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Barkan's Clothing To Close Up Shop

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A decades-old clothing store in downtown Rock Island will soon close. Barkan's Clothing announced it will begin a liquidation sale Tuesday after being in business for more than 70 years.

Owner Steve Barkan began working at the store in 1966. His parents had opened the store just twenty years before. He says Rock Island's downtown has evolved over the years.

 "It's changed a few times. In 1966, there were at least, I think, 4 men's clothing stores and 4 or 5 ladies specialty clothing stores. Plus, McCabe's was here and Montgomery Ward's was here, which later became Yonkers. So, it was a very active downtown." 

Barkan says not only is he ready to retire after more than 50 years in the store, but that changes in the clothing retail business are becoming too much to keep up with.

"The environment for retail now is very, very challenging. It may settle out, but it requires more capital investment and other things that I just wasn't really ready or willing to put forth at this time."

Barkan's will begin its liquidation sale on Tuesday at 9 am. The building is also for sale in the 1700 block of 2nd Avenue. 

I am currently a senior at Augustana College, majoring in Multimedia Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Creative Writing. I serve as the General Manager for WAUG.fm, Augustana's online student radio station and have worked as an intern and DJ at Studstill Media Group. I report on local news for WVIK and am honored and excited to be a part of the news team. I hope to pursue a career in radio broadcasting and an eventual master's degree in English or Communications.