True Religion To Close Bethesda Store

BETHESDA, MD — Clothing retailer True Religion is struggling and plans to close 27 stores, including one at Bethesda's Westfield Montgomery Mall.

The Los Angeles-based retailer filed for bankruptcy, USA Today reported. True Religion has 140 stores nationwide. The company has not said when the stores will close. According to a court filing, True Religion requested a cancellation of 29 leases, which includes 27 open stores.

The chain is also shutting the doors of two Virginia locations: Tysons Corner Center and at Richmond's Short Pump Town Center.

True Religion Chief Executive John Ermatinger said in a statement to Fortune that the company is using bankruptcy laws to close, consolidate or renegotiate leases for underperforming locations. As it closes stores, the company will look more to online sales.

Fortune reports that True Religion is the 23rd retailer to file for bankruptcy in 2017. Brands such as The Limited, Hhgregg and Wet Seal have already closed all of their stores. This year is on pace to have a record amount of business bankruptcies.

See a full list of closing stores here.

— Patch Editor Emily Leayman contributed reporting to this story.

Image via Clotee Pridgen Allochuku/Wikimedia Commons