Linens 'n Things to close all 3 Grand Rapids stores

All three Linens 'n Things stores in West Michigan will close as part of the company's bankruptcy filing.

[Dave]

This is just the tip of the iceberg. As the economy continues to tank, more and more stores will shut there doors. I wonder when Bush's slowdown will be recognized as the recession it truly is!!!!!!!!!!

[Mark]

Dave wrote:

This is just the tip of the iceberg. As the economy continues to tank, more and more stores will shut there doors. I wonder when Bush's slowdown will be recognized as the recession it truly is!!!!!!!!!!

Hey dipstick, a recession by definition is 2 quarters with negative growth. That didn't happen. And the major reason we are in a slowdown is because we allow the stupid media to talk us into it. Employment is still very low--in most other states--and most industries are staying level or growing except construction and auto.

So keep buying into the media hype.

[Steelie]

Good Day,

Well frankly this comes as no suprise to me. They can blame whomever or whatever they want. Things is I believe that this particualr marketplace was over saturated. Both they and Bed Bath and Beyond I think have sooooo many stores that it was inevtiable that one would fall. Not to mention that you can get alot of the same things in other stores like Wal-Mart, Meijer, Target, shoot... even Lowes!

Steelie

[Someone Around Town]

Too bad! I really like this store!

[Cub fan]

I want to know if they are going to have a great markdown or not before closing. I like this store.

[Old Rocker]

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey dipstick, a recession by definition is 2 quarters with negative growth. That didn't happen. And the major reason we are in a slowdown is because we allow the stupid media to talk us into it. Employment is still very low--in most other states--and most industries are staying level or growing except construction and auto.
So keep buying into the media hype.

That's right, all the media wants is ratings. All the doom and gloom reporting is nothing more than sensationalist journalism. The public eats it up. Regular news is boring so they report what makes ratings go up, doom and gloom. Higher ratings sells more sponsor time and makes them more money. Suzy Geha is a master at selling the drama. Otherwise, she would have been put out to pasture a long time ago. After all, she's certainly not eye candy.

[Steelie]

Good Day,

First of all the world is not coming to an end:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/02/markets/thebu...

However - as far as Michigan is concerned, I think we may be one of the last to to emerge into the black.

As I stated above - I think it competition that really killed them and not so much the economy. I don't remember ever recieving random 20% off coupons from tL&L like I do with BB&B. Perhaps there was also a bit of poor business strategizing if you ask me as well as oversaturation as I mentioned earlier.

Steelie

[Truth 007]

Mark wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey dipstick, a recession by definition is 2 quarters with negative growth. That didn't happen. And the major reason we are in a slowdown is because we allow the stupid media to talk us into it. Employment is still very low--in most other states--and most industries are staying level or growing except construction and auto.
So keep buying into the media hype.

Mark we have been doing good and seeing eye and eye for awhile (LOL) however I have to agree with guy above that you referred to as the Dipstick. So can we agree that times are extremely difficult and we, the working class (regardless of "defination") feel that we truely are in a recession? Meet us half here Mark. Its bigger than media this time around!

[Mark]

Truth 007 wrote:

<quoted text>
Mark we have been doing good and seeing eye and eye for awhile (LOL) however I have to agree with guy above that you referred to as the Dipstick. So can we agree that times are extremely difficult and we, the working class (regardless of "defination") feel that we truely are in a recession? Meet us half here Mark. Its bigger than media this time around!

Yes, times are difficult and the working class is not doing so well. I have had to lower prices in my business to attempt to compete and I still am losing work. This is back to 5-10 years ago pricing. But I am not going to let the media talk me into being even more negative, otherwise I'll start sounding like Neko. lol And one of those is more than enough.

While there are some major problems, I am quite confident that had the media not kept reporting negativism all the time, we wouldn't have slowed down nearly as bad--throughout the country--as we have. Pretty safe to say that Michigan is in a world of hurt without any help from the media.

So how about 3/4's of the way?

[Gramma]

Too bad it's not Bed, Bath and Beyond that is going out of business - their prices are outrageously high. Linens and Things isn't far behind with high prices. I will not miss them at all. I can purchase linens and such things at Walmart for a much better price.

[TDJensen]

I think the day of the specialty shop is fazing away. People just don't have the money to buy their expensive products or drive out of their way to shop at them. The old slogon 'One Stop Shopping' is becoming far more attractive. Even Home Depot is closing a few stores. The crunch isn't limited to the consumer.

[Mary Frances]

I think this has a lot to do with quality of merchandise--Bed, Bath, and Beyond is doing fine. Linen's and Things carries an overall lower-end line of products at much higher prices than the discount stores. B,B,&B carries some very nice, higher end products at great prices--1/2 of what Macy's charges for similar products, especially with the 20% off coupons. I buy everything I can there--with my 20% off coupons. I would rather spend a few more $(as long as I have them)and get a longer lasting, higher quality product. Linen's just never found a niche market--nor could they compete with Walmart.

[tim]

I WISH THE MEDIA WOULD SHUT THE HE!! UP AND REPORT ON GOOD THINGS AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE. I DO BELIEVE WE ARE IN TRYING TIMES BUT I BLAME THE MEDIA FOR MAKE IT WORSE TOO......

[TDJensen]

tim wrote:

I WISH THE MEDIA WOULD SHUT THE HE!! UP AND REPORT ON GOOD THINGS AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE. I DO BELIEVE WE ARE IN TRYING TIMES BUT I BLAME THE MEDIA FOR MAKE IT WORSE TOO......

The only problem is this....good news doesn't sell.

[Gail in Wyoming]

The media likes drama, and drama sells news.

It's too bad that so many businesses are closing their doors. Financially, people are cutting back and not shopping these stores as frequently as they used to.

[mibluefan]

And another one bites the dust...............Oh well I can not pay for the gas to get there anyway.

[Hmmm]

Mary Frances wrote:

I think this has a lot to do with quality of merchandise--Bed, Bath, and Beyond is doing fine. Linen's and Things carries an overall lower-end line of products at much higher prices than the discount stores. B,B,&B carries some very nice, higher end products at great prices--1/2 of what Macy's charges for similar products, especially with the 20% off coupons. I buy everything I can there--with my 20% off coupons. I would rather spend a few more $(as long as I have them)and get a longer lasting, higher quality product. Linen's just never found a niche market--nor could they compete with Walmart.

Totally agree! I'm right there with you in line, with my coupons! I don't currently need anything, but with the three coupons laying here on my desk, I'll be picking up birthday, graduation and wedding gifts!

[Daniel]

Mary Frances wrote:

I buy everything I can there--with my 20% off coupons.

The real question is will they mark everything down a lot during their liquidation sale, and STILL allow the use of BBB coupons at the same time...you could make a killing.

Oh, and Mark is dead on. We are not in a recession at all. The economy technically expanded in Q1. Although this is masked by higher levels of inflation, which is next on the Fed's to do list.

[fastedrose]

TDJENSEN
touche

Mary Frances

touche

Thread counts count, the discount stores may not have the product count you want. Where will you find the thread count? At Target, Walmarts, Walgreens, Montgomery Wards, Sears holding your hand? Think about it. If an Corporation is liquidating, put our hand out. My doggie acts like he she has to go PEE AND SOMETIMES DOES OR FAKES BUSINESS

[fastedrose]

DANIEL You count

Tell all at this site what a fantastic store this is.

I believe in this product.