FTC Officials Noncommittal After Burbank’s Plea on Mall

Meetings Tuesday between a Burbank delegation and Federal Trade Commission members over the threatened withdrawal of Robinson’s department store from the planned Towncenter mall failed to provide an indication of the FTC’s position on the issue, city officials said.

Burbank City Manager Bud Ovrom, who traveled to Washington with Mayor Mary E. Kelsey, Councilman Robert R. Bowne and Towncenter consultant Gerald Trimble, said separate sessions with the five FTC commissioners laid out Burbank’s side of the controversy, which developed from the proposed merger of the May Co. with Associated Dry Goods, the parent company of Robinson’s.

May Co. executives said last month that they would remove Robinson’s as one of the mall’s four anchor retailers if the merger, which requires federal approval, goes through. The remaining three stores are re-evaluating their commitments to the mall in light of the threatened withdrawal.

Ovrom said the commissioners were “extremely careful” not to take a stand on the merger but seemed “genuinely appreciative on hearing our side.” The city has asked the FTC to do whatever it takes to prevent Robinson’s withdrawal.

He said he expects the commission to reach a decision on the merger by the end of the month. Commission officials refused to comment on the meetings.

The delegation is scheduled to meet today with Pittsburgh, Pa., city officials, who claimed such a merger would allow May Co. to control all major department stores in the city. Pittsburgh city officials filed suit last week in U. S. District Court seeking a preliminary injunction against the merger.

Burbank officials have considered filing legal action to prevent the merger.