As Sears and other retailers shutter, these retailers are leasing up Southern California vacancies

As Sears and other retailers shutter, these retailers are leasing up Southern California vacancies

Sears, once one of the most successful department stores in America, is down to just eight U.S. locations — soon to be seven — when its Whittier store closes later this month. The three-story store at Whittwood Town Center opened in the 1990s and now boasts giant “store closing” signs. Shopper Ron Torsy, 65, summed up the retailer’s demise simply. “Blame Amazon.” Torsy was browsing appliances with his wife, on the hunt for a new washing machine.…