Could the South Plains Mall Be Losing Charlotte Russe?
Looks like Charlotte Russe is the latest retailer to call it quits. The ladies retailer has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to Retail Dive.
From Retail Dive:
As a mall-based, teen apparel retailer owned by private equity, Charlotte Russe joins several other embattled retailers whose debt loads hamper a turnaround. In 2009, at the time of a $380 million take-private buyout by Advent International, Charlotte Russe operated more than 500 stores in the contiguous 48 states, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and its website (which is still operational). But at that point it was already facing stiff competition, particularly from fast-fashion retailers like Forever 21 and H&M. In 2016, the company acquired children's brand Peek Kids, its 10 stores and e-commerce site.
Charlotte Russe's struggles were also emerging then: Fitch in 2016 listed the company's debt on its "Bonds of Concern" list, and Retail Dive flagged it as a retailer that could go bankrupt in 2017.
They intend to close 94 of their 500 locations across the U.S. As of this story's publication, there's no word as to whether the Lubbock, Amarillo, or Midland/Odessa locations will close.
Until we hear otherwise, it's business as usual for the retailer.