City officials silent; county leaders saddened with 3 stores on chopping block

Janet Lutz of New Smyrna Beach pushes a cart to her car for perhaps the final time Thursday with the big announcement that the Kmart here is closing.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Lifetime resident Janet Lutz pushed her shopping cart out the front doors of Kmart Thursday night, after learning the store was closing for good. Earlier in the day, Sears holding, Inc., the corporate owner of Sears and Kmart stores, formally announced 79 of its stores under these two brands nationwide, ceasing operations.
The 60-year-old woman was heartbroken by the news that the Kmart here on State Road 44 is among them.