iBerkshires.com  reports  Peebles Department Store in the downtown is going to be converted into Gordmans, a discount retailer, early next year.

The 13-year-old store has been having a major summer sale over the past two months but the words "closing" appeared in the windows on Monday. The store will close in the days leading up to the grand opening of the new Goodmans early next year.

Blakeley Graham, brand publicity manager for Peebles' parent company Stage Stores, confirmed that the location would remain in the Stage family.

Current employees will be offered jobs at Gordmans, Graham said, and a job fair for new employees will be held early next year. Peebles credit cards and gift cards can be used at any of the Stage Stores and the Style Circle Rewards program will continue.

The store is currently having an "everything must go" sale with markdowns of up to 40 percent off listed prices.

The downtown Peebles opened to much fanfare in 2006 as part of the rejuvenation of the former Kmart plaza under owner Hartford Realty that included Staples, Olympia Sports, and the North Adams Cinemas in the former department store. Since then, Staples closed and was replaced by the V&V liquor store and Olympia recently closed. The building also has a Planet Fitness that is being upgraded.

 

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