Justice To Close Pittsburgh-Area Stores Due To Bankruptcy

PENNSYLVANIA — Justice will is reportedly planning to close 600 locations nationwide after its parent company, Ascena Retail Group, filed for bankruptcy on Thursday.

Ascena Retail Group, which operates Justice as well Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant, LOFT and Catherines, announced the Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a news release.

According to documents obtained by USA Today, the clothing line geared towards girls and young teens will close 35 Pennsylvania stores as part of the bankruptcy process. Stores slated to
close in southwestern Pennsylvania include locations at The Waterfront, Street of Cranberry, Mall at Robinson, South Hills Village, Monroeville Mall, Miracle Mile Shopping Center, Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, Uniontown Mall, Westmorelad Mall and Beaver Valley Mall.

Specific closure dates were not announced, but USA Today reports store closing sales will last between 30 to 60 days. Patch has reached out to Ascena for further information and will
update this story as more details come in.

The company said the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have negatively impacted
"meaningful progress" in getting the company back on track financially.

The company said the rest of its brand portfolio will stay largely intact,except for the closure of all Catherines stores. In addition to the bankruptcy filing, the company said it has reached an agreement with creditors to reduce debt by approximately $1 billion, and received $150
million in new financing.

Ascena joins a growing list of retailers to file for bankruptcy amid the coronavirus pandemic,
including J.Crew, Brooks Brothers, and Neiman Marcus.

RELATED: Retail Calamity: PA Chains File For Bankruptcy During Pandemic

Reporting by Kara Seymour/Patch.