Gottschalks, the venerable Fresno-based department store chain, closed forever on Sunday, the last day of a liquidation that saw everything on sale, including company training manuals and store fixtures. For most of 105 years, Gottschalks was a classic American success story. But then it expanded beyond its reach, suddenly couldn't compete with low-cost retailers and then fell victim to the credit crunch.
Just like that, Gottschalks was in bankruptcy and wasn't even given a chance to emerge from that status. It was quickly sold to a liquidation firm, almost as if someone feared that Gottschalks would emerge from bankruptcy a better company. It wasn't given that chance by the bankruptcy court and its major creditors.
We witnessed a sad end to this business in the past few days, with merchandise being hauled out of its stores for 10 cents on the dollar. On Sunday, the lights went out on Gottschalks, and this Valley will never be the same.
I feel sorry for the Gottschalks employees, and I know dozens of them. These Gottchalks alumni are my friends, and I know how hard they worked to keep the business afloat. In the end, some saw 25-year careers being reduced to standing in line at the unemployment office. What a complete waste.
The cynical will say that's just American capitalism. Some businesses will succeed and some won't and Gottschalks was in the second category. That analysis ignores the human face of this tragedy.
I grew up with Gottschalks. My parents bought my ninth-grade graduation suit there. This store was always my first choice for merchandise, even at the end when I knew that Gottschalks no longer existed and a liquidation company was squeezing the final few bucks out of the name.
Today is a very sad day.
I miss Gottschalks.
Life goes on.
I went to a family reunion and my cousins were lamenting the loss of Gottschalks on the coast. We all agreed that there is no substitute store out there for people of our age - 50+.
In Clovis, we're totally stuck without Gottschalks and Mervyns. We only have Sears left.
Fresno's tax base is going to grow considerably with all the new Clovi sboppers.
I am sad to see Gottschalks go and for the dedicated employees. I didnt shop there regularly but on occasionally. They expanded to quick and really didnt offer a large selection that other disacount retailers did. They made some poor management decisions I think that ended in their demise.
I will miss Gottschalks. It was always my first choice when shopping. As a teenager I remember finding the perfect sweater hanging in a wall display. I worked odd jobs and saved up for six weeks to get it. When I went back they were all gone so the sales clerk found a ladder and took the sweater off the wall for me because I had worked so hard to get it. They always went the extra mile. In high school, working at a minimum wage of $2.15/hr. I would save up to buy a Revere Ware cooking pot each month because I wanted to have a whole set when the time came to get my own place. Revere Ware was expensive and the sales clerks used to hold some aside for me whenever they had a sale. Efforts like this is what made them successful. I only stopped shopping at Gottschalks when they changed to become a Macys clone like the store at Riverpark. I believe decisions like this is what led to their demise. Not all change is good.
On the bankruptcy side of the issue, the end of Gottschalks did not really come swiftly. They were struggling for a very long time. That is when they should have made the hard decisions to cut back, consolidate, etc. Bankruptcy was on their doorstep several times. They chose wrong and in the end lost.
As for the "human face" of this situation... the loss of their long careers was not a waste. They learned valuable lessons that they can take somewhere else. At the beginning of Gottschalks 105 year run was their "Day One". Perhaps now that Gottschalks is gone another company will have the room to have their "Day One" just like Gottschalks did 105 years ago. Perhaps ex-Gottschalks employees will be part of this; perhaps they will move on and do be a part of something else of greater importance. Humans have the capacity to adapt and change; I don't understand why in these hard times, people seem so resistant to that. Will it be easy? No. Will they risk personal loss (i.e. homes)? Likely. Will they have hard times? Yes. Will they make it? Eventually. They will experience the pride of over coming adversity. It is all part of life. All of us have been there at one time or another. It makes us better in the end.
Kim...are you of the school of thought that if it doesn't kill you ...it makes you stronger? and Rich...what's the matter with me?...I agree with you again.
For those of us who didn't work there (and maybe some who did) it's all about nostalgia. It's kind of sad when things that gave you good memories fade away. Even sadder when that thing was a hometown fixture. But life does indeed go on.
The demise of Gottschalks is a major setback to the Fresno community. The brain drain continues and losing one of the largest employers, and a regional company, is truly a setback for our area. Will former Gottschalks employees move on to new and different opportunites? Absolutely. Will it take time given the current economic climate? For some, absolutely.
Gottschalks was a company that treated its employees and customers well. They gave back by supporting local community efforts, no matter what the size. The trickle down effect of the loss of Gottschalks to many local businesses is tough but will we all prevail... Absolutely.
It is still a sad day but like all sad days, tomorrow holds many rays for hope and change.
Ha! Ha! I guess so Brian. Many of Nietzsche's writings have been taken out of context so the original meanings have been skewed and many of his ideas that weren't skewed, I totally disagree with. However, his words, "That which does not kill you makes you stronger" is one of his thoughts that I wholeheartedly do agree with. In fact, I had that piece of wisdom posted on my wall next to where I worked for the last 10+ years and now on the wall at my home office. Although I understand he wrote that referring to the chronic pain he physically had to endure, I think it applies to most every aspect of life.
Gottschalks' management might have seen an opportunity in other stores (like Mervins) closing the doors. I would have seen a yellow warning flag. Hopefully, those employees who were not retirees shall find employment soon.
"Although I understand he wrote that referring to the chronic pain he physically had to endure"
That's pretty close to facts. Nietzsche wrote that in first person singular...I am nearly positive of it.
You're right Isabell, it was "That which does not kill ME makes ME stronger." I think it reads better the other way so I have just gotten used to quoting it MY way. I guess I shouldn't have put it in quotes. Especially since I do a lot of writing for a living and know better. HA! HA! I hope Nietzche forgives me. HA!