Buckland Hills Store On Edge As National Children's Retailer Enters Chapter 11

CONNECTICUT — Eight Connecticut stores — including one in the Buckland Hills shopping district in Manchester — were on edge to begin the week as national kids clothing retailer The Children's Place filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday.

According to the filing, the company is seeking a buyer for substantially all of its business and assets.

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The company also owns the Gymboree brand.

According to federal Securities and Exchange Commission filings, the New Jersey-based company and 13 affiliated businesses filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The cases are being jointly administered under case No. 26-22682, according to the SEC flings.

The Children's Place locations in Connecticut are:

• In Manchester at the Shoppes at Buckland Hills, 194 Buckland Hills Drive
• In Hartford at Charter Oak Marketplace, 495 Flatbush Ave.
• In Milford at the Connecticut Post Mall, 1201 Boston Post Road
• In Mashantucket at the Tanger Outlet Foxwoods center, 455 Trolley Line Boulevard
• In Waterbury at the Brass Mill Center, 495 Union St.
• In Trumbull at the Trumbull Mall, 5065 Main St.
• In Norwalk at The SoNo Collection, 100 North Water St.
• In Danbury at the Danbury Fair mall, 7 Backus Ave.

Records reported by Reuters show that the company reported approximately $742.3 million in assets and $881 million in liabilities as of Aug. 1, 2026. It also disclosed approximately $394 million in outstanding obligations under its debt agreements when it filed for bankruptcy, excluding accrued interest and other fees.

The retailer cited declining sales and profitability, intense competition, heavy promotional activity, rising operating costs and significant liquidity pressures.

For the three months ending Aug. 1, the company reported in an earnings statement that it sustained a net loss of lost a $31 million. Net sales declined 19 percent from the same period a year earlier, while comparable-store sales fell 17 percent, according to the earnings statement.

The Children's Place is pursuing a court-supervised sale of substantially all its assets, including its retail operations and intellectual property, the filing shows. The company is seeking bids by Dec. 9 and expects the sale process to conclude by the end of December, according to the SEC filing.

The sale is being promoted on The Children's Place website as 25 to 60 percent off all retail items, both in-store and online.

The SEC filing also states that company has received nine proposals from potential buyers interested in acquiring some or all of its assets.