3 Stores At Meriden Mall To Close

MERIDEN, CT - Three stores at Westfield Meriden associated with national retail chains are facing bankruptcy and closure. Charlotte Russe, Things Remembered, and Payless Shoe Source are all in financial trouble.

Charlotte Russe, a women's clothing store, plans to close about 94 stores — roughly 20 percent of its fleet— and 3 in Connecticut. A spokeswoman for the company told The Wall Street Journal a going-concern sale is the retailer's preferred path.

Charlotte Russe has about 500 stores across the U.S. The clothing retailers is just the latest domino to fall in the industry though, following major closure announcements by Sears and children's clothing retailer Gymboree.

Last month, news broke that Things Remembered was also considering filing for bankruptcy, and closing most of its 400 stores. Reuters noted the company underwent a debt restructuring in 2016, but may now need to take more drastic measures.

The Meriden Things Remembered store had a closing sign in its window Friday, the Meriden Record-Journal reported.

Discount footwear retailer Payless Shoe Source plans to close all of its U.S. stores as part of a bankruptcy filing later this month, the business news source Reuters is reporting, including 18 in Connecticut.

The closings would affect about 2,300 U.S. stores and the company is preparing for going-out-of-business sales at the locations, according to the Reuters report. Sources told Reuters that a buyer could still emerge.

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