Chautauqua Mall P-J file photo

LAKEWOOD — The fate of Bon-Ton remains unclear after only two bidders, both liquidators, made offers for the bankrupt department store chain with more than 260 stores in 24 states.

According to a report by Reuters, sources familiar with the court-supervised auction facing Bon-Ton Stores Inc. say the chain will go out of business and be forced to liquidate. The department store has locations in the Chautauqua Mall, in addition to eight others in Western New York and northwest Pennsylvania.

A manager who answered the phone at the Bon-Ton in Lakewood declined to comment and referred questions to company’s headquarters in York, Pa.

The failure of the company comes amid Toys ‘R’ Us’ piecemeal liquidation of its namesake stores and Babies ‘R’ Us.

A spokesperson for Bon-Ton did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters said Tuesday announcing the liquidation.

Bon-Ton filed for bankruptcy in February and Toys ‘R’ Us in September.

If Bon-Ton does close its Chautauqua Mall location, it will be the latest area store to shutter in the area.

The Sam’s Club in the town of Ellicott was one of many to close suddenly in early January. The company announced that either 60 stores would close or be converted.

“This is a devastating blow to the store’s employees and their families and to our area, which values all of its businesses and works hard to foster strong public-private partnerships,” state Sen. Cathy Young said at the time.

The local Sam’s Club closed for good Jan. 26. Its signs were removed shortly thereafter.

And last month, Snap Fitness locations in Ellicott and Jamestown closed without warning to customers. Owner Scott Bradish declined to state why he was shuttering his health and fitness clubs — located at 764 Foot Ave. in Jamestown and 707 Fairmount Ave. in Ellicott — only to say neither would be reopening.

A sign posted by Bradish on the front door of the Jamestown Snap Fitness read: “It is with great sadness that due to circumstances beyond my control, I am announcing the permanent closing of this facility … I would like to thank my many loyal members for their support over the past 10 years.”