As local pools, athletic leagues, and other summer activities came to a close at the end of August, so did the doors of Elder-Beerman in Zanesville.

The store served as one of only a few department stores in the area.

Its parent company, Bon-Ton, announced in April that all its stores, including Elder-Beerman, were going bankrupt and would be entering a 10-12 week liquidation sale period.

Through bankruptcy court, all Bon-Ton assets were sold to a venture capitalist group.

According to the realtor working with the new owners, Michael Jerbich of A&G Realty Partners, the Zanesville Elder-Beerman building is open for application to eligible bidders until Sept. 18.

On Sept. 20, the building goes up for auction in Chicago.

The former Elder-Beerman building was previously owned by Bon-Ton Realty One LLC, a division of the same company that owned Elder-Beerman.