Mall-based women’s retailer closing all stores suddenly
thestreet.com • • business
Key Points:
- Francesca’s abruptly announced the closure of all its more than 450 stores nationwide, beginning liquidation sales over the holiday weekend and offering significant discounts online, signaling an imminent shutdown.
- The retailer has not officially filed for bankruptcy yet but is expected to file Chapter 11 as early as January 20, 2026, amid reports of owing $250 million to unpaid vendors and lacking communication with suppliers.
- Francesca’s previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, struggled with pandemic impacts, competition from online retailers, and changed ownership in 2021, but continued financial difficulties led to this sudden closure.
- Unlike some mall-based retailers, Francesca’s closure is not attributed to declining mall traffic, which saw modest growth in
