Sears Holdings Corp., owned by Greenwich billionaire Edward S. Lampert, is researching a possible move outside the state of Illinois, The Associated Press reports.
Sears spokesman Chris Brathwaite said Monday that the retailer has had preliminary discussions with the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, where it is located.Â
Sears Holdings, which also owns Kmart, also has commissioned an economic impact study. The Daily Herald newspaper reports state and local incentives that Sears receives will expire in 2012.
Brathwaite says the company owes it to its associates and shareholders to “consider options and alternatives.” He says the company has made “no decisions at this point” and is being “very thoughtful and thorough.”
He made no mention of Connecticut to The AP.
Lampert’s 23-year-old private hedge fund, ESL Investments, referred HBJ Today’s queries Monday to an outside spokesman, who referred them to Sears for comment.
Connecticut economic development officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod says he will do his utmost to keeps the thousands of Sears jobs in his community.
