Retail  

With locations already on the East and West shores as well as Lancaster, the popular Philly Pretzel Factory franchise could soon be adding stores in Central Pennsylvania.

The Bon-Ton Stores Inc., with corporate offices in York County and Milwaukee, on Thursday reported a 1.3 percent comparable-store sales decline for its first quarter and a larger net loss than during the period last year, according to a news release.

A new owner, a new look and new vendors make up the transformation of The Shoppes on Main in Mount Joy.

The sales training session ended almost 45 minutes earlier and the participants were still chatting in small groups around the room. Launching at 8:45 a.m. with regular breaks and a 40-minute lunch, you’d figure they would be high-tailing it out of there at 5 p.m. It was approaching 5:45 when Kat, the CEO — part of one of those small groups — approached.