Darlene Roelle wants customers to know that the Sears Hometown store in Redmond is open for business and not affected by the Sears bankruptcy filing earlier this week.

As a co-owner of the store on Sixth Street in Redmond, Roelle said she’s been asked repeatedly by customers how Sears’ filing for bankruptcy protection Monday affects her store.

“As you can see we’re wide open and ready to rock ’n’ roll,” said Roelle. “Everyone is questioning us. We are not part of Sears corporate. We’re separate. It’s business as usual.”

While the retail giant that made a reputation of selling everything to anyone is struggling to find its way in the current climate, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. is a separate company.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. is publicly traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol SHOS.

The store in Bend, which had been owned by Heidi Wood, is also open and looking for a new franchise owner. Wood had operated stores in Madras, Prineville and Bend until June.

Over 750 stores in 49 states

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc., based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, is a spinoff of Sears that focuses on appliances, tools and equipment.

“It remains business as usual at all of our locations, which include more than 750 retail stores in 49 states across the nation, which are operated by us, our dealer owners and franchisees,” a spokeswoman said in a prepared statement. “We currently operate stores under various brand names including Sears Hometown, Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sears Home Appliance Showroom, Sears Outlet and Buddy’s Home Furnishings franchise.”

Sears is using Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to cut its debt and remain open during the holidays. In the meantime the company has announced it would close 142 unprofitable stores. Sears listed $11.3 billion in liabilities and $7 billion in assets on a recent filing.

‘We’re happy here’

Roelle said Ron Troutman has owned the Redmond store for about seven years as a franchisee. She began as an employee and became a partner about a year ago, she said.

“We’re individual owners,” Roelle said. “Nothing will happen to us. We’re happy here.”

The Redmond store sells everything from snowblowers to major appliances.

Leaving the Redmond store after purchasing a socket wrench set, Scott Cloyd, a Redmond resident, figured he might find some deals. Then he realized the Hometown store is different.

“It’s a franchise,” Cloyd said. “The brand just couldn’t keep up.”

— Reporter: 541-633-2117, sroig@bendbulletin.com