For the quarter, net sales were $167 million, down 6.4% from the same period last year. Comparable store sales decreased 9.5%. The decrease in comparable store sales was comprised of a 1.7% decrease in traffic and a 7.8% decrease in average ticket. The company reported a net loss of $6.8 million, compared to a net loss of $4.7 million during the same quarter last year.

"We did see foot traffic improve sequentially into March and through March," said Kathleen Mason, president and CEO. "Our customer has shopped more frequently, but bought much smaller baskets."

Most affected, Mason said, were stores in Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona, where the housing market has suffered most. Not surprisingly, the company is focusing on improving its existing stores rather than expanding. Plans call for reopening four stores that had closed temporarily and replacing three closed units.