By David Lazenby
davidl@cullmantimes.com
The 32 employees of a Cullman apparel store — as well as area shoppers — have a reason to say “goody.”
Goody’s, the retailer located at the Marketplatz Shopping Center adjacent to Wal-Mart, will not be one of the 69 Goody’s Family Clothing, Inc. outlets being closed in an effort to save the 55-year-old Knoxville, Tenn.-based business facing an uncertain future.
The recently announced closings will bring the total number of facilities closed in 2008 to 103.
According to a Goody’s Web site, www.shopgoodys.com, the majority of the stores being shut down are located in the states where the moderately priced family apparel company has more than 30 units — Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
According to its Web site, Goody's currently operates 355 stores across the South and Midwest. In January, the chain announced layoffs of 25 of its 500 employees at its corporate headquarters in Knoxville.
The closings were announced in conjunction with Goody's June 9 filing of a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
In a open letter published on the Goody’s Web site, Chief Executive Officer Paul White wrote, “While this was a difficult decision for our company, we believe a comprehensive restructuring offers the best long-term solution for Goody’s, our customers and our partners as it will give us the time and resources to address financial challenges while we continue normal business operations.”
Three of the five stores in the state shutting their doors are located in the greater-Birmingham area. They are in Brook Highland, Wildwood and Hoover.
The 32,000 square-foot facility in Cullman has been situated between Friedman’s Jewelers and Shoe Show for the past three years. Goody’s, which came to Cullman in 1987, was originally located at the Cullman Town Square shopping center.
The store’s assistant manager, Robbin Lawrence, declined to comment on the corporate restructuring process.
Shannon Stucky, a corporate spokesperson for Goody’s, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
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