If you’ve noticed those “Everything Must Go” signs popping up at your local mall lately, you’re not imagining things. Another retailer is biting the dust, and this time, it’s happening fast.
Women’s retailer Francesca’s is reportedly shutting down all of its stores and liquidating inventory, including locations in the Las Vegas Valley.
Liquidation sales have already begun at the brand’s boutiques across the country.
Clearance prices hint at final days
Shoppers visiting stores earlier this month found discounts in place. The company’s website now also promotes a “last chance” online warehouse sale with markdowns of 30% or more and clearance items priced at $15 and under.
The retailer recently confirmed to Women’s Wear Daily that it is liquidating inventory and preparing to close, though it has not filed for Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The company has also not publicly announced a closure timeline.
Francesca’s operates four stores in Southern Nevada. Two are located in Las Vegas at Downtown Summerlin and the Miracle Mile Shops, with two more in Henderson at The District and the Galleria at Sunset. All are expected to close as part of the nationwide shutdown.
The abrupt liquidation is reportedly tied to unpaid vendors. One supplier says that the inventory being sold may not have been paid for, and alleges that Francesca’s owes vendors as much as $250 million in unpaid invoices. The company has not responded to those claims.
A troubled history resurfaces
Founded as a women’s clothing and accessories chain focused on mall-based boutiques, Francesca’s once operated more than 450 locations nationwide. The retailer previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, citing pandemic-related disruptions and pressure from online competitors. It closed hundreds of stores at that time.
In 2021, the brand was sold for $18 million to an affiliate of TerraMar Capital and Tiger Capital.
Most Francesca’s stores are located in traditional indoor shopping centers, a format that has faced increasing pressure from changing consumer habits and inventory-heavy business models.
On social media, the company has continued to promote its sales but has avoided directly addressing the store closures. Comments on Francesca’s Instagram posts have been disabled, while customers on Reddit report that liquidation sales began across all locations on January 16.
The shutdown places Francesca’s alongside other mall-based chains that have exited or downsized in recent years, including Forever 21 and Claire’s, as apparel retailers continue to struggle with debt, inventory costs, and shifting shopping patterns.
Sources: WWD, Review Journal