Leslie at the perfume counter moves in a fog of exotic fragrance. There’s Estee Lauder, there’s Chanel. But now the air goes malodorous. At the Boscov’s at Owings Mills Mall, where she works, there’s the aroma of death.

On Monday, the department store chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced it would sell inventory and then close 10 stores, including its anchors at White Marsh Mall, Marley Station and Owings Mills.