National women’s boutique chain closing 6 locations around Kansas City
Popular nationwide women’s boutique Francesca’s is closing all of their stores, including six in the Kansas City area.
The retailer that sells clothing, jewelry, accessories and gifts began in 1999 in Houston and has since expanded to over 450 stores across 45 states. They first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 because of declining sales, and closed 140 stores. In 2021, the company’s assets were sold for $18 million to Francesca’s Acquisition LLC, according to NJ.com.
Now company representatives confirmed to Women’s Wear Daily that Francesca’s has started liquidation sales as of Jan. 16, and will be “closing soon.”
An exact day of closure for the chain has not been announced.
Reporting from Women’s Wear Daily said the abrupt closure is due to unpaid vendors, adding Francesca’s owed about $250 million to one of its vendors.
“One of Francesca’s vendors said that the liquidation is believed to include ‘inventory that has not been paid for,’” the industry publication reported.
The vendor also alleged that the firm is owed $250 million in unpaid invoices, telling the outlet that “there has been no correspondence whatsoever from corporate to any of the vendors,” WWD reported.
The Francesca’s at the Plaza was still full of inventory Thursday morning, with signs advertising between 10% and 40% off throughout the store.
The iconic Kansas City shopping district has had a string of businesses leave in the last few years, including the gift shop Hallmark Gold Crown, the Brazilian sweets shop Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro, the outdoors store Moosejaw, and clothing retailers Soft Surroundings and Forever 21.
Another of the Francesca’s locations is inside the Oak Park Mall, which is losing two other stores next week, outdoor clothing store Eddie Bauer and women’s clothing boutique Chico’s.
The other locations are in Lee’s Summit, Zona Rosa in the Northland, Leawood and at The Legends.
The Star attempted to contact Francesca’s about the unpaid invoices and an exact closure dates, but did not get a response.
