WASHINGTON — Rue21, an apparel chain that caters to both male and female teen shoppers, will close 400 stores including most of its locations in the D.C. area.
Like other retailers, rue21 has been struggling with declining shopping mall traffic, where the majority of its stores are located.
“It was a difficult but necessary decision,” the company said in a Facebook posting. “We still have hundreds of locations across the country, and our website rue21.com (is) open for business.
Rue21 has about 1,000 stores across the country, according to Bloomberg News.
Bloomberg also reported earlier this month, that rue21 was contemplating a bankruptcy reorganization filing.
Rue21 stores that will close in the D.C. region:
- Ellsworth Place — Silver Spring, Maryland
- Westfield Wheaton — Wheaton, Maryland
- Springfield Town Center — Springfield, Virginia
- Bowie Town Center — Bowie, Maryland
- Lake Forest Mall — Gaithersburg, Maryland
- St. Charles Towne Center — Waldorf, Maryland
- Potomac Mills — Woodbridge, Virginia
Rue21 stores at Manassas Mall in Virginia and Arundel Mills and The Centre at Forestville in Maryland will remain open, according to the company’s website.
Rue21 did not say when the stores would close, but it is promoting clearance sales at affected locations.
