Is Claire’s at Promenade Saucon Valley Closing?

A sign hanging inside the Claire’s store at Promenade Saucon Valley Friday stated “Store Closing.” Another sign announced, “Everything Must Go.” However, it’s unclear what’s happening to the shop that caters mostly to teen girls and young women.

When a store associate was asked if the store was closing she said she wasn’t authorized to speak to the press. She provided an email address for a company public relations official who referenced a bankruptcy court filing when asked if the Center Valley Claire’s store will be closing. The affidavit filed Aug. 6 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (see below) did not identify specific stores that will be closing, but did list the company that owns Promenade Saucon Valley as a creditor of Illinois-based Claire’s Holdings LLC. The representative recommended following court proceedings via filings that are being shared online for more information about specific stores.

An Aug. 6 news release announcing the decision by Claire’s to enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings provided a bit more information regarding the company and its future goals.

“Increased competition, consumer spending trends and the ongoing shift away from brick-and-mortar retail, in combination with our current debt obligations and macroeconomic factors, necessitate this course of action for Claire’s and its stakeholders,” said Claire’s CEO Chris Cramer in the release. “We remain in active discussions with potential strategic and financial partners and are committed to completing our review of strategic alternatives.”

The release noted that “Claire’s retail stores in North America will remain open and continue to serve customers while the Company continues to explore all strategic alternatives.”

Retail Dive reported last week that Claire’s will close approximately 700 stores and could end up shuttering all 1,500 of its stores if the bailout options referenced by Cramer fail to materialize. The report cited several industry experts who expressed skepticism about the potential for Claire’s to succeed in its bid to keep its other 800 stores open.

Included in the bankruptcy filing are Icing stores, which are owned by the company.

Along with other Claire’s locations in the area the Promenade store is currently shedding inventory by holding a sale. Customers can take advantage of discounts of up to 30 to 50 percent off depending on the number of items they purchase.