THOUSAND OAKS : Sears Store Plans $3-Million Face Lift

Defying the lingering recession, the Sears store in Thousand Oaks is set for a major expansion and upgrading this year that will cost more than $3 million, store officials said.

The 22-year-old store will get a face lift and a 33,000-square-foot addition under a proposal that was unanimously approved by the Thousand Oaks Planning Commission on Monday night.

The addition, which will be built as a second story atop the existing Sears auto center, will house men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. It marks the Thousand Oaks store’s return to the clothing business that it had abandoned almost three years ago, Manager Ed Tirtili said.

Since the store eliminated its clothing departments in June, 1989, customers have been writing letters and making phone calls to say “we want our clothes back,” Tirtili said.

The same recession that is hurting other retailers may be benefiting Sears, Tirtili said. Sales at the Thousand Oaks store have been up this year, he said.

The entire project is expected to be completed by mid-October.