from boston.com
Original Filene's Basement to begin move
Filene’s Basement, the Boston landmark that birthed the bargain, said it will close its original downtown store in the late summer or early fall for about two years to accommodate the major redevelopment of the building it occupies in Downtown Crossing.
The century-old merchant will begin moving part of its operation to the first floor in February from its current two basement floors in the building on Washington Street. The discounter expects to reopen in its renovated space in the spring 2009.
Filene's Basement, one of the city's top tourist attractions, said it is working with the city to determine the feasibility of a temporary location in downtown Boston during the construction phase. City officials and local merchants expressed concern in a Globe story on Saturday about the expected closure which would create a massive void in the heart of Boston's downtown shopping district.
“As an historic flagship store in Downtown Crossing, we fully understand the importance of our presence in Boston. After exhausting all possible scenarios we have been advised that it is not safe to stay in our current location while a complex redevelopment is underway,” Filene’s Basement president Mark Shulman said in a statement.
“We will be working with the city to explore all options, including a possible temporary location," he said. "We will continue to be open for our loyal customers at our eight other Massachusetts locations.”
Filene's Basement employees were notified this morning of the temporary closing. The company could not provide details on the job status of the 220 employees at that location.
Filene's Basement had originally planned to relocate temporarily upstairs during the renovation of its store, which are part of a $625 million project to redevelop the former Filene's department store building. The project calls for a 38-story tower, hotel, condominiums, and retail stores.
Edward A. Filene founded Filene's Basement in 1908 as a way to sell excess merchandise from his father's department store upstairs. The basement pioneered the concept of bargains when it devised a system of automatic markdowns, where merchandise is discounted on a set schedule that customers can track.
While other Filene's Basement stores today sell discounted merchandise, only the Downtown Crossing location maintained the automatic markdown system.
Original Filene's Basement to begin move
Filene’s Basement, the Boston landmark that birthed the bargain, said it will close its original downtown store in the late summer or early fall for about two years to accommodate the major redevelopment of the building it occupies in Downtown Crossing.
The century-old merchant will begin moving part of its operation to the first floor in February from its current two basement floors in the building on Washington Street. The discounter expects to reopen in its renovated space in the spring 2009.
Filene's Basement, one of the city's top tourist attractions, said it is working with the city to determine the feasibility of a temporary location in downtown Boston during the construction phase. City officials and local merchants expressed concern in a Globe story on Saturday about the expected closure which would create a massive void in the heart of Boston's downtown shopping district.
“As an historic flagship store in Downtown Crossing, we fully understand the importance of our presence in Boston. After exhausting all possible scenarios we have been advised that it is not safe to stay in our current location while a complex redevelopment is underway,” Filene’s Basement president Mark Shulman said in a statement.
“We will be working with the city to explore all options, including a possible temporary location," he said. "We will continue to be open for our loyal customers at our eight other Massachusetts locations.”
Filene's Basement employees were notified this morning of the temporary closing. The company could not provide details on the job status of the 220 employees at that location.
Filene's Basement had originally planned to relocate temporarily upstairs during the renovation of its store, which are part of a $625 million project to redevelop the former Filene's department store building. The project calls for a 38-story tower, hotel, condominiums, and retail stores.
Edward A. Filene founded Filene's Basement in 1908 as a way to sell excess merchandise from his father's department store upstairs. The basement pioneered the concept of bargains when it devised a system of automatic markdowns, where merchandise is discounted on a set schedule that customers can track.
While other Filene's Basement stores today sell discounted merchandise, only the Downtown Crossing location maintained the automatic markdown system.
... if i see one more older woman going commando with her pantyhose i just might lose it 
is it really that cold there right now?
