Stage Stores Inc. is in the midst of a strategic right-sizing initiative it began in 2015 that calls for the closure of approximately 100 stores by 2019. Under that plan, the company will close 15 to 20 underperforming stores this year.
Yet store closing and a drop in same-store sales of greater than 8% in 2016 haven’t stopped the Houston-based retailer from doing a bit of shopping itself.
Earlier this month, Stage Stores closed the deal to acquire 50 to 57 Gordmans stores. Gordmans filed for bankruptcy in March, and it appears that the remaining stores belonging to the 106-unit Omaha-based chain will be shuttered.
The Gordmans stores appear to be a complimentary addition to the Stage Stores portfolio and provide the company with a presence in new markets, particularly in the Midwest. Time will tell whether the acquisition was a key piece of a successful effort to turn Stages Stores around or simply additional weight for a company already treading water.