Boscov’s may be in trouble
2008 July 29
I read in the FNP Biz Blog today that Boscov’s Department Store in Fredericktowne Mall may be in some trouble and is considering closing some more stores after closing one in New York.
Hopefully this isn’t the case, as the fate of the restructured mall rests on the anchor stores of Boscov’s, Bon Ton and Home Depot and I personally think that area will have trouble attracting any new stores in the revitalization effort, especially in the tough economic times we are in now.
It seems that Boscov’s strength is also its weakness. In its attempt to restore the classic department store, it sacrifices depth of selection. I’ve found it to be pricey also. Furthermore, the Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Boscov stores that have taken over from Hecht’s in the Baltimore area aren’t doing that well either.
That being said, I hope Boscov’s succeeds. I’ve met Albert Boscov, the chain’s former chairman, and he’s quite a feisty individual. To do so, I agree with Lizfrog that more will have to be done with that ghost town that is now Frederick Towne Mall.
I just had the opportunity (or misfortune) of walking through Fredericktowne Mall looking for the Ritz Camera store. Seems like half or even more than half of the stores are now closed inside that Mall, including Ritz. And “ghost town” is a very apt description, with very few people there. So I drove over to FSK Mall — and my, what a huge difference between the two malls! FSK Mall was bustling, bright, and had very few closures (and even so, they seemed to be in process of being plugged anyway).
Really hope Frederick can do something very soon about Fredericktowne Mall.
It doesn’t surprise me that Boscov’s is having issues, I am surprised that more big chains aren’t have the same problems. Boscov’s has been too pricey and their choice of location… well, it was just poor timing on their part. I doubt Fredericktowne mall will ever see the activity it once did.
I thought the reason Fredericktowne Mall is like a ghost town is because they are getting ready to do a major overhaul on the place, so most of the stores are moving or, for those still open, just waiting until the last minute.
I’m sorry to hear Boscov’s may be in trouble. I’ve bought everything from jewelry to shoes to furniture in Boscov’s Frederick store.
Call me old-fashioned but I miss the classic department stores…guess that’s why Boscov’s appeals to me. After saying goodbye to Hecht Co. and trying to adjust to Macy’s and Bloomingdales, I don’t find Boscov’s “pricey” but apparently I’m in the minority here. I’ve been quite satisfied with both selection and prices in the Frederick store.
proudgeek: Ritz Camera is on the 2nd floor of Boscov’s.
I like Boscov’s too. I find the prices good, but I only shop sales.
According to the FNP this morning our boscov’s will be fine.
Darrell, I didn’t get that impression from that article at all. Words like “not likely” and “layoffs and cutbacks” don’t sound like the store is doing well. Hopefully the Frederick store won’t close.
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=78213
I’m still hoping for something a little more high end in Frederick. Boscov’s seems perfect for the location though. I guess it may suffer a bit during the “facelift” the Fredericktowne Mall is getting. Kind of makes you wonder what the anchor stores will do during this transition phase? It’s a tough sell to get someone to drive somewhere just for Boscov’s or Bon Ton when you can go to FSK and combine your trips. I guess…I don’t know. Even that mall needs some help. I just hope Boscov’s can survive, it’s not a bad little store!!
Maybe i misread the article but it look like our boscov’s was n good shape. I think they over expanded into the Baltimore region and then BAM! The economy went to the toilet. Once the mall is revitalized I think Boscov’s will do VERY WELL!
Lizfrog, I, too, came away with a less-than-positive impression of the local Boscov’s status. I felt a bit misled by the positive tone of the headline, which didn’t seem borne out by the statements in the article itself.
I do think that if the store can hang on until the mall is revitalized (assuming that happens!), its sales figures will increase.
Boscov’s has been in bad shape for a while. The problem with suppliers didn’t just happen overnight. It’s been going on for months.
No maybe about it: Boscov’s is in trouble.
It’s filed for Chapter 11 and closing 10 of its stores, including all three in the Baltimore area. The Frederick and Westminster locations will remain open.
Yeah, the Frederick Boscov’s remains open. It’s the ones in Owings Mills, White Marsh, and Marley Station Shopping Center in Glen Burnie that are closing. The going-out-of-business sales at these locations are happening right now.
The reason the Fredericktown mall is a ghostown right now, is because of the mall management. They are pretty much kicking stores out for their so called “revitalization”. If the stores were there in the first place, and the mall would bother to advertise, which they no longer do, it would still be a nice place to shop. So now that the mall is throwing everybody out, there is no selection there to speak of, and in the bad economy everybody sees all the empty storefronts and think that things are even worse than they actually are, and that the mall died because of the economy. The mall died because the current owner doesn’t even want it. I would much rather see stores in those slots, and the place fixed up. I would rather shop at the Fredericktowne mall as it is the only indoor mall on that side of town, and I hate shopping on the other side of town where the roads and traffic are a mess. Unfortunately the owner of the mall is a moron, and has killed that mall intentionally. For all I know they get a big fat write off for it, while we lose a decent place to shop. I wish they would sell it to someone responsible who could be bothered to give a whoop. They didn’t even bother to advertise for Christmas the last couple years, they used to buy air time for the holidays. This mess they have made will do thier anchor stores no favors either, Bonton is bare, and looking like they might be getting ready to close, so if the mall keeps on the way they are going they are going to have 3 big empty buildings sitting in a parking lot. I also go to malls where I can combine trips, I’m not going to bother to make a special trip just for Boscov’s when I can go to a mall and get a selection of specialty stores too. What a mess.