Stein Mart Inc. will close its West Des Moines store this summer, following a 13-year run at 1600 Valley West Drive.

“Unfortunately, we will be exiting the market,” said Susan Datz Edelman, director of stockholder relations at the company’s Jacksonville, Fla., headquarters. “That store is going to close this summer, probably toward the end of July.”

A turbulent economy has forced Stein Mart to take an inventory, Edelman said, as it tries “to make the chain more productive.”

“Over the past couple of years, we have had to identify underperforming stores across our chain,” she said, noting that in 2009, the discount fashion retailer opened two stores and closed 11, including one in Omaha.

As of Jan. 30, Stein Mart was operating 267 stores nationwide.

According to Stein Mart’s February sales report, total sales for that month were $74.5 million, down 11.4 percent from $84.1 million in February 2009. Comparable-store sales dropped 9.3 percent on a year-over-year basis.

Edelman said the chain doesn’t disclose sales figures for individual stores.

The report indicated, however, that sales in regions least affected by severe winter weather, including Florida, California and Arizona, “were considerably better than the company trend.”

Edelman said the decision to close the West Des Moines store wasn’t reflective of its associates or customers. But the location “has not performed to the level we needed it to perform in order for us to continue operations there.”

She said she wasn’t sure exactly how many employees will lose their jobs as a result of the shutdown, adding that a typical Stein Mart employs about 40 full- and part-time workers.

When operations cease, nearly 70,000 square feet of retail space will hit the market.

The building, located on 3.7 acres, has been listed for sale or for lease by Clive-based Stanbrough Realty Co. LLC.

“I think being close to the (Valley West) mall, close to a grocery store and right next to the interstate” will be a draw to potential tenants or buyers, said Jeff Stanbrough, president of Stanbrough Realty, noting that the property has a $3.5 million price tag.