Many young shoppers will soon say goodbye to Claire's, the mall store known for colorful jewelry, friendship necklaces, and first-time ear piercings.
Claire's Holdings LLC plans to shut down 291 US stores—235 Claire's locations and 56 Icing shops—after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 6.
Ames Watson, a private equity firm, acquired Claire's North American operations for $104 million.
According to FastCompany, the closures are part of the company's plan to streamline operations while keeping about 950 stores open under the new ownership.
Claire's spokesperson confirmed the closures will happen on a rolling basis, but exact dates have not been disclosed. California and New York appear to be among the hardest hit states.
"This has been my favorite, favorite store growing up," TikTok user Erika Angel said in a video visiting Claire's with friends.
"I have so many memories, and I hate that if I have a daughter, she's not going to be able to shop at Claire's. Little me is crying."
Accessories retailer Claire’s finds a buyer but hundreds of stores still set to close https://t.co/OPg49xYPb1 pic.twitter.com/knTAdxwLn9
— The Independent (@Independent) August 28, 2025
Claire's Shoppers Share Nostalgic Memories Amid Store Closures
Social media has been filled with nostalgic posts from shoppers reminiscing about their favorite Claire's memories.
TikTok creator Angelina PJ shared memories of picking up friendship necklaces for her friends' birthdays and getting her first piercing at the store, USA Today reported. Others, like Sarah Mackenzie, described their last visits as "bittersweet."
The planned store shutdowns underscore the difficulties Claire's has been dealing with, such as competition from online retailers, rising interest rates, inflation, and import tariffs.
The company, headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, has more than 2,300 locations worldwide, including kiosks inside malls.
Despite the sadness, shoppers are taking advantage of the blowout prices at closing stores. TikTok users have shared hauls showing hundreds of dollars' worth of jewelry purchased for just a few dollars.
Claire's is offering employees affected by store closures the chance to transfer to other locations, signaling its commitment to supporting staff during the transition.
Claire's Icing stores, which cater to a slightly older audience, are included in the closures.
While the company keeps more than 800 stores open, the exact footprint of the surviving locations will be reviewed by the new owners, meaning additional closures could be announced in the future.
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