Specialty chain Z Gallerie closing 25 of 77 stores

-- Home Textiles Today, 2/23/2009 2:04:00 PM

Gardena. Calif. – Home furnishings and decorative accessory retailer Z Gallerie today announced its plans to soon close about one third of its stores – or 25 units – as the result of “the general slowing of the economy,” a spokesperson told HTT.

“Nothing is closed yet, these are just the plans,” said Dan Hilley, spokesman for the family- owned and operated chain, which currently has a presence in 24 states. “We still don’t know when we’ll close them, and we are still finalizing some of the markets where we plan to close some of the stores.”

But he did confirm all four Z Galleries in Ohio are to be permanently shut down. And the retailer also intends to consolidate its distribution network as part of the same effort.

Once the target sites are closed, Z Gallerie will maintain 52 stores nationwide.

Z Gallerie first opened its doors in 1979. Its average store size is 10,000 square feet and its merchandise mix comprises home furnishings – including home textiles – for all rooms of a home.