheim Township. The Kmart in Hampden Township is expected to close in mid-February and the Kmart in Manheim Township is expected to close at the end of March.

In total, six K-mart stores will close in Pennsylvania as well as four Sears stores.

Liquidation sales could begin as early as January 6 at all closing stores.

Sears said in a statement that the stores that are closing have struggled with their financial performance for years.

Here is what Sears said in a statement:

"The decision to close stores is a difficult but necessary step as we take actions to strengthen the company's operations and fund its transformation. Many of these stores have struggled with their financial performance for years and we have kept them open to maintain local jobs and in the hopes that they would turn around. But in order to meet our objective of returning to profitability, we have to make tough decisions and will continue to do so, which will give our better performing stores a chance at success. Eligible associates impacted by these store closures will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores."

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