Mervyn's, the mid-range department store, went out of business, with all physical stores liquidating and closing by the end of 2008 after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, following a financially damaging 2004 buyout by private equity firms that burdened it with debt and stripped assets, leading to its inability to compete. While the Morris family later bought back the brand's intellectual property for an online relaunch, the original stores ceased operations in 2008-2009, with many former locations becoming Kohl's or other retailers.

Key Points of Mervyn's Discontinuation:

Acquisition & Debt (2004): Target Corp. sold Mervyn's to a private equity group for $1.25 billion; these firms loaded the company with debt and extracted cash, weakening it significantly.

Bankruptcy & Liquidation (2008): Facing a tough retail environment, Mervyn's filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 2008, leading to liquidation sales at all 149 stores.

Final Closures (2008-2009): All physical locations closed by the end of 2008 or early 2009, marking the end of an era for the chain founded in 1949.

Failed Revival: While the family attempted to bring Mervyn's back as an online-only retailer, the original store concept disappeared.

Legacy: Many former Mervyn's stores were taken over by competitors like Kohl's, which absorbed many locations, as noted by former employees.