A Forever 21 store in a well-known mall will close soon after being open for over ten years. Fans of the store are very upset because many Forever 21 locations across the US have already closed or are about to close.
Forever 21 Roseville Mall Closure Announced
The Forever 21 store at Westfield Galleria Mall in Roseville, California, about 25 miles from Sacramento, will shut its doors for good on March 31. This news comes a few years after the company had to declare bankruptcy.
According to a report by The Sacramento Bee, this store's closure marks the end of an era. Forever 21 was a fixture in The community for 15 Years, and Westfield Galleria, which housed it, also features well-known stores like Nordstrom, Macy's, JCPenney, and Abercrombie & Fitch.
Fans of Forever 21 have expressed their shock and disappointment over the news. One shopper remarked, "Are all the Forever 21 stores closing for real? There is no way this world is ending." The sentiment reflects many's disbelief and sadness as they watch their favorite stores disappear.
Kansas City Forever 21 Stores Closing
Three Forever 21 locations in Kansas City, Kansas, are shutting down, and massive sales have begun. Clothing prices have been slashed by 50% as the store managers aim to sell off the remaining inventory quickly.
Windows of these stores now display signs alerting shoppers that everything must go.
This store first opened its doors in 2000 and was renovated in 2019.
The shop at 111 Nichols Road, which used to be home to Mark Shale and Swanson's, is seeing changes in its neighborhood. Not far from there, the women's fashion store Soft Surroundings closed last month.
Holly Solomon, the person in charge of finding tenants for Independence Center, announced that the Forever 21 store at 18801 E. 39th St. will close by the end of March.
Forever 21 has been a staple in American shopping malls for nearly four decades. However, the company faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy in 2019. At that time, it was anticipated that as many as 178 stores across the United States would close as part of the brand's efforts to reorganize and cut costs.
Forever 21's Global Struggles and Revival Efforts
According to CNBC, Forever 21 operates more than 540 stores globally, but the brand has struggled in international markets. Linda Chang, whose parents founded Forever 21, confessed in an interview with Vogue Business that the company lost sight of its core mission.
She acknowledged that they overlooked what their customers wanted in the rush to expand internationally.
The brand exited bankruptcy in February 2020, thanks to a purchase by Authentic Brands Group and real estate giants Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners. This acquisition, valued at over $80 million, was seen as an opportunity to revitalize the well-known retail brand.
Jamie Salter, chairman of Authentic Brands Group, expressed optimism about Forever 21's future, citing its "incredible consumer reach and a wealth of untapped potential."
Meanwhile, Forever 21 is not the only big name facing tough times; other big names are trimming their store counts, too.
Macy's, a household name in shopping, plans to close over 100 of its stores across the US in the next few years.
In addition, reports indicate that Walgreens, a leading pharmacy chain, is expected to shut down about 150 stores by August, adding to the wave of closures hitting the retail sector.
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