Bon-Ton Stores declares March 2007 closing of Carson Pirie
28 Aug '06
3 min read
The Bon-Ton Stores Inc announced it will close the Carson Pirie Scott store at One South State Street in Chicago, citing negative sales trends, net operating losses from rising operating costs and the incentive of payments from the owner of the building who has plans for future redevelopment of the landmark site.
The State Street store will remain open through the 2006 holiday shopping season and will close by March 2007. Twenty-five Carson's department stores and five furniture stores will remain open throughout the metropolitan region, including two in the Chicago city limits.
“We are very proud of Carson Pirie Scott's rich tradition in Chicago – a tradition that has prospered for more than 150 years, and will continue to be a very important part of the Chicago metropolitan landscape."
"Unfortunately, this facility is more than 100 years old and no longer supports our efforts to provide quality customer service by giving our customers a modern, fresh shopping experience,” said Bud Bergren, President and CEO of The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. “Operating costs at this store are significantly higher than our average operating costs at other stores.”
After investing a considerable amount of money on an annual basis for repairs and improvements, Carson's State Street store experienced sales declines versus the overall Carson's sales increase in 2004 and 2005.
In making the announcement, Mr. Bergren stressed Bon-Ton's overall commitment tothe Chicago market and its intention to find new locations within the metropolitan Chicago area. Bon-Ton is actively pursuing opportunities for a near North/South city location.
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