On Aug. 4, 2008, Hayward, CA-based Mervyns, a mid-tier department store chain with 176 stores in seven southwestern states, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On Aug. 13, Mervyn's said it would close 26 (nearly 15%) of its stores by late October or early November. Mervyns said an undisclosed professional services firm would assist it in liquidating the closing stores.