Montgomery Ward To Close More Stores

Montgomery Ward & Co. said Friday it will close 48 stores, laying off up to 3,800 employees.

Ward, which is reorganizing under bankruptcy court protection, said the store closings would be subject to court approval but should be complete by the end of December.

Stores in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene will not be affected, a company spokesperson said.

The closures will leave Wards with 294 full-line department stores in 37 states. About 1,750 full-time and 2,050 part-time jobs are being cut.

Earlier this year, Wards announced the closing of eight department stores and 44 specialty stores.

In June, the company announced it was cutting 22 percent, or 400 employees, from its corporate staff. The company employs about 60,000 people.