Watch out, fashionistas of all ages: 2019 is a brutal year for clothing retailers.
We know that the only constant in our lives is that nothing stays the same. However, millennials also love nostalgia. Unfortunately, many of our favorite stores both presently and during our childhood will disappear completely this year, including some surprising names.
Here are 7 major retail brands that are either going completely under or majorly downscaling their storefronts this year:
1. Charlotte Russe
This trendy young adult clothing store will close all its locations in 2019. Currently, over 500 branches are going through liquidation sales. So, if you’re looking for a great deal on a crop top or some stylish heels, now might be the time to pay Charlotte Russe one last visit before we all cry and say c’est la vie.
2. Abercrombie and Fitch
Just like boy bands and JNCO jeans, another favorite of our teenage years will slowly fade into the sunset. Clothing brand Abercrombie announced plans to close another 40 stores throughout 2019, adding to the extensive list of approximately 500 stores it’s already shut down. Sorry, guys who like those “summer girls,” you’ll need to find a new type.
3. Crazy 8
If you remember begging your mom for cute outfits from Crazy 8 or Limited, Too, this news might break your heart. In January, children’s clothing brand Gymboree filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the third time in two years. This time, they chose to permanently close all Crazy 8 locations.
4. K-Mart
Major retailer Sears has struggled for years, which means that K-Mart stores faded away while competitors such as Walmart and Target continued thriving. This year, the company slated another 50 stores for closure, bringing the two-year total to over 200 stores going off the grid.
5. Payless Shoes
Whether you wanted some sandals or a pair of light-up kicks, Payless bragged to be the ultimate shoe source throughout the 90s and early 2000s. Unfortunately, Payless announced plans to close all of its US storefronts in 2019. Where will we go for shoes now?
6. Charming Charlie
Jewelry and accessories retailer Charming Charlie wowed us all with their color-coordinated items and clean stores that made enhancing any outfit an ease. This July, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and started executing plans to close their 261 stores across 38 states.
7. The Children’s Place
Another one of our favorite sources of cute clothing during our youth bites the dust. The New Jersey-based retailer plans to close a total of 300 stores by the end of 2020, meaning upwards of 50 stores will cease operations by December of this year.
Although we’re all broke and too busy to do anything besides online shopping, we should still pause and ponder this list for a brief moment. Video killed the radio star, and now it seems millennials are killing malls. Which stores on this list will you miss the most? How do you think we can prevent losing more stores in 2020? Share your thoughts with us and mourn in the comments.
Feature Image via Unsplash
