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GOTTSCHALKS INC. TIMELINE

1904:launches in Fresno, founded by German immigrant Emil Gottschalk

1987:buys Bakersfield’s popular Brock’s Department Store

1986:trades on the New York Stock Exchange

1998:buys Harris Department Stores’ nine Southern California locations, including Bakersfield’s

2000:buys more than 30 of bankrupt Seattle-based Lamonts stores, expanding Pacific Northwest presence

May 2008:Bakersfield’s two locations in East Hills Mall consolidate, leaving empty the former Harris building

October 2008:delisted from New York Stock Exchange after value falls below $25 million

November 2008:announces $30 million deal with Chinese investor, Everbright

Dec. 4, 2008:reports a $13.6 million loss for first nine months of its fiscal year; days later, the full report says a cash infusion is needed before the end of January

Dec. 18:Everbright scraps deal; the next day, Gottschalks says talks with Everbright and another suitor are ongoing

Jan. 8:December sales results show a 9.6 percent drop from previous year

Jan. 9:Women’s Wear Daily says a $50 million deal is brewing with Everbright and another investor; Fresno’s Business Journal says employees are told to cash paychecks before imminent bankruptcy

Jan. 14:Gottschalks files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Sources: Gottschalks Web site, Californian archives

What’s next for ....

Customers:The company is seeking the bankruptcy judge’s OK to honor programs such as the Plus Program for seniors, the KidZone Program, Gottschalks Treasure Rewards and a credit card that gives customers points and other incentives. The store also wants to continue accepting returns for refunds or store credit and wants to keep selling gift cards.

Employees:An emergency motion to authorize payment of payroll, benefits and related taxes and prevent banks from placing a hold on or reversing automatic deposits will be considered at today’s initial hearing in Delaware.

The company wants the court’s approval to honor vacation, personal, sick leave, bereavement leave and other paid time off.

Gottschalks employs 2,817 full- and 2,465 part-time employees, for a total of 5,282 workers.

East Hills Mall:Gottschalks and Mervyns own their buildings so the mall can’t lease the sites, officials say. They are pursuing tenants for other sites and say overall sales are fine.

Valley Plaza:Parent company General Growth Properties is itself considered likely to file for bankruptcy protection. Mall owners says it’s too soon to tell what impact the Gottschalks filing will have.

Unsecured creditors:Among the top 20 owed money are The Harris Co., Liz Claiborne, The CIT Group/Commercial Services and Finlay Fine Jewelry.

Gottschalks listed $288 million in assets and $197 million in debt.

Shares:As is typical when a publicly owned company files for bankruptcy, trading of shares was expected to be temporarily halted.

Gottschalks, which trades over-the-counter under the symbol GOTT.PK, closed down 3 cents at 15 cents per share Wednesday.

Buyers:Analysts are pessimistic about a purchase of the entire chain. Several larger retailers might pick off assets here and there, they said.