Ritz Camera closing Valley Mall store

April 06, 2009|By HEATHER KEELS

HAGERSTOWN -- The Ritz Camera store in Valley Mall is among about 300 the chain plans to close in the coming months, a liquidation consultant for the store confirmed Monday.

Meanwhile, one new business has opened at Crosspoint Shopping Center, which is across Cole Road from the mall, and another is scheduled to open soon.

A liquidation sale at the Ritz Camera store began Friday, and it will close when the liquidation is complete, generally after six to 12 weeks, according to the consultant, who would not give his name.

The Beltsville, Md.-based retail photography chain filed for bankruptcy protection in February.

The Valley Mall store near Sears has three employees.

RoomStore, a home furnishings retailer, opened March 29 in a newly built building between Target and Kohl's, general manager Michael Harrington said.

The store is having a grand opening celebration through May, he said.

The new store is the first in Hagerstown for the chain, which has about 70 stores nationwide, Harrington said.

The Hagerstown store has 16 employees and plans to hire one more salesperson, he said.

Another new business in Crosspoint Shopping Center, Christmas Tree Shops, aims to open by the end of April, spokeswoman Catherine Gentile said.

The store sells housewares, decor, gifts, paper goods and seasonal items, which range from Christmas and other holiday items in the winter to outdoor furniture during the summer months, Gentile said.

The Hagerstown store will be the chain's first in Maryland.

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