Edina, Minn.

They were both reared in cold Midwestern towns: Steinhafel in Milwaukee and Johnson in Edina, Minn. They both worked at Target: Steinhafel joined the Minneapolis-based retailer in 1979 as a merchandising trainee, and Johnson had been the chain's vice president of merchandising until he left in 2000. They both suffered an economy that continues to impoverish retail customers.

York, Pa. -- As part of a real estate realignment strategy, The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. on Tuesday said it will close two of its department stores, one in Pennsylvania and the other in Ohio, when their leases expire in early 2012. The company said it plans to close its store in the West Manchester Mall in York, Pa., in January, and its Elder-Beerman store in the Northwest Mall in Dayton, Ohio, which will shut down in February. Bon-Ton, which operates under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, Parisian and Younkers nameplates, will open two stores

York, Pa. -- The Bon-Ton Stores will celebrate the opening of its new Carson’s location on Nov. 9 at the Markland Mall in Kokomo, Ind. The store was previously located at the Kokomo Mall. Also on Nov. 9, the retailer will open a Herberger’s store at the Southdale Center in Edina, Minn., its sixth store in the Minneapolis market. The new, one-level 60,000 –sq.-ft. Carson’s store and 135,000-sq.-ft. Herberger’s have been designed to create a state-of-the-art shopping experience. It features a shopper-friendly environment with an open-floor plan, updated lighting with newest energy-saving technology, shopping carts and spacious fitting rooms,