When will Sears close? You don’t have much time left to go.

The emptiness of Sears resembles years of an almost completely vacant parking lot.

The store’s merchandise has been mostly sold out or moved to another location.

The Nittany Mall anchor store will close its doors Sunday, according to signs inside the entrances. The auto center is a separate entity and will remain open, according to auto center Manager Denise Meyers. The closing was one of 63 stores, including 45 Kmart locations, across the country.

“In the process, as previously announced, we will continue to close some unprofitable stores as we transform our business model so that our physical store footprint and our digital capabilities match the needs and preferences of our members,” Sears said in a statement in November.

Store employees and managers have declined requests for comment about the closing, and corporate spokesman Howard Riefs has not responded to requests for comment.

It is unknown if another business is planned for the anchor space — Nittany Mall Manager Polly Welch has not responded to requests for comment. Sears is the second anchor store to close in three years following J.C. Penney’s departure, which was replaced by Dunham’s Sports.

A potential replacement for Sears would be a mini-casino.

College Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh said there would be little downside to having a casino at the mall, and it would likely become a popular destination in central Pennsylvania. The only parameters set by the township are through ordinances, including the adult business ordinance, which makes it impossible for a casino to be located elsewhere in the municipality.

If a winning bidder for a mini-casino chooses Centre County as their preference, the mall would be a likely landing spot with access to highways, hotels and because other municipalities have rejected the possibility.

Casino operators may submit sealed bids to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and mini-casinos may house up to 750 slot machines and 30 table games.

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 6:29 PM with the headline "When will Sears close? You don’t have much time left to go.."