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More stores leaving Schuylkill Mall

(AP) More tenants are leaving the Schuylkill Mall. This and That, a store that sells a variety of merchandise including cigarettes, food, hats and magnets is saying goodbye. A kiosk nearby that sells cellphone accessories, license plates and sunglasses that is also owned by the same person is also closing. FYE started a liquidation sale Tuesday but isn't sure if it is closing. Other stores also face an uncertain future.

"I'm leaving at the end of March. It looks like it's no future anymore," Archana Rex, the owner of This and That store and the kiosk, said. The kiosk has been in the mall for 10 years, while the store has been there for two years. Both are located not far from the movie theater. She has a month-to-month lease. Rex is closing because of declining foot traffic and the uncertainty of what is going to happen with the mall."You don't know what is going to happen. The business is down. I feel insecure now," she said. Later this month some of the merchandise will go on sale. Cigarettes are not included in the sale. Rex has not attempted to call NorthPoint Development LLC, Riverside, Missouri, who purchased the mall earlier this year for $2.1 million. Representatives from the company have not returned phone calls or emails for comment from The Republican-Herald. Representatives of the company had a meeting with tenants last month at the mall. Tenants said they did not get very many answers from the company. FYE has signs on its windows announcing a sale. "Everything on sale. Nothing held back," a sign said. Another says everything is 30 to 50 percent off with limited exceptions. Sales are final.Our owners don't want to close," he said. John Boran, manager of The Bon-Ton, said Tuesday, "For us, at this point, it's business as usual."The company owns The Bon-Ton building but leases the land. He didn't know about the status of the lease, saying the corporate office would know. Benigna's Creek, which sells wine, and Passion Nails, a nail salon, plan to stay open as long as possible. A manager at Brackney Leather said they also intend to stay open for the foreseeable future.A phone call to Victoria's Secret media relations department was not returned. Employees at the store declined to comment. William G. Schwab, attorney and the bankruptcy trustee, said in an email Tuesday said, "This was handled as an escrow closing where all documents and money are deposited with an escrow agent. I understand everything was in control of escrow agent, but at this time I do not have verification that a wire funding the transaction was sent."Schwab said previously the closing date of the sale was Feb. 28.Arby's closed Feb. 18, and Totally Twisted Pretzels also closed last month. The Shoe Department will close this month.