NYC's Niketown store shuttered due to bedbugs

The latest retailer to fall victim to the creepy little crawlies

NEW YORK — Athletic clothing and shoe maker Nike Inc. said it has temporarily shut its Niketown store in New York City after it became the latest victim of bedbugs.

The company confirmed Sunday that the store, on East 57th Street in Manhattan, was closed after bedbugs were discovered. It released a statement saying its primary concern was the well-being of customers and employees.

"We are taking all proper steps to eradicate the problem and we expect the store to reopen shortly," the statement said.

Bedbugs also have been discovered recently in a New York City theater, office buildings, other stores, housing projects and posh apartments.

The city has launched an information and outreach campaign to help people understand how the bugs are spread and how to get rid of them. Information from the city's health department is posted online at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/vector/vector-faq1.shtml