No Sears or Kmart stores in SLO County are set to close yet

Similar stories:

• Sears spins off Canada stake to focus on US stores

  Sears spins off Canada stake to focus on US stores

  Sears Holdings Corp. said Thursday it returned to a profit in the first quarter as it benefited from a gain on the sale of underperforming stores. The troubled retailer also said it would spinoff a stake in its Canada unit to focus on turning around its U.S. business.

• SLO Best Buy isn't among stores slated for closure

  SLO Best Buy isn't among stores slated for closure

  Best Buy's store in San Luis Obispo is not on the list of 50 stores that the electronics retailer plans to close.

  On March 29, Best Buy reported a $1.7 billion fourth-quarter loss and announced the closing of 50 big-box stores. The company also said it would speed up the openings of smaller stores that focus on mobile-phone sales and services. The company's operating margin narrowed to 4.6 percent for the 2012 fiscal year, which ended March 3, from 5.6 percent five years ago.

  Eight stores across the country had been previously identified for closure. Over the weekend Best Buy issued a list of the remaining 42. Of those, seven are in California. Two are in the Bay Area, four are in Southern California and one is in the Central Valley.

• Shoppers give up sleep to gain deals on Black Friday in SLO County

  Shoppers give up sleep to gain deals on Black Friday in SLO County

  Sleep-deprived shoppers lined up at stores throughout the Central Coast early Friday hoping to grab big bargains on items such as computers, gaming systems and television sets.

  Black Friday typically marks the official start of the holiday shopping season. However, this year buyers got a head start as some retailers, such as Wal-Mart, opened their doors Thanksgiving Day.

  “This year it seems like we’ve had a lot more foot traffic. Our customer count seems to be higher,” said Courtney Howton, assistant general manager of the Walmart in Arroyo Grande.

• T.J. Maxx to open at Paso Robles' Golden Hills Plaza next year

  T.J. Maxx to open at Paso Robles' Golden Hills Plaza next year

  National retailer T.J. Maxx is slated to open in fall 2012 at Golden Hills Plaza in Paso Robles off Highway 46 East.

  The Massachusetts-based chain markets itself as selling brand-name clothing, accessories and other products at prices often lower than those found at department stores.

  T.J. Maxx will join the North County plaza’s two existing anchor stores, Lowe's and Bed Bath and Beyond.

• T.J. Maxx coming to Paso Robles

  T.J. Maxx coming to Paso Robles

  National retailer T.J. Maxx is slated to open in fall 2012 at Golden Hills Plaza in Paso Robles, just off Highway 46 East.

  The Massachusetts-based store markets itself on selling brand-name clothing, accessories and other products at prices often lower than those found at department stores.

  The business will join the plaza’s two existing anchors, Lowe’s and Bed Bath & Beyond.