Teavana Closing At SouthPark Mall, Chain To Shutter Nationwide

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Teavana stores throughout the nation will be closing by next spring, the company's parent-company, Starbucks, announced. One of Teavana's locations is currently housed at SouthPark Mall in Strongsville.

Officials made the announcement last week, saying all 379 Teavana stores, most of which are based in malls would close by spring 2018. All told, the closures will affect 3,300 workers nationwide, according to company officials.

"The company concluded that despite efforts to reverse the trend through creative merchandising and new store designs, the under-performance was likely to continue," Starbucks officials said in a press release, noting that laid-off employees will be urged to apply for jobs at Starbucks locations.

Teavana stores specialize in selling teas, teaware and accessories. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Strongsville newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

Malls across the U.S. have been taking hits most of the year. CNN noted there were 5,300 store closing announcements in the first six months of the year— triple the number during the same period last year — according to analysis by Fung Global Retail & Technology. The news on the mall tenants gets worse: Between 20% and 25% of American malls will close within five years, Credit Suisse said in a report released last month, CNN noted.

In Ohio, the closures have come fast. Gymboree announced it was closing 17 Ohio stores, with some locations closing down July 18. SouthPark Mall had one of the locations targeted for closing.

The future doesn't look particularly bright either. At least 16 Ohio retailers are close to declaring bankruptcy. The list of businesses in peril is available here.

Image via bargainmoose/Creative Commons