california's last local clothing department store to file bankruptcy... (Fresno: real estate, 2009)

[FresnoFacts]

Some of the speculation is that IF the chain's stores and leases are sold it will be done in pieces. We still don't know if one buyer or investor will take the whole chain or not though.

The problem is that all the other chains have their own problems right now so all of it is still a bit of an unknown.

There is speculation that Macy's might be interested in the Visalia and SLO sites.

Harris is rumored to maybe take back its Southern California stores.

Dillard's might take a few. They've been rumored around Fresno/Clovis, Visalia, and a couple of other areas.

Also being mentioned as possibly interested in some of the store locations are Burlington Coat Factory and Dick's Sporting Goods.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

People are saying that they remember going to the store. How many of you have been in the last year? I have never been to a Gottschalk's, Dillards, Have not been to a Mervynns in Years. Maybe they are going out of business because no one shopps there.

[FresnoFacts]

I doubt many Californians have been to Dillards in the last year, they only have 3 stores in California (out of 300 stores nationwide).

Gottschalks has 38 stores in California, 20 more total around the west but none around Ventura or Santa Barbara. It might be why you have never been there. For many midsized towns and suburbs in California Gottschalks has been the main department store.

[the city]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

Some of the speculation is that IF the chain's stores and leases are sold it will be done in pieces. We still don't know if one buyer or investor will take the whole chain or not though.

The problem is that all the other chains have their own problems right now so all of it is still a bit of an unknown.

There is speculation that Macy's might be interested in the Visalia and SLO sites.

Harris is rumored to maybe take back its Southern California stores.

Dillard's might take a few. They've been rumored around Fresno/Clovis, Visalia, and a couple of other areas.

Also being mentioned as possibly interested in some of the store locations are Burlington Coat Factory and Dick's Sporting Goods.

what about beall's texas? they seem like the most likely canidate. for them to build the peeble's store, and not the stage or beall's store.

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

People are saying that they remember going to the store. How many of you have been in the last year? I have never been to a Gottschalk's, Dillards, Have not been to a Mervynns in Years. Maybe they are going out of business because no one shopps there.

I don't live there anymore, so I have been unable to shop at Gottschalk's for about 19 months, now.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by the city

what about beall's texas? they seem like the most likely canidate. for them to build the peeble's store, and not the stage or beall's store.

They are probably a possible, they have none of their stores of any brand in California Oregon and Washington. So Gottschalks would fill a big missing territory.

They usually use Stage and Bealls in the western states, Peebles is more east of the Mississippi.

They are also a much smaller store size, only averaging about 30,000 sq feet or so. The Gottschalks sites average 90,000 sq feet.

They might be interested but I have not heard anything.

I can tell you Macys has expressed interest to the bankruptcy court in what happens to Gottschalks, but that doesn't mean they will take over any part of the company. Just that Macys will keep close watch and MIGHT jump in if they think it is in their best interest.

[the city]

http://www.networthsolutionsinc.com/press/WHAT%20IS%20GOTTSCHALKS'%20FUTURE%20%20May%2027,%2 02007.pdf

This is pretty old, but it listed potential buyers for Gottschalks. I don't know much about Beall's Texas, but I read that article and it seemed that Beall's would have been a perfect fit to take over all the Gottschalks stores or some of them.

"Stage Stores Inc.

Stage Stores owns the Stage, Peebles, Bealls and Palais Royal department stores, which
operate 660 stores in the East, South and Midwest.

Hendler listed the company as a likely suitor, speculating it would convert Gottschalks
locations into Peebles or Stage stores.

"They're formidable merchants, and they probably would be the best group that should be
interested and would have interest in the Gottschalks stores," he said.

The company plans to open 70 new stores a year starting in 2008, according to its annual report.
It is also looking for a third distribution center. Gottschalks leases a 420,000-square-foot
distribution center in Madera.

Stage is accustomed to running multilevel department stores with escalators, making for a
smooth conversion, Hendler said.

And although many Stage stores are smaller -- between 5,100 and 52,000 square feet --
Hendler thinks they could fit.

Stage did not return calls seeking comment."

I re-read the article and it did mention the biggest store owned by that company goes to 52,000sq. ft. All though, the company thinks they could make it work. By making somke stores multi-level and so forth. Who knows, they could make a special branch for the Gottschalks stores.

[the city]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

Some of the speculation is that IF the chain's stores and leases are sold it will be done in pieces. We still don't know if one buyer or investor will take the whole chain or not though.

The problem is that all the other chains have their own problems right now so all of it is still a bit of an unknown.

There is speculation that Macy's might be interested in the Visalia and SLO sites.

Harris is rumored to maybe take back its Southern California stores.

Dillard's might take a few. They've been rumored around Fresno/Clovis, Visalia, and a couple of other areas.

Also being mentioned as possibly interested in some of the store locations are Burlington Coat Factory and Dick's Sporting Goods.

and i'm sure kohl's and forever 21 r eying some locations too. and as well as Stage Stores Inc.

i am starting to wonder if gottschalks will actually sell though, but if it does then i am betting it's stores and leases will be converted into the many stores we listed

[the city]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

Some of the speculation is that IF the chain's stores and leases are sold it will be done in pieces. We still don't know if one buyer or investor will take the whole chain or not though.

The problem is that all the other chains have their own problems right now so all of it is still a bit of an unknown.

There is speculation that Macy's might be interested in the Visalia and SLO sites.

Harris is rumored to maybe take back its Southern California stores.

Dillard's might take a few. They've been rumored around Fresno/Clovis, Visalia, and a couple of other areas.

Also being mentioned as possibly interested in some of the store locations are Burlington Coat Factory and Dick's Sporting Goods.

Well if u guys have read the latest news. 11 days ago gottschalks got a bid from a liquidator and it looks like no one else is interested. so in mid-july all stores could be closing. i have a feeling that jcpenney's and macy's will be taking over many of their stores. SLO's store can go either way. But i think SLO is heading for a JcPenney's.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by the city

Well if u guys have read the latest news. 11 days ago gottschalks got a bid from a liquidator and it looks like no one else is interested. so in mid-july all stores could be closing. i have a feeling that jcpenney's and macy's will be taking over many of their stores. SLO's store can go either way. But i think SLO is heading for a JcPenney's.

Maybe, maybe not.

The word over here is that there are still two potential buyers besides the liquidators talking with Gottschalks. I have no idea who they are or if they want the whole company or just select stores.

I personally don't expect the company will emerge intact under the current name. But it is possible a major chunk could picked up by a single buyer (or two) with the rest liquidated.

Also possible that other chains will chose to wait until after liquidation and try to negotiate for the locations they want.

The deadline for a sale or the move to liquidate is March 30. So we will know in the next few weeks.