HOLLAND TWP. (WHTC-AM/FM) — The sales have already started at Younkers, an anchor store for The Shops at Westshore, according to The Shops’ general manager, Jean Ramirez.
She says the bankruptcy of Younkers’ parent company, Bon-Ton, is no surprise to anyone in the retail business.
“This has been a long time in coming and by long time, I mean years,” she told WHTC Wednesday.
That lead time gave her and The Shops’ owner time to think about what to do with the 75,000 square-foot store. They do have a plan, Ramirez said.
“We are not in the position today to say what that is, but I think that it is exciting and it will incorporate all of the vacant land to the west of the building.”
For now her heart is with the 90 Younkers employees handling the sales while figuring out where they’ll be working next. Ramirez said she’s known many of those employees for decades.
“We’re sad that Younkers is leaving, I mean we have employees who’ve been there since that store opened, and it opened as Prange’s,” she said.
Ramirez said she plans to help connect those who want to stay in the retail business with other retailers at The Shops, some of which, such as Burlington, are experiencing better-than-expected traffic and sales, she said.
