Younkers filed for bankruptcy in 2018, and its assets were sold to a new company, which is why you may have noticed a change in the brand.
The sale was facilitated by a court-appointed trustee, who oversaw the liquidation of Younkers' assets.
The new company, which purchased Younkers' assets, has continued to operate the stores under the Younkers name.
Despite the change in ownership, Younkers' employees were initially laid off, but some have since been rehired by the new company.
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Younkers Relaunch
Younkers is back online, and some brick-and-mortar stores may reopen.
The company, now owned by CSC Generation, relaunched its online store in September 2018, carrying clothing, jewelry, and kitchen and home goods similar to what Younkers' brick-and-mortar stores sold.
Customers can also purchase appliances and furniture through the site.
CSC said it's in advanced discussions with landlords about reopening stores in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania ahead of the December holiday shopping season.
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The revived Bon-Ton stores will continue to offer much-loved brands, including additional services like interior design and personal styling.
Some people are hopeful that Younkers stores will return to Michigan, where the company closed 49 stores in August 2018.
A township supervisor in Bay County, Michigan, has started a campaign to get the attention of the company, encouraging people to fill out the "contact us" portal on the company's website and share how much the business meant to the area.
The company currently has plans to reopen stores in a few states, but Michigan is not on that list as of now.
The online store offers new products and brands daily, including clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, and jewelry.
Store Status
Younkers' online store is back, and it's a great place to shop. You can find clothing, jewelry, kitchen and home goods, appliances, and furniture on the site.
The online store is similar to what Younkers' brick-and-mortar stores used to sell. Customers can browse and purchase items just like they would in a physical store.
CSC Generation Inc., the company that relaunched Younkers, is also in talks with landlords about reopening stores in several states. These states include Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
It's not clear yet if Younkers will reopen its Iowa stores, including the one at Southbridge Mall. The online store is currently the only way to shop at Younkers.
The deal to relaunch Younkers was valued at $900,000, which is the cost of the naming rights to the Bon-Ton stores.
Sale and Ownership
Younkers was sold to The Bon-Ton Stores in a $1.1 billion deal completed on March 6, 2006.
The Bon-Ton operated Younkers for over 162 years before announcing the closure of all 267 stores, including the last Younkers location, on April 17, 2018.
This marked the end of Younkers' presence in physical locations, with the last store closing its doors on August 29, 2018.
The Bon-Ton's trademark and intellectual property assets were later acquired by CSG Generation, which then sold them to BrandX.com in a private sale in early 2021.
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Sale to Bon Ton
Saks sold Younkers and its other Northern Department Store Group stores to Bon-Ton Stores in a $1.1 billion deal that was completed on March 6, 2006.
This sale marked a significant change in ownership for the Younkers brand, which had been in operation for over 160 years.
Bon-Ton Stores acquired Carson Pirie Scott, Bergner's, Boston Store, and Herberger's as part of the deal.
The new ownership brought about a shift in the company's operations and eventually led to the closure of many locations.
On January 31, 2018, Bon-Ton announced that they were going to close 42 locations nationwide between February and April 2018.
This was just the beginning of a series of closures that would ultimately lead to the liquidation of the entire company.
On April 17, 2018, Bon Ton Stores won an auction and began liquidating all 267 stores after two liquidators, Great American Group and Tiger Capital Group, bid $775.5 million.
The liquidation process was swift, with stores closing within 10 to 12 weeks.
On August 29, 2018, Younkers closed its doors and shut down after 162 years of operation.
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Sale to BrandX Inc
In 2021, CSG Generation sold all the acquired assets of Bon-Ton to BrandX.com in a private sale.
The acquisition was a significant move for BrandX.com, marking a new era for the company.
BrandX.com acquired all trademark and intellectual property assets of The Bon-Ton, a major milestone in the company's history.
BrandX.com announced plans to revive Younkers with a physical location in 2023, but those plans ultimately did not come to fruition.
However, Younkers was revived as an online retailer, giving customers a new way to shop.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Younkers go out of business?
Younkers went out of business due to years of financial losses after changing ownership multiple times. The company's decline was a gradual process that ultimately led to its closure.
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