Sears is seeking to make a rare return to the retail scene by reopening a store in Los Angeles County, a significant development for the once-thriving retailer that has seen the closure of numerous outlets across the country.

This new store is set to make its debut in a space of approximately 130,000 square feet at Burbank Town Center in Burbank, California, with an anticipated opening date of October 22, as confirmed by Transformco, the owner of Sears.

The location, situated at 111 E. Magnolia Blvd., was a three-story Sears store that had been closed since December 2022, but there were previous indications of it reopening earlier this year. Eric Maenner, the general manager of Burbank Town Center, has confirmed plans for a “soft opening.”

Sears’ return to Burbank coincides with similar efforts by other large retailers looking to stage a comeback, despite the challenges posed by fierce competition from both online and brick-and-mortar sellers. Toys R Us, for instance, intends to open stores next year after closing down several locations during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

This relaunch of Sears indicates the company’s interest in a nationwide expansion, as observed by Gabe Kadosh, a retail property broker and vice president of Colliers, who is not affiliated with Sears at Burbank Town Center. Kadosh believes that the company might find success in selling mattresses, appliances, and apparel, as consumers often prefer to visit physical stores to inspect these products before making a purchase.

Media reports indicate that Sears currently operates only a dozen stores. Notably, the company has a history of reopening stores, such as in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles and in Oak Brook, Illinois, in recent years, although both of those stores eventually closed. The closest Sears location to Burbank can be found in Whittier, which is approximately a 30-mile drive away, as indicated on Sears’ website.