To the relief of the many employees and customers of the Austin Kmart, the store was not on the list of the six Minnesota stores that the company intends to close soon.

Friday, March 15, 2002

To the relief of the many employees and customers of the Austin Kmart, the store was not on the list of the six Minnesota stores that the company intends to close soon.

The closings will cost 506 people to lose their jobs.

The list of stores, that includes Hibbing and Mankato, will go before the bankruptcy court March 20 for final approval.

There’s no question that any business closing would have had an impact on the community, especially one as large as Kmart. Whether it’s widely known or not, retail is a big part of the local economy and is important to the city’s future. The retail sector not only provides jobs but also is an important attraction for new residents.

Austin has a respectable variety of stores and services to choose from. It makes the city somewhat unique and a convenient place to shop, which in turn means more money for the city. Had the store closed, it would have been a setback for the community.

An empty building attracts nothing but negativity. For some communities, the closings will devastate their economy. Thankfully, Kmart is still here in Austin and its employees’ jobs are safe.