Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.'s comparable store sales for the five weeks ended January 3, 2009 decreased 5.8% compared with the prior year period. Total sales for the five weeks decreased 5.6% to $527.2 million compared with $558.2 million for the prior year period.


Year-to-date comparable store sales decreased 7.4% compared with the prior year period. Year-to-date total sales decreased 6.9% to $2,958.0 million compared with $3,178.3 million for the same period last year.


Tony Buccina, vice chairman and president – merchandising, commented, “The three weeks prior to the holidays were challenged by a cautious consumer, competitive and economic pressures across the retail sector and unfavorable weather, which included the final weekend before Christmas. Sales were strong the week of Christmas and continued into the final week of the month. Increased promotional activity driven by markdowns benefited our sales and inventory levels. Inventories continue to be well managed resulting in a reduction of 10% on a comparable store basis. Our best performing businesses were intimate apparel, children’s, accessories and soft home. In addition, we saw strong sales results in cold-weather ladies, men’s, children’s accessories, outerwear and boots. Our weakest performing businesses were hard home, furniture, juniors and women’s and men’s fragrances. We enter the transitional selling period with fresh inventory assortments and reduced clearance merchandise compared to the prior year.”


Keith Plowman, executive vice president and chief financial officer, stated, “We ended December with excess borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility of $513 million, well above the required minimum availability of $75 million.”


The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 281 stores, including twelve furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger’s and Younkers nameplates and, under the Parisian nameplate, stores in the Detroit, Michigan area.