So there's hope for at least some of the stores to continue (and thus, employees to continue their employment). But even if Whitehall is bought by Gitanjali, we might still see a large number of store closures. I wonder how many of the Friedman's/Crescent stores are still profitable with Whitehall/Lundstrom merchandise and credit systems?

if the judge in this case allows the memo goods to be sold (and even to segregate the funds until he makes a decision) this judge should be held accountable for stupidity and judicial fraud. merchandise that does not belong to a bankrupt company must be returned to its rightful owner, what so hard for this idiotic judge to understand. if you provide the name and address of this judge I will write my opinion to him directly

I would be quite surprised if the judge did not rule in Whitehall's favor. They've far more "legal" ground than simply the use of 2 "L's" as seems to be being painted. Not suggesting its "right" or "wrong". It was a good analysis. Thanx for the link. I do disagree with the point that it will be more "difficult, if not impossible" to receive consignment goods going forward. It will however, cause the way unsecured credit (consignments) agreements are structured. The tail has been wagging the dog with the consignors dictating terms. A ruling in Whitehall's favor could most likely change this. Not necessarily a bad thing

Second bidder is the current Whitehall Presidents group with more Investors. close all underperforming stores, and leave open the few whitehalls and lundstrums that turn a profit along with the friedmans they bought. Buy at the blowout sale and reopen profitable as can be! They are praying the Indian group folds .

last comment. i sure wish i knew where you got your info. i hope you are someone who is telling the truth. i know you wont reveal yourself..but please tell how viable your info is?

Hey, Peace out probally will never know where the info came from, if it came from any source..... or they just don't have the A-- to back it up !!!!!

Downtown Chicago

downtown chicago tells me that you ae in our corporate office. this news is good for all of us who were in the friedmans acquisition. do you think they will retain all of the friedmans locations even if we have done poorly since the acquisition..and if so does this mean that the big guns are aware that the Friedmans stores have bascially been ignored and do not have the proper tools to be successful?

So true Peace Out, With the old Friedmans sign still up, (inside and out) no Whitehall fliers to distribute no one has the incentive to sell,how can the employee's care about a sale when your not even sure that you will get paid for your efforts!!! with the conditions as they have been it's really hard to go into a store and get excited about ANYTHING !!!

Yes, those are good solid stores that everyone knows have been "parked" for now. Sorry the same can't be said for 70% of the whitehall stores. Many,many will be closed, quickly. There are malls with the two names (lundstrum & whitehall) that will both close due to poor leases and subpar sales that have been allowed to deteriorate without addressing it. Unfortunately this is the only way to get rid of these unprofitable stores. Hopefully a good solid company emerges with people that actually know what these stores should be selling.