New Carson’s Clearance Location Opens in Lansing

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Carson's Clearance Store, 16753 Torrence Ave., has opened in the Village of Lansing providing local residents with fantastic retail deals and employment opportunities.
Carson's Clearance Store, 16753 Torrence Ave., has opened in the Village of Lansing providing local residents with fantastic retail deals and employment opportunities. Photo by Lee Edwards.

A 21,000 square-foot Carson’s Clearance Store officially opened last Saturday in the Village of Lansing within the Landings Shopping Center at 16753 Torrence Ave. The new location is the only Carson’s Clearance Store in the Chicagoland area.

“We are thrilled; we are delighted that [Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.] chose Lansing. The Lansing store is the only Carson’s Clearance Center in the Chicago region and we feel it’s a great location for them,” said Kristi DeLaurentiis, Director of Planning and Development for the Village of Lansing.

Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 272 department stores throughout the nation including several Carson’s locations particularly in the Midwest and Northeast. The Lansing Carson’s Clearance Store opened in a preexisting one floor building within the Landings Shopping Center that had been abandoned for 10 years.

“We are pleased to announce the opening of our free-standing clearance center in the Lansing area,” said Brendan Hoffman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.

“The store will feature a wide-assortment of clearance merchandise from women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, shoes, handbags and home items, all offered at terrific values. We believe consumers in the area will appreciate this new addition to the Carson’s shopping experience.”

The former Carson’s Pirie Scott location at River Oaks Mall in Calumet City, 96 River Oaks Center Dr., was closed in January of this year.

“This is an absolutely, positively, wonderful area. We have a lot of people who used to be at the River Oaks Mall [Carson’s Pirie Scott location] who were so sad and upset when Carson’s pulled out and they’re so happy that we’re back,” said Cindy Hatley, store manager at the Carson’s Clearance Center. “It’s a new concept that’s come to the company that they tested out with a store within the stores. They have a floor in one of the Aurora malls, Northgate, what they have is a clearance center. They have a little section in Evergreen Park that’s a clearance center. They did so well they decided to try a free standing. The quality of clothing is exactly the same, the prices of the clothes is different.”

Carson’s Clearance Stores differs from traditional Carson’s locations in that Carson’s Clearance Stores’ inventory is made of unsold inventory from traditional locations from corresponding seasons. Items such as cosmetics, fragrances, furniture or jewelry are not sold at Carson’s Clearance Stores. Inventory at the Carson’s Clearance Stores are marked down 70-90% off the original store price according to Hatley.

The store has hired a combined 40 part-time employees and short-hour positions. Short hour employees work no more than 19-hours-per-week. Hartley added that while all positions have been filled at the new store, additional applications will still be accepted in anticipation for the holiday shopping season.

“It’s a good experience shopping at Carson’s Clearance Store. They have a lot of good deals and it’s good to have them in the neighborhood,” said Annie Cowsette-Smith, a recent shopper at Carson’s Clearance Store.

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