Moving into the Basement

Value City Department Stores (Columbus, Ohio) announced that Jerald Politzer has joined its Filene's Basement unit as executive vp of merchandising.

From 1997 to 1999, Politzer was chairman and ceo of Salant Corp., a men's apparel company. From 1989 to 1996, he was executive vp of Melville Corp., where he had responsibilities including the oversight of six store divisions. Prior to 1989, he was president and ceo of G. Fox Stores. Politzer joins Filene's Basement from Secure Connections, where he had been ceo.

“We are extremely pleased that Jerry has joined the Filene's Basement team,” says Heywood Wilansky, president and ceo of Filene's Basement. “He is a proven senior executive with a history of generating top and bottom line growth in department stores, specialty stores and the wholesale apparel business. His contacts throughout the retail community will provide a significant contribution to our merchandising initiatives.”

Value City Department Stores operates 116 discount department stores under the names Value City and Schottenstein Stores, 129 DSW Shoe Warehouse stores and 20 Filene's Basement stores.