Elder-Beerman officials say the company has changed its mind and it wishes to keep the Carbondale store in the University Mall.

On Jan. 27, Max Gutmann, Elder-Beerman’s chief executive officer, said he was confident that a federal bankruptcy court would let the company close the Carbondale store, which employs 70 people, in the University Mall, 1237 E. Main St.

Now he said he is confident the same court will allow him to keep the store open.

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Gutmann said the company has worked out a new deal with Heitman Retail Properties, which manages and leases store space in the University Mall.

He said he would not discuss the specifics until the federal court makes the final ruling today.

Elder-Beerman filed for Chapter 11 in federal bankruptcy court Jan. 27 and requested to close the Carbondale store.

Gutmann repeated claims that University Mall renovations brought in newer, larger stores and redirected customer traffic away form the Elder-Beerman store.

He said the mall has not made any promises to help promote the store, but the company has new plans for the Carbondale store.

We are going to bring in fresh merchandise and see what kind of response we get, Gutmann said.

Gutmann said the store was profitable but said it was not profitable at levels the company would like to see. He said he hopes the new focus will allow the store to become more profitable.

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Robert Perlmutter, chairman of Heitman Retail Properties, said he was pleased that the two companies had worked out a deal.

Elder-Beerman has been a valued merchant at the University Mall a long time, he said. We would have been sorry to see them go.

City Manager Jeff Doherty said he was pleased with the decision the company made to keep the store in University Mall.

The store is important in the mall and in the community, Doherty said. The jobs are important.