Nostalgic accessory retailer to close 16 IL stores, including 1 in metro-east
A popular store for ear piercings, jewelry and accessories in St. Clair Square is set to close, according to a recent court filing.
In an Aug. 25 bankruptcy filing, Claire’s, a teen accessory-focused retailer, announced it would close more than 290 stores, among them several Icing locations, which the company also operates. The St. Clair Square Icing location is among the closures, while the mall’s Claire’s store appears on the “non-closing stores” list.
Both chains sell jewelry and pierce ears, but the Icing stores are marketed toward older teens and young women, while Claire’s is designed for younger girls.
Claire’s Holdings LLC plans to close 235 Claire’s stores in the U.S., along with 56 Icing stores, USA Today reports. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time Aug. 6, with the first filing in 2018.
Claire’s officials said in an Aug. 6 news release the shift toward online shopping contributed to the company’s financial struggles.
“This decision is difficult, but a necessary one. Increased competition, consumer spending trends and the ongoing shift away from brick-and-mortar retail, in combination with our current debt obligations and macroeconomic factors, necessitate this course of action for Claire’s and its stakeholders,” Claire’s CEO Chris Cramer said in the release. “We remain in active discussions with potential strategic and financial partners and are committed to completing our review of strategic alternatives.”
In an email, the company would not provide a closure date for St. Clair Square’s Icing store.
As of Thursday morning, the St. Clair Square Icing store was still accepting online appointments for ear piercings.
While the St. Clair Square Claire’s is not set to close, several Illinois locations are on the closure list, including stores in Bloomingdale, Chicago, Wheaton, Mattoon, Bloomington and more. Additional Icing stores set to close in Illinois include locations in Champaign and Rockford. Between Claire’s and Icing stores, 16 in total are set to close in the Land of Lincoln.
Claire’s is based in Hoffman Estates, and the company reports it operates more than 2,750 stores in 17 countries and 190 Icing stores in North America.
Icing isn’t the only teen-focused retailer in St. Clair Square that’s announced its closure recently. Fast-fashion chain Forever 21 announced in March it would close all its locations, including its St. Clair Square store. Additionally, an Express clothing store at the mall closed last year, along with fashion boutique Versona and New Balance in 2023.
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