The parent company of Boston Store says it's planning on opening some stores in the Milwaukee area this holiday season after the retailer closed earlier this year.
Bon-Ton is now owned by CSC Generation Holdings, Inc., a tech company based out of Indiana. The company's goal is to save retailers from Amazon.
"We feel it's really important to have that brick and mortar presence to engage both with our brand and the brands that we stock," said Bon-Ton Stores vice president of communication Fred Hulls.
Hulls said the company is looking to open stores ahead of the holidays in six states: possibly two or three stores in the Milwaukee area including Brookfield. The company is even considering reopening stores in their previous location.
"If we can negotiate the right terms and the building is right we will definitely reopen the right locations," Hulls said, "but we're not opposed to looking at new locations either."
The new store concept will be a little different than what we are used to. In addition to buying goods and returning things you bought online the stores will have employees to offer personal styling advice and interior design advice.
Hulls said previous Boston Store employees will have first dibs at jobs in the new stores, "We are looking to recruit mainly full-time staff which is quite unusual in retail, offering them full benefits."
Full-time and full benefits, but staff will not have the traditional Monday through Friday shift.
"The new concept store will have longer hours from Thursday to Sunday where people want to shop."
There will also be new payment options such as lease-to-own where customers can get a product in one day and pay for it over time.
Bottom line, the new Bon-Ton Stores wants the same quality Wisconsin has come to love in the Bon-Ton Brand.
"We are working extremely hard to give you the brands you expect, and the price points and savings you're used to," Hulls said.
Previous employees are encouraged to apply for positions by going to any of the Bon-Ton Stores websites including Bostonstore.com.
