Another local store leaving

First the Disney Store, then the Gap. Now, Lazarus has announced its doors will close in April. Gradually, College Mall's brand name stores are vanishing.\nThe decision to close the store, made by Ron Klein, chairman and chief executive officer of Lazarus, was announced Thursday to Lazarus employees at College Mall.\n"It's always a difficult decision to close a store because of the relationship we have with both our customers and our associates in each location," Klein said in a statement.\nThe closing is due to a number of financial factors and is part of a company plan to rid under-performing Lazarus stores and place them in areas with higher growth potential.\n"The retail business is a highly competitive and dynamic business," Klein said. "We are a business of change and this market has changed to the degree that is no longer financially feasible for us to operate profitably in this (Bloomington) location."\nLazarus will begin its liquidation process in early February with a number of clearance and sale items. As of now, employees are guaranteed jobs until at least March 20, with the closing set for mid-April. Employees who wish to transfer to another location will be given priority consideration over other applicants.\n"Lazarus is my livelihood, and I have a lot invested in it," Lavonne Staley, the cosmetics department manager said. "After we close, I'll be without income."\nThe closing will not only affect Lazarus employees, but it will also impact Bloomington residents and students, as frequent shoppers will be forced to take their business to L.S. Ayres and Sears, the mall's only remaining department stores.\n"Lazarus is convenient for me because they carry some items that are hard to find in other stores," sophomore Amanda Golden said. "I never had to wait in long lines when I needed to get something right away."\nShoppers are urged to take advantage of the store's final sales in the upcoming weeks. Each department will have their own markdown items, which should be a bargain for customers.\n"I'm definitely going to continue shopping at Lazarus until it closes," Golden said. "Their prices are usually low, and I'm sure the sale prices will be very affordable."\nLazarus currently operates in nine states around the Midwest and employs more than 16,500 people. Klein said Bloomington's Lazarus will not be the only store affected by the company's new plan. According to a statement, a Lazarus closing was announced in Memphis, Tenn., earlier this week. Although the closing is seen as a positive for the company, customers and employees will have a hard time saying goodbye to Lazarus.\n"It's very difficult to let go of something that has been so much a part of me," Staley said.\nMall directors have not yet decided if another store will replace Lazarus.