The blue lights that signify specials in Kmart stores will be turned off permanently in nine Pennsylvania stores. Fortunately, the Walnutport facility is not one of them.

In an effort to bounce back from its bankruptcy status, Kmart, the store founded by Kresgeville native Sebastian Kresge, is closing 284 “underperforming stores” throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Not only will the Walnutport store remain in operation, so will the Kmart stores in Frackville, the Lehigh Valley, Stroudsburg and Hazleton, which is good news for the regional economy.

The parent company filed for Chapter 11 protection in January.