SWANSEA - The Sears store at the Swansea Mall is closing.

“We can confirm that we are making the difficult, but necessary decision to close the Sears store and Sears Auto Center at 262 Swansea Mall Dr., in Swansea,” said Howard Riefs, director of communication for the Sears Holding Co.

“The store will close to the public in mid-April. Until then, the store will remain open for customers. The store will begin its liquidation sale on Jan. 6.”

Employees are being offered the chance to apply for open jobs at other Sears or Kmart stores, Riefs said.

The company is closing its unprofitable stores in an attempt to stem loses through the chain, Riefs said. More than 200 stores are expected to close nationwide by the end of 2017, industry watchers say.

The only Sears store operating locally is the Sears Appliance Outlet Store at 133 Mariano S. Bishop Blvd., Fall River.

Sears stores remain open at the Dartmouth Mall, the Galleria Mall in Taunton and the Rhode Island Mall in Warwick.

Sears Holding Co. operates both the Sears and the Kmart stores. The company closed its Kmart store in Fall River last spring. It was also announced this week that the Kmart in Fairhaven would be closing in 2017.

Sears continues to offer goods through its website, Riefs said.

Email Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com.