Campeau suppliers wait - and hope - for good news. (Campeau Corp.; St. Louis area apparel manufacturers)

Campeau suppliers wait - and hope - for good news

Every day, a group of St. Louisans studies the newspaper, turns on the television and calls advisers, hoping there is good news for Campeau Corp., the struggling owner of Allied Stores and Federated Department Stores.

They are local apparel manufacturers, also struggling in an increasingly difficult retail environment. If Campeau closes a store, discounts its goods or files for bankruptcy, as some analysts have predicted, their own sales could be affected -- even if they don't sell their goods to Campeau's stores.

"We're watching it very carefully," said William McKenna, president and chief executive officer of Kellwood Co., the international apparel manufacturer headquartered in Chesterfield. "It causes a …