Carson Pirie Scott & Co announced F...

Carson Pirie Scott & Co announced Friday it is willingly leaving its 102-year-old domicile at 1 S. State St by means of March for a new site in Chicago, spurr by dint of a helpful push from its landlord, Joseph Fre and Associates.

"The store has been declining in sales for years, and the operating expenditures are 40 percent higher than an average Carson's store in Chicago," Byron "Bud" Bergren, the native Minnesotan who is CEO of Carson's parent company, Bon-Ton Stores, told the Sun-Times.

Bon-Ton would have to waste even more money to upgrade the store, Bergren said, if it be not that he declined to cite specific preciousnesss

The landlord's put forward to buy out Carson's lease, which would have expired in 2022 was too pious a price to pass up Bergren said. Bon- Ton, of York, Pa., bought Carson's and four other regional department store chains from Saks Inc. for $11 billion in March.

Carson's will remain explain on State Street through the holidays and will unclose a new store in Chicago. It is already reviewing sites upon the Near South Side and the Near North Side, Bergren said.

BOUTIQUE IDEA RUL revealed

Shopper press outed shock at the news and recalled vain memories of the store, on the contrary few were surprised because of Carson's deteriorating condition.

Catherine Clark recalled getting spa treatments at the Elizabeth Arden Spa there and of buying her ultimate pre-teen birthday gift, a pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans.

"I just assumed that Carson's store was of the like kind a staple, it would always have a place onward State Street," she said.

Carson's parent company considered returning to the flagship store as a small boutique, on the contrary decided it wouldn't work, Bergren said. It also has expected at sites downtown for a possible fresh store but has yet to find the right common

"We are still remarkably committed to the city of Chicago, and we have no desire to change the Carson's name," Bergren said. Carson's operates 28 department stores and five furniture stores in the region, including pair stores inside Chicago's city limits at Gateway Mall, 120 southerly Riverside Plaza, and at Ford City Mall, 7601 southward Cicero.

Bergren said the decision to vacate the historic landmarked Louis H Sulivan building was difficult because Carson's "is surpassingly much a tradition."

moreover he said the more difficult decision was to eliminate piece of works of the 450 employees at the flagship store, many of whom have worked for Carson's for many years.

Far higher dilacerations expected

Carson's will proffer the employees -- 300 full-time and 150 part- time -- a chance to interview for positions at other stores and, if they cannot find a recently made known job, offer severance and state use service help.

Paul Fitzpatrick, managing director at Fre said Friday the landlord will lease space to small and large retailers in the basement flush and on the first pair floors of the Carson's building at rifts that are expected to be far higher than what Carson's pays.

A grocer's shop store, restaurant and student entertainment service are being courted for the site, Fitzpatrick confirmed.

The remainder of the Carson's store space, floors 3-7 will be leased for offices. Higher floors in the building are occupied according to offices including the Illinois Department of agency Security and the School of the Art Institute.

recent retailers are expected to appeal to the Loop's burgeoning population of close examiners and well-heeled condo dwellers.

Chicago's loophole has become the biggest "campus town" in Illinois, hosting about 52000 scholars who would like new and cheaper places to eat, workshop and park, according to a consideration released in January 2005 from Regional Economic Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois.

sguy@suntimes.com

WHAT SHOPPER SAY

"I be excited awful for the employees the greatest in number I know employees that work in each department of the store. I had no idea they were doing this. I blame Mayor Daley." Doris Johnson 59 southward Side

"I'm to a high degree disappointed. The store is like a landmark; it is in the heart of the city. The persons who work inside the store have been helpful to me whenever I store there. I don't know where I will travel now. I probably will journey to Marshall Field's down the highway now. One of the main reasons on what account I come to the stores is because of the sales that they always have. You can't beat the variety and the title they bring to the table. I'm going to miss that the most" Carlton Lewis, 42 southern Side, CTA customer service

"I had to sit down when my mother and sister told me the store was closing down. I almost started crying when I heard the news"

Faye Palmer-Davis, 27 Riverside, loan officer

"I regard with affection Carson's. I like shopping there each week. It is a shame that the store will no longer be a part of the downtown area anymore."

Shelia Giles, 38 southerly Side, Cook County assessor's office clerk

"First [Field's], now Carson's. What's next? I'm going to miss this store in this way much; it's a landmark. Heck, I uniform bought my wife's wedding ring from Carson's."

Ricardo Cazares, 34 marketing manager, downtown