7 Florida Pier 1 Stores Marked For Closure

FLORIDA — Seven Florida Pier 1 Imports stores are targeted for closure in the coming months, according to a published report and a list distributed to stores. The list, reviewed Tuesday, backs up a report by Business Insider published Jan. 15.

Calls by a Patch reporter to stores also confirmed many of the closings.

Executives with the home accessories chain said Jan. 6 that it would close hundreds of stores around the country; the retailer has 19 Tampa area sites and 17 stores in the Miami region.

The company said up to 450 locations — about half of its total — would be closed to "better align its business with the current operating environment."

Florida stores designated for closure are:

• 1071 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach
• 2351 101St St., Largo
• 16318 North Dale Mabry, Tampa
• 6907 Gunn Hwy., Tampa
• 2788 E Colonial Drive, Orlando
• 91214 Overseas Highway, Tavernier
• 1981 North Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach

Patch has reached out to the company for a list of stores closing but has so far received no response.

Pier 1 confirmed on Facebook that stores removed from the chain's website will be closing, telling a customer, "If you have any questions about stores in your area, you can visit Pier1.com and enter your zip code at the top of the page. Closing locations have been removed from this list."

The retailer plans to close certain distribution centers and lower its corporate spending, as well as lay off workers at the corporate level. The company is using a third-party liquidator to help with the closings, noting that its lenders signed off on its plan to reduce its brick-and-mortar footprint.

The planned closures come as the company faces smaller foot traffic.

Net sales for the third quarter plummeted more than 13 percent to $358.4 million. That number was $413.2 million in the same quarter for the previous fiscal year. Company comparable sales fell more than 11 percent compared to same period a year ago.

Founded with a single location in 1962, Pier 1 Imports currently operates 936 stores in the United States.

Patch Editor Kristin Danley-Greiner contributed to this story.