Gottschalks (former NYSE ticker symbol GOT) was a middle-tier American department store that operated 58 department stores and three specialty apparel stores in six western states (California, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada); some locations ran as Harris-Gottschalks stores. Prior to liquidation, it was the largest independently owned, publicly traded department store chain in the United States. On January 14, 2009, Gottschalks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This bankruptcy became a liquidation on March 31, 2009. At least five prime locations became Macy's stores, while several more became Forever 21 stores.

Beginnings

thumb|250px|right|The second Gottschalks logo used until 2001.

thumb|Gottschalk's new, larger store in Fresno, CA, shortly after it opened in 1914

Gottschalks was founded by German Jewish immigrant Emil Gottschalk in 1904 as a dry goods store in downtown Fresno, California. Ten years later, the store grew enough to move into another building downtown with ten times the amount of space.

thumb|Leask's department store logo

The acquisition of Samuel Leask & Sons chains added three stores and 150 employees, in: In 1988, the company closed its flagship store in Fresno, California due to unsatisfactory sales.

thumb|Harris-Gottschalks logo

In 1995, the company went online. In 1996, they opened a store in the troubled Park Lane Centre in Reno, Nevada, which had lost its two department store anchors Sears and Weinstock's to a larger competitor mall. The company grew in Southern California with the 1998 acquisition of Harris Department Stores, which operated as Harris-Gottschalks stores by then. In 2000, the Seattle based department store Lamonts was acquired.

On January 14, 2009, Gottschalks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On March 31, Gottschalks announced it would liquidate its remaining stores. The chain's final stores closed July 12, 2009. Several prime locations became Macy's or Forever 21. but those plans ultimately fell through.

See also

  • Max Gottschalk – American artist (1909–2005) <!-- Not clear if he is related to the chain -->

References

  • Gottschalks, Inc. corporate restructuring overview — at Kurtzman Carson Consultants LLC.