Bon-Ton department stores closing doors

WASHINGTON, Pa. — It’s the end of a shopping era for the once thriving Bon-Ton department stores.

Channel 11 learned that Bon-Ton will be closing its doors after the chain filed for bankruptcy in February.

More than 200 stores across 24 states will be affected including locations at the Westmoreland Mall, Indiana Mall, Uniontown Mall, Washington Crown Center and the Johnstown Galleria.

Workers at the Washington Crowne Center store just found out they should start looking for jobs because the store will shut down in the next few weeks.

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The stores are closing because Bon-Ton never found a buyer.

Workers at the Washington Crown Center location said they are no longer accepting store credit cards.

Channel 11 also learned that liquidators are coming in the next two days to determine what to do with merchandise.

This latest move shows online shopping has a strong hold on the retail market, although some shoppers told Channel 11 they like the physical stores.

“You need the brick and mortar ones,” said Mark Welsh, a Washington County shopper. “There's a lot of older generation people that don't use them.”

Channel 11’s Mike Holden reached out to Bon-Ton officials for answers.

Officials said they have heard there is no official timetable on a closing date. However, officials told Channel 11 they heard it could be sometime in the next three months.

Cox Media Group