Boston Store, Younkers and other Bon-Ton stores to close; big changes could come to East Towne and West Towne malls

“They’ve been important to their communities here in the state,” said Jerry O’Brien, executive director of the Kohl’s Center for Retailing Excellence at UW-Madison, said of Bon-Ton stores. “Retail is in a state of disruption right now and the role of the department store has changed.”