Springfield-area Claire's stores spared in round of closures

Three Springfield-area Claire's stores appear to have been spared in a round of closures, following a bankruptcy filing and purchase deal that were both announced in August.

Claire's Holdings LLC, which is based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, disclosed in an Aug. 25 court filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware that over 290 stores would be closing across the United States. However, the company's stores at 2825 S. Glenstone Ave. in Battlefield Mall and 300 Tanger Blvd. and 321 Branson Landing Blvd. in Branson are not among them. Employees at each of the three Springfield-area stores confirmed early this afternoon that their locations are not slated to close. 

That court filing followed an Aug. 20 news release in which Claire's announced it had reached a deal to sell its intellectual property and an undisclosed number of stores to private equity firm Ames Watson. Claire's filed for bankruptcy in early August.

"We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Claire's and support the next chapter for this iconic brand," said Lawrence Berger, co-founder of Ames Watson, in the release. "We are committed to investing in its future by preserving a significant retail footprint across North America, working closely with the Claire's team to ensure a seamless transition and creating a renewed path to growth based on our deep experience working with consumer brands."