Boscov’s to close its in-store restaurants

A longtime fixture at some locations, the department store plans to turn the space into “home central HQ.”

Six Boscov’s restaurants — long a staple of the department store’s shopping experience at its Berks and Schuylkill County locations — will cease operations, said chairman and CEO Jim Boscov on Tuesday.

The Restaurant at Boscov’s in Muhlenberg Township has already closed, while the eatery at Boscov’s East in Exeter Township and another in the Pottsville store will finish at the end of the month.

Remaining restaurants in Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre and Dover, Del. are closing as well.

“On a personal level, it’s a loss,” said Boscov. “It’s disappointing. But I have to balance that with making the right decision.”

Boscov pointed to the impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry as the reason for exiting the business, describing the continuing shutdowns and occupancy restrictions designed to prevent the spread of the virus as “unsustainable.”

“It’s very difficult,” said Boscov of the decision. “People understand what’s happening, but it’s still sad.

“Just because we can understand it doesn’t make it any easier.”

The family diner-style establishments were also sometimes referred to as Boscov’s Greenery Restaurant.

The empty restaurants are not expected to stay vacant for very long, with plans to convert the Berks locations into additional store space.

The renovated spaces will host what Boscov’s calls its “home central HQ,” which carries products aimed at improving comfort of living — especially in a time when so many people are cooped up in their homes because of the pandemic.

“People’s homes have changed,” said Boscov. “Home is now the office. It’s the spa. It’s the entertainment venue. It’s the restaurant. We brought all those things you need in your home into one area.

“We’re moving that sales area into a totally renovated and expanded space.”

Home central HQ currently resides in the stores’ auditoriums, so moving those showroom floors will allow the store to use those areas the way they were intended.

“It gives us the auditoriums for their original purposes — for meetings, displays, shows, exhibits and things like that,” said Boscov.