Federated would not comment on the future of the Woodies name or the price it has offered for the purchase.
In addition to 15 Woodies and 14 Wanamaker's stores, Woodward & Lothrop owns three Woodies furniture stores, one Wanamaker's furniture store and three clearance centers.
"I started in the arcade around the same time Ray Bacon opened Woodies and I have known him ever since then.
"I remember about five or six years ago when Woodies had its sale after Christmas the queue went down the arcade.
HAPPIER TIMES: Cardiff City's Riccy Scimeca receiving a Barbour coat from Woodies employee Richard Coakley.
Hecht's, which had catered to lower-moderate customers, slipped into Woodies' upper-moderate niche.
When Woodies attempted to back-pedal in the early 1990s, after a recession hit the region, it found Hecht's and other competitors had secured its former market.
Since entering bankruptcy proceedings, Woodies has reported closing five stores, including a furniture store in Seven Corners Mall in suburban Virginia, and four Wanamaker locations.
In another age, Woodies probably could have survived bankruptcy protection as an independent company with a restructured debt load, according to observers.