OfficeMax Inc. will close its two Snohomish County stores as part of the struggling office supply chain’s nationwide restructuring.
The two stores, at 228 SW Everett Mall Way in Everett and in Lynnwood’s Alderwood Plaza, are the only ones in Washington state being closed in the next two months. Across the country, OfficeMax is shutting 110 locations.
“OfficeMax remains committed to serving the needs of our customers in Everett and Lynnwood through our other store locations, our online services and our contract business services,” Tim May, an OfficeMax territory senior vice president, said in a statement.
The chain’s nearest remaining stores are in Shoreline, Woodinville, Oak Harbor and Burlington.
The Lynnwood OfficeMax, which occupies 38,000 square feet, is much larger than the chain’s typical store, said Krista Haverly, senior associate with CB Richard Ellis in Seattle. Haverly, who handles leasing at Alderwood Plaza, said the closure wasn’t unexpected or even necessarily a bad thing.
“We have an opportunity to get a much better tenant there,” she said.
The 25,000-square-foot OfficeMax in Everett Mall Plaza may be just as attractive to other retailers as well, Haverly said.
She added that, despite retailers such as OfficeMax and Mervyns closing stores in Snohomish County, the retail economy in this area is strong.
OfficeMax did not release information on how many employees the two stores employ. Spokeswoman Nicole Miller said, however, that the typical OfficeMax has 20 full- and part-time workers. The chain will seek to find jobs for laid-off workers at its other stores, she added.
OfficeMax, which has 950 U.S. locations, first announced plans to close stores and make other changes two weeks ago after its largest investor complained to OfficeMax’s board of directors about “dismal” financial performances. The company also has fallen further behind Staples and Office Depot in the office supplies industry.
Despite the closures, OfficeMax still intends to open 70 new stores this year.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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