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Vienna’s Elder-Beerman store closing in January

The Elder-Beerman store at Grand Central Mall will be closing in early 2018 when its lease expires Jan. 31. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

VIENNA — The Elder-Beerman store at Grand Central Mall will be closing in early 2018.

Officials with Bon-Ton Stores Inc., the parent company for Elder-Beerman, announced they will close the store early next year when its lease expires Jan. 31, according to a press release issued by the company Tuesday.

The store will be open for business to customers through the end of January.

The closing will impact approximately 54 associates working at this location, the press release said.

“We would like to thank the loyal customers who have shopped with Elder-Beerman over the years as well as our devoted store associates for their dedication and friendly customer service to this community,” said Bill Tracy, president and chief executive officer for The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. in the press release.

In January, associates at this location will be offered the opportunity to interview for available positions at other store locations or receive career transition benefits, including severance, according to established practices and state employment service support, the press release from the company stated.

Customers are invited to visit the company’s website at elderbeerman.com to continue to access promotions and shop an expanded merchandise assortment, the company said.

Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp said he has known about the possible closing for a while and was not surprised when it was announced Tuesday.

”I am disappointed,” the mayor said. ”We hate to lose any business, but the decision was made at the corporate level.”

Rapp said he hates to see those jobs lost, because the store has been a good employer for many years.

He hopes the mall will find a new tenant for that space soon.

Glimcher Realty Trust owns the mall and other properties around the mall where retail businesses are located.

The mall opened Aug. 17, 1972 with the Diamond as one of its original anchor stores. The Diamond would go on to become Stone and Thomas and later Elder-Beerman.

Jody Hopkins, general manager of Grand Central Mall, said the mall has received interest in the 105,000-square-foot space. That space and the former hhgregg store will be the only vacant spaces at the mall, he said.

“Our more than 100 national and local retailers are ready for the busy holiday shopping season,” Hopkins said. ”As for the announced closing of Elder-Beerman, retail brands come and go and that has always been the case in the retail industry.

”We have plans to reposition the space and our leasing team is in final discussions with an exciting new tenant, which we will announce as soon as we are able,” Hopkins said.

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