Located just across the street from Park City Center, Bon-Ton Furniture Gallery will move into the former Phar-Mor drug store at 870 Plaza Blvd.

Once the renovation is complete, the new Bon-Ton will offer 32,000 square feet of home and office furniture including leather and fabric sofa sets, bedroom sets, dining room sets and chairs and tables imported from more than 100 factories around the world.

Though it has been selling furniture for 30 years, the Bon-Ton only recently began to operate separate furniture stores, said Mary Kerr, vice president of public and investor relations.

“Bon-Ton began operating free-standing furniture stores in 2003 after acquiring Elder-Beerman, which had two furniture stores,” Kerr said Monday.

Bon-Ton has 400,000 square feet of warehouse space that serves seven furniture stores — five of which have come under Bon-Ton operations within the past 12 months. The Lancaster store will be the company’s eighth free-standing furniture store.

Last November, Bon-Ton Stores made a deal to acquire the Northern Department Store Group of Saks Inc., a move that created the ninth-largest furniture and bedding department store group in the United States.

Bon-Ton bought 142 stores in 12 states for $1.1 billion, while assuming about $35 million in capital leases. The Saks division, based in Milwaukee, operated under the names Carson Pirie Scott, Younkers, Herberger’s, Bergner’s and Boston Store.

Bon-Ton last month announced it will expand its store at Park City Center by 37,000 square feet, bringing the store to 179,000 square feet.

Park City also is planning to add space to its west and south sides, making way for as many as 10 new stores at the shopping center.

Bud Bergen, Bon-Ton president and chief executive, said the expansion will allow for a larger merchandise selection, including new brands. Construction will begin in April 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by October 2007.

Bergen said the expanded selection is important in “premier locations” such as Lancaster and the Chicago Ridge store, which also is expanding.

“We look forward to the opportunities the expansions and the furniture gallery will afford us,” Bergen said. “The additional space and remodel will allow us to increase the productivity of the stores and enhance the shopping experience for our customers.”

Based in York County, Bon-Ton Stores Inc. operates 271 department stores in 23 states in the Northeast and Midwest. blog comments powered by Disqus