Business & Tech

Retail Apocalypse Means Dozens Of GA Store Closings In 2019

Clothing retailers, shoe stores, department stores and more are among the chains closing locations this year in Georgia.

The retail apocalypse continues across Georgia with more store closings planned in 2019.
The retail apocalypse continues across Georgia with more store closings planned in 2019. (Elizabeth Janney/Patch)

ATLANTA, GA — Retailers in Georgia continue to announce closings in 2019 with some citing poor holiday 2018 sales figures and others blaming debt loads for the shutdowns. We're less than three months into the year, and already several big-name retailers have announced their plans to shutter dozens of locations in the Peach State.

Chains closing up shop include clothing retailers, shoe stores, department stores and more.
The bleak outlook for many chain retailers isn't new — in 2018 dozens of chains closed stores, including, most notably, Toys R Us and Sears, as the retail apocalypse gained steam.

Coresight Research, which tracks store closures, says so far in 2019, retailers in the United States have announced 4,287 closings.

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Here's a look at the chains with Georgia locations that have either closed in 2019 or have announced plans to do so:

GYMBOREE
Children's clothing retailer Gymboree filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. Under the bankruptcy plan, the retail chain will close more than 800 Gymboree and Crazy 8 stores. The company is working to save its 140 upscale Janie and Jack stores. READ MORE.

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PAYLESS SHOESOURCE
Payless ShoeSource plans to close all of its U.S. stores as part of a bankruptcy filing. The closings would affect about 2,300 U.S. stores. The company is preparing for going-out-of-business sales at the locations. Georgia sites include Atlanta, Decatur, Stone Mountain, Douglasville, Alpharetta, Woodstock and Lithonia. READ MORE.

FAMILY DOLLAR
Nearly 400 Family Dollar stores will close nationwide this year, while another 200 will be converted to Dollar Tree, which purchased the rival chain in 2015. There are dozens of Family Dollar stores in Georgia; which ones will close has not yet been released. Other Family Dollars will keep their name will be stocked with $1 Dollar Tree merchandise and alcohol sections. READ MORE.

VICTORIA'S SECRET
Victoria's Secret will shutter 53 underperforming stores in North America this year, the owner of the lingerie chain said. L Brands Inc., which also owns the more successful Bath & Body Works chain, made the announcement as it reported disappointing holiday season sales. Specific locations have not been made public yet by the company. READ MORE.

CHARLOTTE RUSSE
Only a month after filing for bankruptcy, the women's clothing company Charlotte Russe has decided to shutter all of its stores and is reportedly in talks to sell its intellectual property. The company said it is partnering with a buyer who has expressed interest in keeping physical "brick and mortar" stores. Stores marked for closing including ones at Perimeter Mall, Mall of Georgia, and North Point Mal. READ MORE.

SEARS/KMART
The gasping retail giant is trying to "streamline" operations, improve its capital position and focus on the most successful stores, according to Sears Holdings. Multiple Sears and Kmart stores have closed in the past two years. READ MORE.

With reporting by Kara Seymour

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