The Penske Auto Service Center at the Manhattan K-Mart has closed. Workers were told Saturday that the company had closed all 563 K-Mart locations in 44 states.

In a press release obtained by the Free Press Jim Wheat, President and CEO of PAC said, "Our team is focused on assuring an orderly transition for all of our constituents including customers and employees. Importantly, wherever possible we will try to provide our employees with opportunities for positions within the Penske family of companies." Mr. Wheat will continue in his current position as PAC operations wind down.

Some Penske employees will start to work at a new 10 bay lubrication center planned by Dick Edwards. Edwards is the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda dealer east of Manhattan. The company has not broken ground but the center will be open in three to four months.