
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, November 14, 1995                   TAG: 9511140100
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BALTIMORE                                LENGTH: Short

MERRY-GO-ROUND CLOSING 375 STORES

Merry-Go-Round Enterprises Inc., narrowing its target market in an effort to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, said Monday it will close 375 of its 950 stores and jettison the Chess King retail chain.

Hoping to concentrate its stores in high-sales locations, the specialty apparel retailer will cut its size to 575 stores beginning Jan. 1, spokesman Michael Kempner said.

Company officials did not specify how many of the company's 7,000 to 8,000 employees would lose their jobs, but Kempner said employment would be ``commensurate'' with a smaller company. Closing sites are expected to be announced to workers in the next few days.

Merry-Go-Round filed for Chapter 11 protection in January 1994. Since then, more than 460 stores have been closed.

The company's flagship Merry-Go-Round stores target urban 15- to 25-year-olds, while Cignal markets unisex sportswear for the 25-to-45 age bracket.

Dejaiz-Attivo sells to men 18 to 30 and Chess King goes for a slightly younger, more cost-conscious male customer.

by CNB