Goody’s closing to make way for Gordmans

This is the last holiday season where shoppers will be able to find gifts at Goody’s in Salem. The store is preparing to close in February, but fear not — the store isn’t leaving without offering shoppers an alternative.

Goody’s sister store, Gordmans, will transition into Goody’s space in the shopping center along South Main Street, where Goody’s has been for almost 10 years. Both stores are owned by Stage, along with Peebles and Stein Mart, among others.

“I think a Gordmans for Salem is a good thing,” said Goody’s store manager Michelle Milligan. “Gordmans is an off-price retailer with more home goods and an ever-changing inventory of name-brands. Because it’s an off-price store, there won’t be coupons, but prices are lower in general. It will be a good addition for Salem.”

Milligan said she and her staff found out about the transition the week of Black Friday and told customers at the start of December.

“Some customers are taking it well and some aren’t taking it as well,” said Milligan. “The hardest thing for customers will be not using coupons. We’ll still honor Goody’s credit cards and rewards.”

She added those with Goody’s gift cards will still be able to use them even after the Gordman’s transition.

This isn’t the only store in the area to be changing. Goody’s is closing its Indiana stores and transitioning them to Gordmans and other states are doing this as well.

“Stage owns several retailers and they’re doing the transition regionally,” said Milligan. “The Seymour and Madison stores switched over this summer and had a lot of success.”

Bria Lundy, Director of PR, Events and Community said 37 Bealls, Goody’s, Peebles and Stage stores will become Gordmans in March 2019.

See the full story in today's issue of The Salem Democrat.