One down more to come

One already weakened retailer is kicking the bucket. Say goodbye Goody's. Discount clothing chain Goody's Family Clothing will begin liquidating its stores on Friday as the retailer becomes one of the year's first victims of the worsening economy. The move, which comes less than four months after the privately held retailer emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, affects the Knoxville, Tenn.-based chain's 287 stores scattered throughout 20 Midwestern and Southern states, said Cathy Hershcopf, a partner at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP. All they needed was a little shove off the cliff. The poor holiday shopping season was the death blow. It's uncertain what will happen to the company's 9,800 workers after the liquidation - being handled by a joint venture between Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC and Hilco Merchant Resources LLC - is completed by the end of March. Good luck getting hold of somebody in Ohio to get your unemployment started.