“While decisions to close stores are not taken lightly, closings are part of ongoing real estate initiatives in which we strategically conclude operations at under-performing locations,” said Kathryn Bufano, president and CEO of Bon-Ton, in a statement. “As a result of our performance reviews, we felt it prudent to close the aforementioned stores.”
Approximately 51 employees of the Lima store will be affected. The part- and full-time employees will have the opportunity to interview for positions at the company’s other stores or get transition benefits, according to the release.
The store opened in Lima in 1974 and was purchased by Bon-Ton in 2003.
Headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, and Milwaukee, the company has seven types of stores and 270 store locations, 35 of them are Elder-Beerman’s.