Mervyns Stores Plans To Cease Operations

[Kadie]

Oct 16, 2008 7:27 pm US/Pacific

Mervyns Stores Plans To Cease Operations

HAYWARD (CBS 5) ― Department store chain Mervyns LLC will announce Friday that it is filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy protection — which means the Hayward-based retailer must shut its doors and liquidate its inventory.

Over the summer, Mervyns had filed for chapter 11 protection from its creditors in U.S. bankruptcy court for the District of Delaware. The company said at the time that it planned to continue business as usual while it reorganized.

The privately-held retailer, which has languished for several years, operates about 175 locations in seven states - but primarily in California.

Industry observers said the chain's heavy concentration in California, which is among the states hardest hit by the housing crisis, had made a turnaround very hard.

The 59-year-old chain had also been squeezed between high-end department stores and discounters like Wal-Mart Stores.

more...
http://cbs13.com/local/Mervyns.Stores.Plans.2.842535.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Wow

I remeber shopping there with my parents when I was 5. I used to go there all the time as a kid.

[Arugula Latte]

2. Wow. That one has been around ever since I can remember.

The Bay Area is being hit hard. Mother's Cookies, Mervyn's ... What's next? I hope Dreyer's Ice Cream and Peet's Coffee stay in business.

[AlCzervik]

3. holy shit, there's one about 3 miles from my house. Another business in my city

gone.

[Mimosa]

4. In Mervyn's case it isn't 'the economy'

From the report:

"The privately-held retailer, which has languished for several years, operates about 175 locations in seven states - but primarily in California."

Mervyn's languished for a reason: they never were one thing or another. They had erratically designed stores with poor merchandise at the wrong prices. Sort of like John Mccain's campaign, in fact. Now if Dillard's were to go out of business that would be frighteningly significant.

[Warpy]

16. Their buyers went to hell in a handbasket, that's what happened

15 years ago, they were a prime spot for reasonably priced off the rack clothing. Now they're selling sleazy crap that falls apart after 3 washings and over decorated stuff that you get home and have to spend a couple of hours picking the rhinestones and sequins off to get something you can go out the front door in.

The first place that starts selling well made natural fibre classic clothing will make a killing. That's what people will be looking for in tough times, not Spears inspired slutwear and glittery crap.

[stuckinlodi]

5. Oh No!

My family knew Mr. Mervyn. We always shopped in the very first store in San Lorenzo. I feel like a family member died.

[Kickin_Donkey]

15. My mom's from San Lorenzo ...

We occasionally went to that store when I was a kid visiting my mom's family.

It's pretty much the only thing San Lorenzo has ever been known for.

[madaboutharry]

6. There is a Mervyn's in Tucson

You could see the decline over the past couple of years.

It is the same kind of thing I noticed the last time I was in Old Navy. I think they're in trouble.

[my3boyz]

8. I used to love Mervyns when I lived near San Francisco. It is awful that

they will be closing down. :(

[Patchuli]

7. I love my Mervyns

Dammit! :cry:

[AlCzervik]

9. and it's going to put a lot of people out of work.

i'm really sad to hear this.

[la la]

10. when our daughters were small-

i always shopped at Mervyns---now, THE store i go to is Target.
too bad about Mervyns- got good deals in the 70s and 80s. ;>(

[MrsBrady]

11. all the malls here in DFW have them - probably about 10 stores, maybe more? nt

[LeftyMom]

12. When I was a kid pretty much ALL of my clothes came from there.

Now? I can't remember the last time I saw anything in there I wanted to buy for my kid, my house or myself. Their prices aren't that great for the quality.

Penneys (where anything I didn't get at Mervyns came from when I was a kid) is much the same anymore, and I rather expect them to head the same direction.

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. wow...going the way of Montgomery Wards...

[SoCalDem]

14. Looks like my ne'er do well sister may lose her McMansion

She's a big mucky-muck in the Mervyn's hierarchy..

If you looked up "conspicuous consumption" , her picture would be there..

[Beregond2]

17. I can't remember the last time I saw a Mervyn's in the Northwest.

[Dulcinea]

20. There used to be a few in the Atlanta metro area...

...but they've been gone from here at least 10 years.

[rebel with a cause]

18. Off subject, but I heard today that there is going to be big lay offs

at Wal-Marts. Don't know if it is just in this region or everywhere, and although my source is reliable I cannot swear to its accuracy. This will hit some people hard, because this is the time of the year that they usually begin hiring extra help for the holidays. I know that Wal-Mart is the devil but there are a lot of people who depend on their jobs there. It seems people just are not shopping enough now. Maybe bush needs to come out and tell people the way to save the economy is for them to go out and shop.

[Raine]

19. Sad news

there is one close to my house. I'll be sorry to see it go. :-(

[Reader Rabbit]

21. I thought they already had!

We lost our Mervyn's stores here several years ago.