PB Office Depot to close Nov. 14

After almost 20 years serving local customers, Poplar Bluff’s Office Depot store will close this fall, and store officials could be seen recently hanging a sign on the building declaring the closure.

The company’s corporate office announced in mid-May a restructuring plan, which included closing stores and laying off up to 13,000 employees through 2023.

The company also is expected to shift much of its focus to IT services for business customers, it said.

The changes, the company said in May, are expected to substantially cut costs and save up to $860 million, while incurring charges of up to $543 million.

Local store officials declined to comment on the closure, instead referring questions to the company’s national office.

“Office Depot continues to optimize its retail footprint. As a result, the company is closing its Poplar Bluff Office Depot store, located at 1401 Vine St., on Nov. 14,” said company spokeswoman Shera Bishop.

According to documentation from the City of Poplar Bluff, the local store opened in late November of 2000 and occupied almost 20,000 square feet of retail space.

The closure, Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter said last week, is unfortunate.

“This is one of their better stores, but their lease is up, and the company wants to close stores,” Halter said.

Poplar Bluff’s store, Bishop said, “is having a closing sale that began last Thursday.”

The company, she said, will “continue to serve our Poplar Bluff-area customers online at officedepot.com.”