Store closing announcements that came as a surprise in 2019
It’s been a busy year for retail. As the population of North Texas continues to grow, so does the business landscape.
But along with the growth has also come closing announcements for mainstays — some we saw coming and some we didn’t.
Here’s a look at the most noteworthy store and business closing announcements in 2019.
Sears
It was no secret that Sears has been under serious financial burden for years, even filing Chapter 11 Bankruptcy last year. But knowing this still didn’t lessen the shock when the company closed its location in North East Mall in Hurst.
Its parent company Transform Holdco announced in August the closure of 21 Sears locations across the country. The North East Mall Sears had been an anchor for the mall for 41 years, and it came as a shock to many.
Of course there are still a number of Sears locations in Tarrant County, but if the one in North East could close after staying in business for 41 years, it raises questions about whether Sears can hold on in the current retail environment.
Charming Charlie
Summer seemed to be a big season for bankruptcy, because Charming Charlie announced in July that it was filing Chapter 11 and closing all 261 stores nationwide.
Much like Sears, the jewelry and accessories retailer had been facing financial burdens and filed for bankruptcy previously. However, its attempt to cut debts and costs weren’t enough to stave off mass closings.
But hope came in November — the company announced via its Facebook page that, after closing all its stores, it would reopen 15 stores in March of 2020. Five locations that will reopen are in Texas, including the store at The Parks at Arlington.
Kay’s Hallmark
This announcement came as a gut punch to many, including owner Kay Orth. After more than 30 years, this most recent holiday season for the Camp Bowie Boulevard mainstay was its last.
Orth said the reasons were many, but the biggest reason was brick-and-mortar retail has gotten difficult to maintain. With traffic count down and property taxes going up, she decided to start a new chapter of her life.
“I have three grandkids, and my daughter has one on the way,” she said. “It will be a new adventure.”
The store will close in mid- to late-January.
