The last Sears store in Dallas-Fort Worth is closing.
The store is at Town East Mall in Mesquite, and it's one of a dozen stores the department store chain is closing across the country.
While the company has not officially announced the closures, it posted help-wanted positions on its website on January 29, including the store in Mesquite.
The job listing is for a "Temporary Cashier" position and says "Store Closing Mesquite."
Prior to Mesquite, the last two Sears in North Texas were at Hulen Mall in Fort Worth and The Parks at Arlington, both of which closed in 2020, following two closures in Plano in Richardson in 2018.
Acording to a story by Forbes, which describes some of the other notable closures in this round, including one in Los Angeles that's nearly a century old, this will leave the chain with 36 stores or fewer. As recently as 2019, Sears had 489 stores in operation, and 761 stores in 1963.
Home of Kenmore, Craftsman, Diehard, and many more trusted name brands, Sears was once famous for being the "World's Largest Retailer."
According to a spokesperson from Town East Mall, Sears' auto center will remain open, while the store is slated to close in April. Sales have already begun.
Photo by Eric Kayne, AP Images for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Marilyn Monroe's iconic 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' dress is going on display at Ripley's in Grand Prairie.
The dress worn for the most famous (or, infamous) performance of "Happy Birthday" in American history is going on display in Dallas-Fort Worth. Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" gown will be showcased at Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Grand Prairie for a limited time, beginning Friday, June 5.
The display coincides with what would have been the legendary actress and pop culture icon's 100th birthday. Monroe was born June 1, 1926 as Norma Jeane Mortenson.
The sparkling gown became part of entertainment lore on May 19, 1962, when Monroe wore it while singing "Happy Birthday" to U.S. President John F. Kennedy at his 45th birthday gala and fundraiser at Madison Square Garden. She shimmied onstage, shed a white fur coat to reveal the sparkly skin-tight dress, and delivered a sultry, breathy "Happy Birthday."
Afterwards, JFK said to the crowd, "I can now retire from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way."
Many historians believe Kennedy and Monroe had a romantic relationship.
Notably, Ripley's in Grand Prairie is just about 12.5 miles from the JFK Memorial and Sixth Street Museum in downtown Dallas.
Designed by French-born costume designer Jean Louis, the sheer dress was embellished with more than 6,000 hand-sewn rhinestones and created the illusion that Monroe was wearing almost nothing at all — a daring fashion statement that helped cement the "Happy Birthday" moment in pop culture history.
The dress is considered one of the most famous garments ever worn. In 2016, Ripley's purchased it for $4.8 million, a price that at the time made it the most expensive dress ever sold at auction.
In 2022, they loaned it to Kim Kardashian to wear to the Met Gala. It was reportedly returned with some missing crystals and stretched seams.
Visitors to the Grand Prairie museum will be able to see the gown up close, along with additional memorabilia tied to Monroe's life, career, and legacy, an an exhibition called "Happy 100th Birthday, Marilyn Monroe."
"Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most recognizable icons in pop culture history," Ripley Entertainment regional manager Rachel Rotella said in a statement. "With visitors looking for unique experiences across North Texas this summer, this is a rare opportunity to see Marilyn Monroe's dress that represents one of the most unforgettable moments in Hollywood history."
The Monroe display is included with regular admission to Ripley's, which features hundreds of oddities, artifacts, and interactive exhibits. The exhibit opens June 5 and will be on display for a limited time.
