Updated May 20, 2019

Fred's Department Store owner reported Friday the store in Columbia Plaza will be included in the second round of store closings.  

The 72-year-old retail chain announced it will be shutting another 104 stores.

Fred's in Pulaski learned of their closure in April, which will close permanently the end of this month after liquidation and the Mt. Pleasant store likely will close permanently May 28.

“These additional store closures are  difficult, but necessary step in the continued restructuring of Fred’s,” CEO Joseph Anto said in a statement.

The Columbia location remains full of merchandise. Some prices have been discounted, but not at the steep rates like the 70% percent markdowns in Pulaski and Mt. Pleasant.

Memphis-based Fred’s started this year with 557 stores, most of them in the South. After the second round of going-out-of-business sales, Fred’s will have about 300 locations.

Fred’s stock price closed at 44 cents Friday. By comparison, Dollar General was at $120.10, Dollar Tree at $100.30 and Big Lots at $31.91.

The company earlier last month reported net sales fell 17.2 percent in the fourth quarter and 8.9 percent for the fiscal year.

Fred’s announced it has hired a financial adviser to study a restructuring or potential sale.