GA Retail Apocalypse: Another Retailer Closing All Stores

ATLANTA, GA — The outlook for national chain retailers in Georgia continues to be gloomy: Another national retail chain this week announced plans to close all of its stores, according to reports.

Papyrus, a stationery retailer, is closing all of its stores across the country, according to Fortune. The chain operates two Atlanta stores at Lenox Square and Phippps Plaza.

The company, which once had 450 locations, is down to 260 stores, which have begun liquidation sales, reports indicate.

Papyrus hadn't issued a formal statement announcing the closings, Fortune reported, but the website now states that all sales are final and no returns or guarantees will be honored. A 20 to 40 percent off storewide sale was also promoted on the Papyrus website.

Papyrus joins other chains that are closing all or some of their Georgia stores, including Pier 1 Imports, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sears, Kmart, Motherhood Maternity, Dressbarn and more.

Earlier this month, Pier 1 said it would likely close half of its stores to "better align its business with the current operating environment."

Eleven Georgia stores, including two in Atlanta, one in Decatur, one in Marietta and one in Douglasville, were removed from the chain's website. The company confirmed on social media the stores removed from the website were slated for closure. Patch has posted the full list of the 11 Pier 1 stores expected to close.

As Destination Maternity continues through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection case, the company said it plans to close 201 Destination Maternity and Motherhood Maternity stores across the country, including a handful in Georgia. USA Today reports the company said it plans to close stores at the following locations: Atlanta - Motherhood Maternity; Newnan - Motherhood Maternity; Dawsonville - Motherhood Maternity Outlet; Columbus - Motherhood Maternity; and McDonough - Motherhood Maternity.

The women's clothing store Avenue is closing more than 200 locations across the country, including all five stores in Georgia. Here is where Avenue has stores in the state: Augusta Square, 3412 Wrightsboro Road, Augusta; Shamrock Plaza, 3932C North Druid Hills Road, Decatur; Gwinnett Marketfair, 3675 Satellite Blvd., Duluth; Southlake Festival, 1524 Southlake Parkway, Morrow; Newnan Crossing, 559 Bullsboro Drive, Newnan. Read more.

The news is a continuation of the recent climate for brick-and-mortar stores across America. A record 9,300-plus store closings were announced in 2019, and that number could be even higher in 2020, according to a report by Business Insider.

RELATED: Georgia Chain Stores That Closed Their Doors In 2019