On this episode of Statewide, the Bergner's chain liquidated in 2018, the final chapter in a retail history that dated back to the 1800s. For some communities, Bergner's was a an anchor store in a shopping mall. In Peoria, where it all began, the name meant a lot more. We'll talk with a Peoria journalist about Bergner's -- from its start through its heyday -- and how it all ended.
We'll also recall the holiday shopping traditions at the former Marshall Field's in Chicago.
And we'll look back on the year in Springfield with various community leaders and their hopes for 2021 in the capital city.