This clothing store is closing 2 Raleigh locations. Here’s what to know
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- Francesca’s posts store‑wide liquidation sales at two Raleigh locations.
- Company filed for Chapter 11 in 2020, but many of its stores have remained open.
- Other national chains including Forever 21 and Joann have also struggled in recent years.
A women’s clothing boutique with two Triangle locations is closing its stores.
Francesca’s, founded in Houston in 1999, is holding store-wide sales at both its Raleigh stores, and is reportedly closing all of its stores nationwide.
Women’s Wear Daily reported in mid-January that Francesca’s would begin liquidating its inventory and shutting down.
Store employees at the Raleigh Francesca’s stores reached by The News & Observer over the phone declined to comment.
However, signs reading “everything must go” and “store wide sale” are posted at both the Village District and Crabtree mall locations.
The signs indicate that items in store are 20%-40% off. Merchandise is also discounted online.
Store closing dates have not been announced.
Francesca’s has nearly a dozen other stores in North Carolina, in cities such as Greensboro, Charlotte, Asheville and Mebane.
Francesca’s bankruptcy
The company’s financial troubles began years ago.
It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2020. In 2021, a judge approved the sale of substantially all of the company’s assets, The Wall Street Journal reported at the time.
The deal would preserve the business as a going concern with nearly 300 boutiques.
According to the retailer’s website, there are more than 450 Francesca’s stores across 45 states. The company sells women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories and gifts.
Retailers closing stores across the US
Francesca’s is the latest mall retailer to close its brick-and-mortar locations. Last year, Forever 21 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and began a “full wind down of operations,” citing competition from fast fashion retailers, rising costs, economic challenges affecting its customers and changing consumer trends.
Forever 21 had 10 stores in North Carolina, including two in the Triangle, at The Streets at Southpoint and Crabtree.
Several other companies, including the fabric chain Joann and the department store Macy’s, have closed stores in the Triangle.
This story was originally published January 29, 2026 at 7:51 AM with the headline "This clothing store is closing 2 Raleigh locations. Here’s what to know."
