Justice To Close All NJ Stores, Including Freehold Location

FREEHOLD, NJ – Tween clothing brand Justice will shut down all of its locations, including eight stores in New Jersey, its parent company Ascena Retail Group announced Wednesday.

Justice’s New Jersey locations - Bridgewater, Cherry Hill, Deptford, Edison, Elizabeth, Freehold, Paramus and Wayne - are slated to shutter by "early 2021,” according to the announcement.

Freehold’s Justice site is located inside the Freehold Raceway Mall at 3710 Route 9.

Over 20 locations in New Jersey closed earlier this year, including sites in Eatontown, Holmdel, Howell, Lawrenceville, Old Bridge, Woodbridge and Toms River. Read more: Howell Justice Store Closing After Company Bankruptcy: Report

Although exact closing dates have not been announced, stores will remain open through the holiday season. A “wind down” of all locations is expected to conclude by early 2021, according to the release.

Mahwah-based Ascena had filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in July. Read more: Mahwah-Based Ascena, Owner Of Ann Taylor, Files For Bankruptcy

Justice Brand Holdings, an entity formed by Bluestar Alliance, will acquire the Justice brand's intellectual property, as well as certain assets and liabilities, for about $90 million, the announcement added.

“The conclusion of the sale process for our Justice brand is a significant step forward in our efforts to complete our restructuring process and maximize value for all our stakeholders,” said Gary Muto, Chief Executive Officer of Ascena, in a statement.

“The optimization of our portfolio better positions ascena for long-term success and supports our vision for the future. As we seamlessly transition ownership of Justice over the coming weeks, we remain committed to delivering meaningful experiences for our customers every day. I thank our entire team for their continued focus as we prepare for the important holiday season.”