Goodbye, Gottschalks

The Chico Mall will likely be busier than usual for the next few months, what with a huge going-out-of-business sale taking over Gottschalks. But by mid-July, the friendly voices of employees at one of the mall’s largest anchor stores will be replaced by a palpable silence.

The Chico Mall is losing its only true department store. Sears and JC Penney fill their niches, but one focuses more on appliances and the other on clothing—neither has the cosmetics counters, the brand-name shoe department, even the brand-name clothing that Gottschalks does.

According to one employee, pink slips went out to everyone in the Chico store Tuesday (March 31), just a day after the 105-year-old retail chain was sold at auction to the same liquidation outfit that closed down Mervyn’s and Circuit City. Sales are set to begin today (April 2).

“We’re really sorry to hear about this,” Chris Cullen, the mall’s general manager, told the CN&R. “Obviously any vacancy creates some kind of opportunity to bring in other stores or restaurants. But it’s too early for us to be discussing a replacement plan.”

The struggling General Growth Properties, which owns the mall, put plans for expansion—including the destruction of the former Troutman’s—on hold earlier this year.