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MPR News Staff

As Minnesota department store chains close, a sign they may be relaunched

Herberger's
A message posted on the Herberger's website on Aug. 31, 2018, indicated plans are in the works to relaunch the retail chain.
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Just days after going-out-of-business sales wrapped up at Herberger's stores in Minnesota, the retail chain's website now features a mysterious message: "We've got great news — Herberger's is coming back!"

Posted on Friday, the message doesn't share any further details about the future of Herberger's, which was founded in Minnesota and had stores in communties across the Midwest. Similar messages are posted on the websites for the chain's parent company, Bon-Ton, as well as other retail chains owned by Bon-Ton — including Younkers, which had two stores in Minnesota.

All of the remaining stores owned by Bon-Ton closed in recent months. The company filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, and in April announced plans to liquidate its 250 stores.

The Younkers store in Duluth is having closing sales.
The Younkers store in Duluth at Miller Hill Mall was having a closing sale on May 31, 2018.
Andrew Krueger | MPR News

As a result, Minnesota lost 20 department stores — both Herberger's and Younkers — some of which had served as major draws for business in communities outside of the Twin Cities metro area.

USA Today, citing unnamed sources, reported that a deal is in the works to acquire the rights to relaunch the retail chains. The relaunched company would be focused on online commerce, but also would include some physical locations.

The company leading the liquidation of Bon-Ton told USA Today that "the company's intellectual property is in the process of being sold," and that the buyer would be disclosed once the deal is final.

The message on the website for Herberger's, Younkers and the other Bon-Ton chains tells readers to "stay tuned for updates over the coming weeks. We appreciate your loyalty & look forward to being able to serve you again soon."