Gottschalks, a Central California retailer, said it...

Gottschalks, a Central California retailer, said it will bow to the decline of the downtown Fresno shopping district and close its 84-year-old flagship store there on Oct. 1. However, company President Gerald Blum said a new store opening Oct. 12 in Clovis, 10 miles away, will provide jobs for all the 150 salespeople now working in the downtown store. Joe Levy, Gottschalks’ chief executive, cited the closing of a significant number of downtown retail stores and dwindling business as reasons for the company’s decision. The company will continue to maintain its headquarters office in the downtown Fresno building.