Teenage dreams and mall nostalgia are under threat once more. Claire’s—the glitter-soaked haven for ear piercings, statement scrunchies, and sparkly everything—has landed back in bankruptcy court. More than 1,300 stores and thousands of jobs hang in the balance, raising the question: how did a teen fashion favorite end up in trouble for the second time in seven years?
Claire’s second bankruptcy filing puts stores nationwide in jeopardy
For now, most locations of Claire’s and its sister brand Icing will remain open, with only 18 stores scheduled to shut their doors by early September, according to the company’s voluntary August 6 filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
Still, the threat of wider cutbacks looms. Claire’s has asked the court for approval to potentially shutter about 1,100 standalone stores, along with 207 locations inside Walmart, later this year. If approved, those sites would host clearance events from August 8 through October 31—unless their landlords object after receiving notice.
Which Claire’s stores are closing first?
The first wave of closures is already underway. According to the bankruptcy filing, the 18 locations set to close soon include 13 Claire’s stores and 5 Icing shops. The full list is below.
Claire’s stores scheduled to close:
- Uniontown Mall — Uniontown, Pennsylvania
- Ford City Mall — Chicago, Illinois
- Bay City Town Center — Bay City, Michigan
- Pinnacle at Turkey Creek — Knoxville, Tennessee
- Market Street — Lynnfield, Massachusetts
- Woodinville Plaza — Woodinville, Washington
- Provo Town Center — Provo, Utah
- NewPark Mall — Newark, California
- Shops at Highland Village — Highland Village, Texas
- Northtown Mall — Blaine, Minnesota
- Eastdale Mall — Montgomery, Alabama
- Junction Commons — Park City, Utah
- Livingston Mall — Livingston, New Jersey
Icing stores scheduled to close:
- Woodland Mall — Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Galleria at Tyler — Riverside, California
- Mall of Abilene — Abilene, Texas
- The Mall at Greece Ridge — Rochester, New York
- University Place — Orem, Utah
How Claire’s landed in bankruptcy court twice in seven years
Claire’s first bankruptcy came in March 2018, when the retailer filed for Chapter 11 protection under the weight of more than $1.9 billion in debt from a 2007 leveraged buyout by Apollo Global Management. Declining mall traffic and growing competition from fast-fashion retailers and online sellers had eroded sales, while steep interest payments drained resources. The restructuring allowed Claire’s to close underperforming stores, cut roughly $1.9 billion in debt, and secure $575 million in new capital. By October 2018, the company had emerged from bankruptcy under new ownership—primarily its lenders—with a leaner balance sheet and a renewed focus on growth through mall stores and retail concessions.
In contrast, the 2025 bankruptcy reflects a deeper operational crisis. Although its debt load—about $500 million—is far smaller than in 2018, new pressures have mounted. Rising tariffs have increased import costs, consumer buying habits have shifted further toward online competitors, and mall culture has continued to wane.
In a press release from parent company Claire’s Holdings LLC and Claire’s U.S., Claire’s CEO Chris Cramer attributed the company’s second bankruptcy filing to factors including increased competition, a shift away from “brick-and-mortar retail” and the company’s debt. “We remain in active discussions with potential strategic and financial partners and are committed to completing our review of strategic alternatives,” Cramer said in the release.
This time, Claire’s is preparing for mass closures and faces the possibility of liquidating large portions of its business if buyers do not emerge. While the 2018 filing was largely a financial restructuring with a clear path to recovery, the 2025 case signals a more severe contraction and an uncertain future for the brand.
Source: The Columbus Dispatch