Belk expected to move some of its operations into Proffitt's in mall
By Staff and Wire
Published in News on January 7, 2005 2:07 PM
Belk is expected to use the acquisition of Proffitt's in Berkeley Mall as an opportunity to expand.
The Charlotte-based group confirmed Thursday that it will buy four of the nine Proffitt's in the state. All four - Kinston's Vernon Park Mall, Rocky Mount's Golden East Crossing, Greenville's Colonial Mall and the Goldsboro store - will close by the end of February.
The Goldsboro and Greenville stores will use the Proffitt's locations to expand by a combined 272,000 square feet.
In Goldsboro, Belk's home and children's departments will move to the space now occupied by Proffitt's. In Greenville, plans are to move the women's, juniors and children's merchandise into the former Proffitt location. The men's and home departments will remain in the existing Belk store.
Both moves are expected to take place in April.
Other details of the merge have not been released.
Turner Wood, manager of the Berkeley Belk store, said he could not speculate on what will happen locally.
"It's all preliminary now and not enough is finalized to make concrete statements," he said this morning. He said he hopes to know more early next week.
According to information released by Belk corporate office, Proffitt's employees may transfer to other stores owned by parent company Saks, based in Alcoa, Tennessee, Belk stores, or will be given severance packages.
The move was prompted by stores not performing well, according to a Saks spokesperson. There are still 23 Proffitt's stores in the southeast still in operation.