"After careful consideration, we believe the interests of bothour customers and our company are best served by closing ourNorthridge store and concentrating our resources on our othersurrounding area locations," says Michael R. MacDonald, presidentof the Northern Department Stores Group of Saks Inc. and CEO ofCarson Pirie Scott & Co. "This action is consistent with ourfocus on improving our returns on invested capital."

Other Boston Stores in the metropolitan area include a211,000-sf store in the Mayfair Mall, a 167,600-sf store in theBayshore Mall, a 221,000-sf store in the Southridge Mall, a219,000-sf store in the Brookfield Mall and a 100,000-sf store inthe Grand Avenue Mall in downtown Milwaukee. "Milwaukee remains animportant market for our Company," adds MacDonald. "We willcontinue to offer our Boston Store customers the outstandingmerchandise and service they have come to expect from us in ourother area locations."

Milwaukee is also the home of Carson Pirie Scott & Co.'sheadquarters, which includes the merchandising,advertising/marketing, and support functions for Carson PirieScott, Bergner's, Boston Store, and Herberger's. In January 2003,the Company's Des Moines, IA based Younkers' home office operationswill be consolidated into the Milwaukee offices, bringing the totalemployment there to approximately 725 associates. At the end ofMarch 2003, the Company will employ approximately 2,500 associatesin metropolitan Milwaukee.