It’s the beginning of the end for the final remaining anchor store at the Westland Mall.
The liquidation has begun at the West Burlington’s Younker’s. Signs proclaiming “Everything Must Go” and “Nothing Held Back” adorned the aisles as curious shoppers searched for bargains Friday.
Younker’s occupies two locations in the Westland Mall, one for their clothing and cosmetics, another for home goods. Both will be closed by August 31st.
Younker’s was one of several department stores Bon-Ton, Inc. announced would close following a bankruptcy hearing on Wednesday. In total 212 stores are being liquidated.
The store brand got its beginnings in Keokuk in 1856, when the three Younker brothers started the first Younker and Brothers Dry Goods Store. The exact location of that store isn’t clear, however it was closed in 1879. The store was then headquartered in Des Moines and expanded to have nearly 50 locations throughout the Midwest.
Younker’s was acquired by Saks Fifth-Avenue in 2003 and sold to Bon-Ton a few years later.
