Local shoppers with lingering fondness for Sears could soon have a similar store to visit in Bellingham.

A preliminary application was filed with city planning officials on July 17 to open a Sears Hometown Store in a vacant building at 3548 Meridian St., across the street from the Bellingham Golf and Country Club and next to Whatcom Farmers Co-Op’s Bellingham Country Store.

A spokesperson for Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc., parent company of Sears Hometown Stores, confirmed the store’s future location, but could not provide further details, saying the development is still in its early stages.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. was spun off in 2012 from Sears Holdings Co., and now operates as a separate entity.

According to the building application, the company plans to make $93,307 in tenant improvements to the Meridian Street location, including interior remodeling and a new exterior loading dock canopy.

Hometown Stores focus on smaller specialty markets and retail merchandise including hardware, appliances and lawn-and-garden supplies. There are six locations in Washington state, including stores in Oak Harbor and Marysville.

Bellingham’s former full-line Sears department store at the Bellis Fair Mall closed in early 2013. A new Sports Authority store is preparing to open in the vacated space.

Evan Marczynski, staff reporter for The Bellingham Business Journal, can be reached at 360-647-8805, Ext. 5052, or evan@bbjtoday.com.