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Wilkes-Barre Shoppers Hope Boscov's Survives

Wilkes-Barre Shoppers Hope Boscov's Survives - Monday, August 4, 2008 at 5:08PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Monday, Aug 4, 2008 @ 05:08pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Boscov's files for bankruptcy. The department store chain filed in federal court Monday morning. Ten stores will close, but it appears stores throughout our region will remain in business.

Five stores in Pennsylvania will close, but the closest one to us is in Harrisburg. The company says rising costs across the board are to blame.

Here in Wilkes-Barre, shoppers and business owners are happy the anchor for Wilkes-Barre business is staying put. If you want to know how important Boscov's is to downtown Wilkes-Barre, just ask people who shop there. Edward Edmonds of Wilkes-Barre says, "The community needs Boscov's. It's right downtown in a vary active spot. I mean, where else are you going to shop at? I mean you have to catch the bus to go to the next plaza."

Edmonds is one of many shoppers who are relieved the Wilkes-Barre store is staying open. For Janet Konicki, it's just convenient. "Buy little things that we need so that we don't have to stop by the mall on the way home or whatever. So it would definitely hurt if it was gone," says Konicki.

Business owners agree, a Boscov's shut down in Wilkes-Barre would be bad for the whole city. Cafe Tuscana manager Tim Muriqi stands right around the corner from the department store. He says staying open means better business for everyone. "That's good because if this one stays open that's better. More things coming over here for downtown. Better for everybody," says Muriqi.

A thought echoed by Januzzi's General Manager Gary Issacc. The restaurant sits a few blocks away from Boscov's. "Oh it's good news. Everything that comes downtown as far as business attracts more people, sure," says Issacc.

Shoppers just hope the store will stay open for years to come. Jim Brunn of Nanticoke says, "Well it would be bad news because I've been coming here since the 50s, when they were open at night."

Boscov's also says it is exploring the possibility of selling to a third party. The company has taken a more than 250 million dollar loan to keep operating.

For more information check out our interactive graphic below.

 


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