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DeKALB – MC Sports has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is closing all of its stores, including the 13,500-square-foot location at 2058 Sycamore Road in DeKalb.
An employee at the DeKalb store who did not give his name said employees had not been told more about the company’s plans for the DeKalb location and referred questions to the company’s corporate headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan. MC Sports opened its DeKalb location at the Market Square Center in fall 2005.
In a prepared statement, MC Sports President and CEO Bruce Ullery said the company planned immediate liquidation sales at all of its 68 stores and would explore “going-concern sale options” as well.
A recorded message at the corporate office said the company would have no comment beyond its prepared statement. The statement cited increased competition, increased direct-to-consumer sales by vendors, and market disruption caused by the growth of online commerce as among the reasons for its bankruptcy filing. Ullery said in the statement that an out-of-court settlement with creditors could not be reached.
According to a company release, MC Sports operates 68 stores in seven states, including Illinois locations in Rockford, Peru, Bloomington, East Peoria and Joliet.