Bon-Ton to exit Clearview and Raleigh malls

Bon-Ton plans to close its Bon-Ton store in the Clearview Mall in Butler, Pennsylvania, and its Elder-Beerman store in the Raleigh Mall in Beckley, West Virginia. The company will not renew these leases, which terminate Jan. 31, 2015.



The closings will affect approximately 38 and 39 store employees at the Clearview Mall and Raleigh Mall locations, respectively.



Bon-Ton acquired the leasehold interests in the Clearview Mall store in 1982 and the Raleigh Mall store as part of its Elder-Beerman acquisition in 2003. The company does not expect costs associated with the closing of the locations to be material. The stores will close at the end of their lease terms.



“While decisions to close stores are not taken lightly, we are very mindful of asset returns. Store closings are part of ongoing real estate initiatives in which we selectively and strategically conclude operations at underperforming locations while also seeking opportunities in markets where we believe our assets will be better employed,” said president and CEO Kathryn Bufano. “As a result of our performance reviews, we felt it prudent to close the aforementioned stores. We are very grateful for the dedicated Clearview and Raleigh store associates and are committed to providing assistance to these associates.”



The affected employees in the Clearview Mall and Raleigh Mall stores will be offered the opportunity to interview for available positions at other Bon-Ton or Elder-Beerman stores, or receive career transition benefits, including severance, according to established practices and state employment service support, the company said.



Bon-Ton operates 273 stores, which include 10 furniture galleries and four clearance centers, in 26 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates.