Cranberry Retailer Rue21 Closing 400 Stores Nationally, Six In Western Pennsylvania

CRANBERRY, PA - The struggling Cranberry-based clothing chain rue21 is closing nearly 400 stores across the country, including six in western Pennsylvania.

“It’s true - we are closing some stores, “ the specialty retailer of young men and women’s casual apparel and accessories announced on its Facebook page. "It was a difficult but necessary decision. We still have hundreds of locations across the country, and our website rue21.com, open for business."

The western Pennsylvania locations to be shuttered are:

• Cranberry Mall

• Grove City Premium Outlets

• Shenango Valley Mall

• Indiana Mall

• Pittsburgh Mills

• Tanger Outlets, Washington

This isn’t the first instance rue21 has experienced difficulties. Then known as Pennsylvania Fashions Inc., the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2002.

Debtwire reported earlier this month that the company, purchased in 2013 by global private equity firm Apex Partners, was struggling to meet it financial obligations. The company currently operates about 1,200 stores in 48 states.

Rue21’s difficulties are the latest in what is proving to be a dismal 2017 for traditional brick-and-mortar retailers as more consumers purchase products online. Among the retailers who have announced a significant number of store closures this year: Macy’s, Sears, Kmart, Payless ShoeSource, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Apparel and Guess.

Photo by Mike Mozart via Creative Commons.