Last Day To Visit Gottschalks | ABC30 Fresno

kfsn

By ABC30

Monday, July 13, 2009

Fresno, CA Gottschalks has been open over 100 years. Now there is only a few hours remaining for customers to say a final good-bye.

Gottschalks is closing forever, after Sunday, this century old retail giant will no longer serve the Central Valley.

"I'm one of their stock holders and I wanted to just grab one last piece for my memory," said Mary Atkinson.

"It's a sad day for the community," said Fred Gorman.

"We wouldn't be going out of business if somebody didn't mismanage the company," said employee Cora Peterson.

Cora Peterson has worked for Gottschalks for 9 years. With her job gone, now the financial burden falls on her husband. "We have two kids in college so my husband's going to be it, for now."

While Peterson takes off for her last lunch break shoppers continued hunting for those items 95% off at Fashion Fair mall and the River Park shopping center.

Ruby Castillo purchased some of these clothes for family in the Philippines and in Clovis. "For the kids too. Future use. Because there's no size anywhere for them. And the next two years we can use it," she said.

Chon Gomez paid $30 for these panty hose shelves. "I'm getting all this so I can put all my bolts, and screws and all my tools," he said.

Those were not the only pieces of furniture marked down. The Carrejo family from Caruthers filled the back of their truck with tables for picnics and yard sales.

"We got all of that for $100. It was really cheap," said Carolyn Carrejo.

Employees told Action News they will stay open Sunday night as long as it takes to move everything out of the store. Forever 21 will take over this location and perform some major renovations before reopening it.