Fred Meyer To Buy Jewelry Chain

Fred Meyer Inc. said Thursday it agreed to buy 49 Merksamer Jewelers stores, shoring up its position as one of the country’s 10 largest jewelry chains.

Terms weren’t disclosed.

Merksamer Jewelers Inc.’s stores are located mostly in malls in 11 states, with more than half of its locations in California. The stores will remain under the Merksamer name and the personnel won’t change.

The acquisition will increase the number of stores owned by the company’s Fred Meyer Jewelers Inc. unit to 194, located in 19 states.

Portland, Oregon-based Fred Meyer has 159 retail stores.