Morstaple Claire closes files for many stores, bankruptcy
Claire is seeking “strategic alternatives” through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and plans to close 18 US stores as they navigate economic pressures.
According to court records, mall jewelry chain Claire, which filed for bankruptcy for the second time on August 6, has also identified more than 1,100 stores, looking for buyers for the remaining approximately 800 locations.
The Illinois-based company, with 1,326 U.S. stores, faces economic challenges due to increased tariffs from high-speed fashion brands like Shein and Temu, high-rise rent costs and new tariffs from supplier countries, including China, based on documents filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.
In a court application obtained by USA Today, the company identified 18 Clares and Icing stores in the United States. Additionally, if the sale cannot be completed quickly, the company will have to shut down all locations.
This is what you need to know.
Thousands of Chopping Block Shops
Claire CEO Chris Cramer revealed in a court application that the company has recently requested a bid for the business and has received multiple letters intent to purchase the property.
Claire “will stop liquidation sales in the event of practical, continuous transactions and continue every effort to make such transactions come true,” Cramer added.
The list of stores obtained by USA Today shows 1,119 stores that can be closed. You can search for a list of stores below.
Court documents reveal a list of Claire’s closures
As part of the ongoing bankruptcy process, 18 Claire-owned stores are expected to close by September 7th nationwide, with additional stores likely to be added to the list, the company said in court records.
A map of the closed stores can be found here. Search by city or state to find a local shop.
Founded in Chicago in 1961, Claire specializes in selling a variety of accessories, including necklaces, bracelets, headphones and soft toys. For many American girls, stabbing Claire in the first ear has become a “rite of passage” that has been going on for decades. The company claims it has stabbed more than 100 million people in ears since 1978.
Mike Snider and Reuters from USA Today contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes @gannett.com and follow him at x @fern_cerv_.
