Younkers relaunches online, and some brick-and-mortar stores may reopen

Younkers is back, but it is not expected to return physically to Cedar Rapids or anywhere in Iowa just yet.

CSC Generation Inc., a Merrillville, Ind.-based online retail company, announced Monday it is relaunching Younkers as an online store - along with sibling brands Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder Berman and Herberger's.

The brands had been owned by the now-bankrupt Bon-Ton Stores.

Fred Hulls, a spokesman for CSC Generation, said the deal is valued at $900,000 for the naming rights to the Bon-Ton stores.

He forwarded questions regarding possible plans to reopen stores in Iowa to a Bon-Ton representative, who did not immediately respond Monday afternoon.

The online storefronts were opened to customers Friday.

'We're back and we're here to stay!” reads the revived younkers.com website.

The online store carries clothing, jewelry and kitchen and home goods similar to what Younkers' brick-and-mortar stores sold. Customers also can purchase appliances and furniture through the site.

CSC said in the statement it is in 'advanced discussions” with landlords about reopening stores in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania ahead of the December holiday shopping season.

Jordan Voloshin, CSC Generation president, told the Des Moines Register, in a written response to questions, that, 'The new Bon-Ton stores will continue to offer much-loved brands.”

He added that the revived Bon-Ton will include additional services in-store and online such as interior design and personal styling.

Voloshin atributed Bon-Ton's unprofitability to 'long-term leases which contractually obligated the company to operate massive stores in communities that were over-retailed.”

Younkers was founded in 1859 in Keokuk and later expanded to several stores across Iowa. It had several owners before being acquired by Bon-Ton, a department store holding company, in 2006.

Bon-Ton declared bankruptcy in April, and its assets were purchased by a company specializing in liquidations. The last remaining brick-and-mortar stores closed in August.

CSC said in the statement it is in 'advanced discussions” with landlords about reopening stores in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania ahead of the December holiday shopping season.

In Cedar Rapids, Younkers was a former anchor property at Lindale Mall, and occupied a building at the Westdale Town Center.

Washington Prime Group, the investment company that owns the Lindale Mall, declined to comment Monday afternoon. John Frew, president of Frew Development Group, also did not respond by deadline to a request for comment.

l Comments: (319) 398-8366; dan.mika@thegazette.com