ELIZABETHTOWN — No Gordmans, and there will no more Goody’s either at 314 S. Poplar St.
Sources have confirmed to the Bladen Journal that retailer Stage Stores has changed an earlier decision and will leave the Bladen County seat entirely. The decision is not believed to be connected to the coronavirus, but that has not been confirmed.
Questions about the change have yet to be answered. Gordmans was to open April 7.
A source close to the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly about it said Stage regularly reviews its volume of stores and made the decision, based on a latest review, to close Goody’s. A date for the closure was not announced; the store has been in a closure mode already in preparation of changing to Gordmans.
In February, the Bladen Journal reported Stage’s intention of closing Goody’s and opening Gordmans. A hiring event was held Feb. 11, with applicants seeking positions that were full-time, part-time and temporary. Those slots included associates for sales and stocking merchandise.
Similar hiring events were scheduled in Red Springs, Laurinburg, Wallace, Southport, Wadesboro, Eden and Madison. It is not known if those stores will be moving forward.
Last week, Stage announced a change in hours for all of its stores. It also went forward with new store openings planned for March 17, but postponed those scheduled for March 31.
Stage has been changing Goody’s to Gordmans as part of a process that also involves converting stores by the name of Peebles. Gordmans bills itself as an off-price concept with favorite brands at prices lower than department stores.
Gordmans, according to the hiring release sent a month ago, sells “apparel and footwear for the family, home decor, accent furniture, wall decor, bedding and bath, kitchen gadgets, fashion jewelry, designer fragrances, toys and pet accessories.”
Gordmans also has an Amazon Counter inside its stores.