Macy’s plans 2 new stores in California
Macy’s Inc. plans to open two new stores in California this year in former Gottschalks locations.
The stores are in the Central Valley: River Park in Fresno and Visalia Mall in Visalia, the company said Thursday. Both are expected to open in the fall before the holiday shopping season begins.
Each store will offer apparel and accessories as well as a limited assortment of home merchandise. The two stores will employ about 250 people in all.
“With these new locations, Macy’s is expanding its presence and serving new customers in the important Central Valley market,” said Terry Lundgren, chief executive of Macy’s.
In March, two months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Gottschalks said it would liquidate. The 105-year-old Fresno chain sold fashion apparel, shoes, accessories and home merchandise through 55 department stores and three specialty apparel stores, most in California.
Forever 21 Inc. also will be moving into several former Gottschalks stores.
The Los Angeles-based retailer of trendy, affordable clothing said Thursday that it had won its bid in a Bankruptcy Court auction and would buy three former Gottschalks stores and take over seven of the chain’s leases. Stores include locations in Riverside, Bakersfield and Hemet and will open in the next several months, said Larry Meyer, executive vice president of Forever 21.
The move is part of Forever 21’s push to expand into larger, big-box locations. The retailer snapped up 14 former Mervyns leases last year.
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