Claire’s Files for Bankruptcy, Will Shutter Abilene Store and One Other in Texas

ABILENE, TX — Jewelry retailer Claire’s has filed for bankruptcy and will close two Texas locations, including a store inside the Mall of Abilene.

The bankruptcy filings, submitted Wednesday by Claire’s Holdings LLC, outline plans to close 18 underperforming stores nationwide. Among them are the Abilene Icing store at 4310 Buffalo Gap Road and a Claire’s store at The Shops at Highland Village in North Texas.

Closing sales at affected locations are expected to be completed by September 7, according to court filings.

Despite the closures, the company said other Claire’s and Icing stores across North America will remain open for now. Icing and Claire's are related brands owned by the same company.

Claire’s primarily targets younger customers, including preteens and teenagers, with jewelry, ear piercings, and fashion accessories.

"This decision is difficult, but a necessary one," Chris Cramer, CEO of Claire's, said in a news release. "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. We remain in active discussions with potential strategic and financial partners and are committed to completing our review of strategic alternatives."

Cramer continued, "I'd like to express my gratitude for our employees, who have continued to work diligently in a constantly evolving consumer landscape to deliver amazing products and experiences for our customers. We remain committed to serving our customers and partnering with our vendors and landlords in other regions during this time."