Bon-Ton To Close 2 Michigan Stores

The Bon-Ton Stores announced on Wednesday that two Michigan stores will close this year as part of a previously announced downsizing. The company said a total of 42 locations will be closing, with the most number of closures affecting Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The stores in Adrian and Benton Harbor are among those closing nationwide.

The announcement to close the locations was made as Bon-Ton announced its third quarter fiscal results in 2017. Bon-Ton said comparable store sales decreased 6.6 percent compared with the previous year period and the net loss in the third quarter was $44.9 million, compared with a net loss of $31.6 million during the same time period in 2016.

"As part of the comprehensive turnaround plan we announced in November, we are taking the next steps in our effort to move forward with a more productive store footprint," Bill Tracy, president and chief executive officer for The Bon-Ton Stores, said in a statement.

"Including other recently announced store closures, we expect to close a total of 47 stores in early 2018. We remain focused on executing our key initiatives to drive improved performance in an effort to strengthen our capital structure to support the business going forward."

Store closing sales will begin in February and are scheduled to run for 10-12 weeks, the company said.

Associates at the affected locations will be given the chance to interview for available positions at other stores.

Photo by Rusty Kennedy/Associated Press