Meanwhile, it continues to close underperforming units. It willnot renew the lease for its 108,000-sf Northtown unit in Buffalo,NY, which expires this year, and it has entered into an agreementto sell its 102,500-sf Irondequoit store in Rochester, NY. Thebuyer of the Irondequoit unit is Bersin Properties LLC, whichacquired the Irondequoit Mall two years ago and has renamed itMedley Centre. The price tag for the Bon-Ton unit sale isundisclosed.

These follow the disposition of three stores duringfourth-quarter 2006 along with a distribution center in Iowa. Thecompany "continually reviews the performance of all its assets,"says Byron Bergren, president and CEO, in a statement. The recentsales and closings take the Bon-Ton's unit count to 280, whichoperate under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson PirieScott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, Younkers and Parisiannameplates.

Phases one and two of the Carson's integration are completeahead of schedule, management reported during a conference call."This is a long-term story, and we're in the first chapter," saidKeith Plowman, EVP and CFO.