Garden City Payless ShoeSource To Close

The Roosevelt Field Mall Payless ShoeSource is one of three Long Island locations that will be closing as part of a debt restructuring deal, the family footwear retailer said Wednesday.

Payless announced Tuesday it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to close 400 underperforming stores in the United State and Puerto Rico.

Payless has approximately 42 stores on Long Island.

The Long Island stores that are close are:

• Patchogue— 45 E. Main St.
• Westbury— Century 21 Plaza
• Garden City— Roosevelt Field Mall

The Kansas-based chain, founded in 1956, currently operates 4,400 stores in 30 countries, including 3,600 in North America.

In January, Reuters reported Payless was in debt to the tune of $655 million.

“This is a difficult, but necessary, decision driven by the continued challenges of the retail environment, which will only intensify,” Paul Jones, Payless Chief Executive Officer, said in a press release. “We will build a stronger Payless for our customers, vendors and suppliers, associates, business partners and other stakeholders through this process.”

Photo: Patch