Heartbreak for millennials as nostalgic fashion store disappears as latest victim of mall exodus
Another familiar mall fashion chain is preparing to close stores as America's brick-and-mortar retail downturn deepens.
The women’s clothing retailer Francesca’s - a favorite of millennials in the early 2000s thanks to its skinny jeans and statement jewelry - is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
It is expected to shut all of its 400 stores across 45 states.
Women’s Wear Daily, which first reported the news, said the retailer recently let go of its merchandising team without warning - a move often seen as a sign of an impending shutdown.
A customer service representative told the outlet: ‘We are liquidating our inventory and closing soon.’ Daily Mail has contacted Francesca's for comment.
The retailer’s website is advertising a ‘last chance, online only’ warehouse sale. Clearance items are priced at $15 or less. The sale includes dresses, jumpsuits, sweaters, tops and jewelry.
Francesca’s is based in Houston, Texas. It was founded in 1999 and grew rapidly during the mall boom of the early 2000s. At the time it was known for its skinny jeans and accessories.
The company previously filed for bankruptcy in 2020. Hundreds of stores shut at the time. The retailer cited the pandemic and rising competition from online sellers.
Iconic women’s clothing store Francesca’s - a mall staple across the country - moves toward closing all of its stores (pictured: Kristin Cavallari at a Francesca's in Texas)
Francesca’s website has not posted any formal notice and is currently advertising a sitewide 20 percent sale
Known for its boutique-style feel and fast-changing inventory, Francesca's could shutter as many as 33 locations in California
After filing for bankruptcy in 2020, the brand was bought by a group of financial firms and later tried to attract new shoppers with spin-off brands and acquisitions.
Francesca’s is far from the only mall brand struggling.
Classic shopping-center fixtures such as Forever 21, Macy's, Bath & Body Works, and GameStop have all shuttered large numbers of stores in recent years.
Another chain aimed squarely at millennials and tweens, Claire’s, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August last year for the second time in its history.
The jewelry retailer — best known for ear piercings and mall kiosks — initially planned to close hundreds of locations. It later emerged from bankruptcy after being taken private, though hundreds of stores were still slated to shut.
Even stronger fashion brands are pulling back.
Fast-fashion giant Zara quietly closed dozens of stores over the past year. Its parent company, Inditex, shut more than 130 storefronts across its portfolio, including Zara Home, Pull&Bear and Massimo Dutti.
