Sioux City Journal

Steve & Barry's opening at mall on schedule

By Dave Dreeszen Journal business editor | Posted: Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The opening of Sioux City's first Steve & Barry's remains on track for later this year, despite the retailer's recent bankruptcy filing, a Southern Hills Mall spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The opening of Sioux City's first Steve & Barry's remains on track for later this year, despite the retailer's recent bankruptcy filing, a Southern Hills Mall spokeswoman said Tuesday.

"As far as we know we're still on,'' said Kris Walter, senior marketing manager for the mall. "We haven't been notified of anything different. We have a signed lease with them ...''

Construction continues to retrofit 36,000 square feet of space to meet Steve & Barry's needs. Earlier this year, the chain agreed to lease nine spots in the JCPenney wing. The store is set to open in the fourth quarter, Walter said.

Steve & Barry's, a discounter of casual apparel, filed last week for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources involved in the case, reported Monday the filing is likely to lead to liquidation of the 276-store chain.

Several retailers, including the Gap Inc. and Sears Holding Corp, have expressed interest in Port Washington, N.Y.-based company, or at least some of its brands, the paper reported.

Not long ago one of the nation's fastest growing retailer, Steve & Barry's offers casual wear at low prices, including exclusive lines endorsed by celebrities that include actress Sarah Jessica Parker, NBA player Stephon Marbury and tennis star Venus Williams.

According to the Wall Street Journal, malls across the country courted the chain, with large advance payments, to fill vacant department stores. When the payments slowed, the business collapsed.

Citing company policy, Walter declined to comment Tuesday on whether such payments were involved in bringing Steve & Barry's to Southern Hills Mall.

Story Comments

Harry wrote on Jul 16, 2008 10:29 PM:

" Sorry Thrash, you are completely wrong! They do not sell "junk chinese made clothes", they sell CHEAP chinese clothes! And if you ask me, I would much rather shop at a cheap store than one of those other stores from the "west coast". I don't feel like spending $50 on a scarf while listening to music that is way too loud and smelling that nasty perfume they spray WAY too often! And, from what i read, Gap downsized their stores and consolidated some of them into Old Navy stores, so it doesn't sound like they had a choice whether to keep them in the mall or not. I won't completely disagree that the other mall doesn't have some better qualities, but why would someone want to walk outside in the heat or cold when they could be in a controlled enviroment? "

SC Smart wrote on Jul 16, 2008 9:13 PM:

" Southern Hills Mall spokewomen are pretty intelligent. "Well, they signed this here piece of paper. They didn't call me... ummmm."

Time for a glow in the dark mini-golf or, perhaps, the City can send them some "large advance payments." "

Thrash wrote on Jul 16, 2008 11:16 AM:

" The mall has a signed lease and thinks that's all that it takes to get S&B's open? How about a check for rent? Do you have one of those yet? Or did you give them the space for free? Didn't give the Gap their space for free did you? Maybe they'd have stayed instead of moving on to a better and newer mall down the road. Now you're going to be stuck with 36,000 square feet of empty space or junk Chinese made clothes, neither of which are inviting to a consumer. "