SCRANTON -- The news gets worse for the Mall at Steamtown in downtown Scranton.
In what should be the busiest time of year for the mall comes word that two more stores will be gone by the end of the week.
Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch close at the end of business on Saturday giving shoppers fewer options, and fewer reasons to come to an already struggling mall.
Photos from the Mall at Steamtown's website show the soon to be closed Abercrombie & Fitch, and Hollister stores. Both sell clothing and both will be gone at the close of business Saturday.
Shoppers not surprised the mall will have two more empty stores. Some think the end may be near.
"They really don't have nothing. I think they're going to be closing, eventually," said Sharlene Peck of Scranton.
The big draw remaining is the one and only department store Boscov's. Even that may no longer be enough.
"With two other stores closing, it's not going to be the way it's going to be. We're not going to have anything here to go over to," said Debbie Giovanelli of Plains Township.
The mall manager declined to allow us inside to take pictures. Zamais, the sales and marketing agent for the Mall at Steamtown, says with the two new vacancies, the mall is now about 75 percent vacant.
The Bon-Ton space is still empty. It's been that way for months.
The mall was sold at a sheriff's sale over the summer. Department store owner Al Boscov said back then they were negotiating to find new tenants to revitalize this 21-year-old shopping center.
Shopper Charles Miller was happy then and he's happy now.
"I come here because it's fun. When I was younger, I used to come here. Going to all the stores was wonderful and great. It was a blast, frankly, and I still like doing it."
The closing of Abercrombie & Fitch, and Hollister leave 25 full and part-time employees out of work.
There was no response from the company that owns the two stores.
