Levinsky's Enters Last Week of Close Out Sale

Last Day of Business at Portland Store is This Sunday

PORTLAND, Maine (May 13, 2003) - Levinsky's will close its Portland store this Sunday, ending an 84-year history of providing low-cost brand name clothing to the city and the region.

The store announced in April it would keep its Windham store open but close its Portland store in May due to sluggish sales and the faltering economy.

Since then, the store has been open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in a sale where much of the clothing is 30 to 70 percent off. This week, the store will make a final push to liquidate the inventory by selling items at 70 to 90 percent off as a thank you to their Portland customers, owner Eric Levinksy said.

The Portland store, which extends a full city block front to back, is located at 516 Congress and at 85 Free Street.

[NOTE to Media: Owner Eric Levinsky is available for interviews Wednesday and Thursday only for end of business stories. Feel free to call him at 774-3605 to arrange.]

The company will keep its second store in the Windham Mall open and also expand in the areas of online merchandising, industrial and municipal accounts, and its line of Dockers, Levi's, Lee Jeans and its full line Boy Scout department.

Owner Eric Levinsky says the Portland store has not been profitable and that it is with mixed emotions that he closes the Portland store. Levinsky is the grandson of the store's founder, Jacob Levinsky, who opened his first store in 1919.

Levinsky's, which is known for selling brand names at a discount - not seconds as in the outlet stores - carries brands such as Levi's, Lee, Tommy Hilfiger, Fubu, White Sierra, L.E.I., Mudd, Converse and other national and designer labels.

Six years ago, the store moved from its longtime location at 278 Congress Street after a reorganization.

"Our Windham store has always done well, so we look forward to a bright future there," he added.

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