Published: November 25, 2008 11:33 pm      

Value City closes

‘It’s like leaving family’

The shoppers’ delight about 60-cent shoes was tempered by employee tears Tuesday as retail icon Value City went out of business.

Dozens of workers were left out in the cold just two days before Thanksgiving.

Most didn’t know where their next job would be, but were universally thankful for one thing.

“Everybody’s going to finally enjoy the holidays,” Manager Lori Pavic of Johnstown said amid the emptying shelves.

“People have worked here 25 years and never enjoyed Thanksgiving or the holidays,” Pavic said at the Richland Township store.

In years past, they’ve been harried holiday clerks working nights and weekends.

Now, they have all the time in the world.

Columbus, Ohio-based Value City filed for Chapter 11 liquidation last month in New York. The company is shutting its remaining 37 stores, including the Bel-Air Plaza location that employed more than 50 people. Value City cited tight credit markets, high gas prices and low consumer confidence as the reason for the filing.

Shoe department manager Craig Vogel was with the local store at its 1983 opening and doesn’t know where he will land.

“Honestly, I can’t tell you,” said the resident of Conemaugh Township, Cambria County. “I do want to step away from retail. It’s time to venture into something new in my life.”

He volunteered praise for how the company treated him.

And Vogel said the discount retailer must have been doing something right, what with all the competitors – Phar-Mor, Kmart and Hills among them – that have come and gone in Johnstown.

Cheryl Kovalsky of Salix, another 1983 hire, said, “It’s like leaving family, it really is. It’s hard.

“You’re probably not going to see each other again,” she said, beginning to sniffle. “For the first time in 25 years, I’m taking December off to enjoy my family.

“My husband wants me to take even more time off.”

Her prospects are likewise up in the air.

She only knows she’ll take some computer classes.

“Anything you do now, you need to know the computer,” Kovalsky said.

Consumers generally were having a good day Tuesday if what they were looking for was in stock.

Mandy Davison of East Taylor Township exited with two fistfuls of bags.

“I got a lot of good shoes,” she said while loading up her SUV.

“Two pair for 60 cents each.”

She’ll be giving her mom and sister a pair, and won’t even wait for Christmas.

“I shop here all the time,” Davison said. “You could find everything and the prices were reasonable.”

Tammy Haskins of Summerhill paid nearly twice what Davison did for shoes, $1.10 each for two pairs.

She seemed satisfied none-theless.

“I love shoes,” she said.

Pavic was wistful, looking back at the day Tuesday: “My employees have been great. There’s been tears and memories, sad and fun all at the same time.

“I’m looking for a job if anybody’s hiring,” she said.