Charming Charlie Latest Retailer To Fold

Women's fashion accessory retailer Charming Charlie has filed for bankruptcy and plans to close its roughly 260 stores across the country, including 13 in Pennsylvania. The chain is beginning liquidation sales that are expected to take about two months to complete.

The Houston-based company is known for organizing its merchandise by color and its core customer base is middle-aged women, Chief Financial Officer Alvaro Bellon stated in a bankruptcy court filing.

Charming Charlie's website is still operational but it's impossible to place orders on it. According to the website, the store already is offering merchandise reductions of 20 to 50 percent.

Charming Charlie's demise continues an already disastrous year for U.S. retailers. According to Coresight Research there have been 7,062 store closings and 3,022 store openings in 2019, compared to 5,864 closures and 3,258 openings for the full year 2018.

Charming Charlie's Pennsylvania locations are in:

• The Galleria, Mt. Lebanon.

• Waterfront Town Center, Homestead.

• Millcreek Mall, Erie.

• Providence Town Center, Collegeville.

• Shops at Montage, Moosie

• Shops at Wyomissing, Wyomissing

• Shops at Brinton Lakes, Glen Mills.

• Park City Center, Lancaster.

• Outlets at Sam's Bethlehem.

• Neshaminy Mall, Bensalem.

• West Manchester Mall, York.

• Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, Center Valley.

• Plymouth Meeting Mall, Plymouth Meeting.