Morgantown Mall General Manager Harry Grandon said mall ownership is closely monitoring the situation surrounding the parent company of Elder-Beerman stores, Bon-Ton Stores Inc.
According to a Bon-Ton press release and media reports, the outcome of an auction for the company’s assets is expected to result in closure of all its retail outlets in 10-12 weeks.
The press release states the company, founded in 1854, could not find bidders interested in continuing the business as a going concern.
Elder-Beerman would be the second of the Morgantown Mall’s flagship stores to close in 2018, after Belk.
Grandon directed all questions to Columbus, Ohio-based Washington Prime Group, stating, “Nothing is finalized at this time.”
A representative of Washington Prime Group did not respond in time for this report.
This year, Bon-Ton announced a list of 42 stores slated to close, including a Vienna, Wood County, location in the Grand Central Mall.
Elder-Beerman also has stores in Bridgeport, Charleston, Hurricane and Martinsburg.
According to information presented by Bon-Ton, the company is headquartered in York, Pa., and Milwaukee, Wis., and operates 250 stores under a variety of names in 23 states.
