Gottschalks names new chairman

FRESNO, Calif. Gottschalks announced today that Jim Famalette, president and ceo of the company, has been appointed chairman of the board. As previously announced and planned, Joseph Levy will be retiring as chairman but will continue to serve as a director and chairman emeritus. Dr. Joseph Penbera will continue to serve as lead director. Additionally, the company announced that Gregory Ambro has been appointed as evp and coo and Daniel Warzenski has been appointed as vp finance and cfo. Ambro previously served as chief administrative and financial officer since joining the company in November 2003. Warzenski previously held the position of vp of finance since joining the company in 2006.

The company also announced today that same-store sales for the month of July decreased 3.9% from the prior year. Total sales for the month decreased 5.5% to $41.1 million from $43.4 million in July 2006. On a year-to-date basis, same-store sales decreased 2.4% from the same period of the prior year. Total sales for the year-to-date period decreased 3.4% to $286.8 million compared to $296.9 million for the same period of fiscal 2006.