Forever 21 Closing Three Area Locations as Part of Bankruptcy

Fast-fashion retailer Forever 21, which filed for bankruptcy over the weekend and announced plans to close 178 locations, and three of them are in high-profile Kansas City-area shopping centers, according to court documents filed today in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware linked from Forever 21’s website.

The locations are in: the Country Club Plaza; Legends at Village West, in Kansas City, Kan.; and Summit Fair, in Lee’s Summit. Sales at the stores, expected to close by the end of the year, are to start by the end of this month. Stores not marked for closure are in the Nothland’s Zona Rosa development; in Oak Park Mall, Overland Park; and Independence Center.

Consulting firms Gordon Brothers Retail and Hilco Merchant Resources, both of which have handled major past retailer dispositions, including those of Borders Group, JCPenney and Nordstrom, were hired to conduct the sales.

Forever 21, which is closing about a third of its 549 U.S. stores, has suffered similarly to several other apparel retailers, including American Apparel, Charlotte Russe and Wet Seal, reportedly due to slower mall traffic as well as over expansion.