The days are numbered for the Sears Hometown location in Airdrie as the store is set to close for good on Monday but the owner of the franchise outlet isn’t ready to give up and layoff his staff.

Karim Kassam has been with Sears Canada for 24 years serving 13 years as a salesperson and the last 11 years as registered dealer. The retailer’s demise caught him off guard.

“You never expect a big company like Sears to go under and it was a shock,” said Kassam who had also owned the Sears in Okotoks that closed months ago.

Kassam says he has not received any of his commissions from Sears for sales he made from October to the present. “It was a little scary. As you know, Sears is in court protection so we haven’t been paid since October.”

In a statement to CTV Calgary, Joel Shaffer, a Sears Canada spokesperson, says the issue will be rectified in the near future.

“The balance of payments owing will be paid on or before December 31. Sears Canada is on target to make those payments.”

Kassam is now attempting to sell off his remaining stock, roughly $100,000 worth of product, at reduced prices over the next three days until Sears shuts down his store. While he tries to move merchandise out the door, he’s also securing product for the launch of his new, independently owned store ‘Airdrie Appliance and Furniture’.

“We are not letting go any of our staff,” said Kassam. We still have the full eight people staying here with us, so business as usual, just no Sears or no Kenmore names.”

Irene Herron has worked for Sears for roughly 15 years and she’s glad Kassam will continue to operate an appliance and furniture store in Airdrie.

“He knows the Sears customer, he knows the Sears way, he knows the Sears pricing,” said Herron of Kassam’s skills. “In a different way, Sears will continue.”

Some loyal customers have developed an emotional attachment to the Sears brand.

“It breaks my heart,” said Lindsey Simmons. “I think Sears is an icon. I shopped at Sears. I remember sitting around with my brothers and sisters looking at the catalogue. That’s how the shopping was done in small towns.”

Airdrie Appliance and Furniture will carry parts for Kenmore appliances that were sourced through third party manufacturers.

The two remaining Sears stores in Calgary, the departments stores in Southcentre Mall and North Hill Shopping Centre, are scheduled to close on January 21, 2018.

With files from CTV’s Shaun Frenette