THE once-popular mall stores are no more, as four that sell clothing items have disappeared for good.
Consumers have increasingly flocked to online shopping in recent years, especially as the pandemic put additional restraints on in-person shopping.
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This, combined with the spending pressures shoppers feel courtesy of high inflation, has caused many brick-and-mortar stores to fall under, especially those in malls with reduced foot traffic.
Here’s the full list of shuttered mall stores that once upon a time claimed the hearts and dollars of American shoppers.
1. WET SEAL
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Wet Seal used to be the go-to store for teens and young women across the country.
While the chain originally got its start as Lorne’s in 1962 as a women’s fashion retailer, the store changed gears when it took on the Wet Seal name in 1990.
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For around a decade, the chain struggled to remain profitable.
And finally, in 2015, the company announced it was filing for bankruptcy after closing 338 stores.
By 2017, the nail was in the coffin, and the company had closed the last 171 locations.
2. LIMITED, TOO
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Limited, Too gained popularity among preteens, who adored the store for its flashy graphic t-shirts and glittery accessories.
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The chain officially launched in 1987 but by 1995 operated hundreds of units across the country.
By the time the mid-2000s hit, however, the store was a ghost of the malls of yesteryear.
Limited, Too was no longer operating any stores, and instead, the company launched its Justice brand nationwide.
3. TOYS ‘R’ US
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Toys ‘R’ Us was yet another victim of changing retail dynamics.
The brick-and-mortar kids’ toy store just couldn’t keep up with the changing environment, and in 2017, the store declared bankruptcy.
Shortly after, all stores closed down for good, and shoppers were forced to make the majority of their toy purchases online.
Competition from retail giants like Walmart and Target, alongside online competition from sites like Amazon, likely caused the once-prevalent toy empire to fall.
The retailer made it official on June 29, 2018, when it shuttered all of its remaining stores after 70 years of operations.
4. BORDERS
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Borders was once the top competitor of bookstore Barnes and Noble, but now the remaining shop largely only has Amazon to contend with.
Borders filed for bankruptcy in 2011, meaning 11,000 jobs were lost and all 400 remaining stores closed their doors for good.
In the lead-up to the bankruptcy, there were several signs that the store would meet its eventual end.
In the 1990s, for instance, Border invested heavily in CD and DVD sales, unaware these soon would become largely digital entities.
Borders did not move with the times or offer shoppers as much when it came to its online presence generally, and this likely led to the store’s departure from malls nationwide.
CURRENT RETAIL WOES
While malls have faded in popularity over the past few decades, retailers across the country are dealing with new challenges courtesy of both the pandemic and inflation.
Inflation has changed the way consumers shop, while the online shopping craze that emerged during the coronavirus crisis also took away from brick-and-mortar sales over the years.
Even top retailers like Walmart and Target have announced store closures as they face unsatisfactory sales performance and high retail theft.
Footwear chains Shoe City and Foot Locker have announced upcoming closures to occur by the end of the year as well.
Shoe City is completely shutting down, while Foot Locker is saying goodbye to shoppers at a whopping 400 locations.
Also, discount goods store Tuesday Morning filed for bankruptcy this year.
More than half of its retail locations are shutting down nationwide.
Beloved home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond also found itself filing for bankruptcy.
It now plans to shutter all its remaining 360 locations by the end of June, including its 120 Buy Buy Baby stores– unless a buyer emerges.
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Another once-popular bridal store has been closing stores left and right after filing for bankruptcy earlier this year.
And Nordstrom is closing two stores in a big city.
