Herberger's going-out-of-business sale may be history, but it appears the department store and its parent company are back, at least online.
Last month, Bon-Ton Inc. closed its stores around the country, including 16 Herberger's and Younkers stores in Minnesota. On Aug. 31, a mysterious message started appearing on Bon-Ton's various retail websites. At Herbergers.com, the message said, "We've got great news — Herberger's is coming back!"
Last weekend, the sites were relaunched with kitchen appliances, big-screen TVs and gaming systems, apparel, cosmetics and home goods. The selection is limited. Many items appear to be overstocks from various brands and suppliers.
CSC Generation, an Indiana-based technology and retail investment company, sent out a statement Sunday indicating that it had purchased the Bon-Ton's trademarks, websites, customer lists and intellectual property for $900,000.
"We are sprinting to get as much done as possible before the holidays," Jordan Voloshin, co-president of CSC Generation, said in a statement. "We hope that our track record of revitalizing retailers assures Bon-Ton customers that the company is in safe hands."
The company has also purchased the DirectBuy buying club and the direct-to-consumer men's apparel company Killion.
There was no immediate word if the company plans to reopen any of the brick-and-mortar stores in Minnesota, although Voloshin mentioned in other interviews that the company is working on reopening stores under the Herberger's banner.
He told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that two Boston Store locations in Milwaukee may be revived with limited hours. He also said that he is focused on reopening stores under the Bon-Ton, Carson's, and Boston Store banners. Younkers and Elder-Beerman are likely to remain online-only unless sales from the online sites prove strong.
