Signage at Petsense in west Emporia indicates the store is closing and is into a final sale. Management at Flinthills Mall is hoping to avoid that.
Manager Clarence Frye tells KVOE News Petsense has hired a company for negotiation purposes, and the mall plans discussions this week to see if there is a way Petsense can stay at the mall.
If negotiations are unsuccessful, Petsense will be one of over 70 stores closing as part of a step by the business owner, Tractor Supply, due to what is being called “underperformance.” There is no word on when the Emporia store could close, but a Tractor Supply spokesperson has said it could be a 10- to 12-week process. The Emporia location is set to be the only Petsense store in Kansas up for closure during this round of activity.
Petsense started as a brand in 2005. Tractor Supply acquired the brand 10 years ago. Once the current closure process ends, the number of Petsense stores across America will be almost identical to the number when Tractor Supply bought the pet supply and service chain.
There is no indication the local Tractor Supply store will close.
Separately, work continues to renovate the space set to be occupied by Ollie’s by mid-fall. That store will claim space opened after Claire’s, Glik’s, Maurices, Buckle and GNC Nutrition closed over the last decade.
In addition, temporary hours continue at the Emporia DMV after the office manager quit unexpectedly several weeks ago. Hours remain Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, until further notice. The Kansas Department of Revenue has not responded to KVOE News requests for information since the situation unfolded almost a month ago.
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