Exodus on KC’s Country Club Plaza continues: Chain store closes after two years
Claire’s has closed its Country Club Plaza location.
Representatives from the company — a national chain known for jewelry, piercings, and accessories aimed at tween and teen girls — did not respond to a request for comment. But the storefront at 231 W. 47th St. has been cleared out, the sign removed from the facade and the shop has been removed from the company’s website.
Claire’s opened on the Plaza in 2023 in a space previously occupied by 3DHQ, a 3D printing, scanning and design company.
Several other metro area Claire’s locations remain open, including at Ward Parkway Mall, Oak Park Mall, Zona Rosa, Legends Outlets and Liberty Commons.
The shop joins a growing list of retail shops that have departed the Plaza in the past year, including Parachute, Express, Forever 21, Kindred, Soft Surroundings and Casper.
Dallas-based Highland Park Village Partners purchased the Plaza in July, promising major improvements to the shopping district. But nine months in, the firm has yet to submit even preliminary plans to City Hall or the City Plan Commission. Meanwhile, some remaining shopkeepers are grumbling about the vacancies.
“It’s really hard for us to drive traffic when we have no neighbors who are bringing in traffic,” one Plaza retailer recently told The Star.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 4:23 PM.
