Peru Bergner’s among stores expected to be liquidated

Bergner’s in Peru Mall is one of 212 Bon-Ton stores that will be liquidated, according to the bankruptcy court filings.

A sale of Bon-Ton’s assets to liquidators was approved Wednesday by bankruptcy court, and in a filing lawyers outlined which stores would be liquidated. The Peru Bergner’s was on the list.

The wind down of the Bon-Ton stores is expected to take two to three months.

“In the Charles Dickens masterpiece novel ’A Tale of Two Cities’ Dickens wrote ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’, and that is where retail in the city of Peru stands today,� said director of economic development for Peru Bob Vickrey. “We have wonderful new developments in the pipeline coming to Peru, long-standing Peru stores that are doing very well, and our seemingly endless retail giant, Peru Mall, which needs to be nourished and reborn.�

Bon-Ton employed thousands of people in dozens of states.

“Our first thoughts go out to the associates and their families at Bergner’s, some who have been there for many years,� Vickrey said. “At the same time we must remember there are still great retail shopping experiences at Peru Mall that we should all support as we go through this transition with GK Development (Owners of Peru Mall) to bring back Peru Mall to it’s former grand retail prominence albeit in a newly stylized shopping experience which the City of Peru economic development team was working on as recently as yesterday.  We must remember that Peru Mall’s footprint comprises the single most desirable 48 acres of retail opportunity in North Central Illinois and it will come full circle retail once again�.

Ben Hohenstatt can be reached at (815) 220-6932 or perureporter@newstrib.com. Follow him on Twitter @NT_Peru.