Another River Park clothing store closing as pandemic hits mall retailers in Fresno
Another clothing store is closing its Fresno-area locations.
Justice, the tween clothing retailer, will close its River Park location and its store at the Tulare Outlets.
The store’s parent company, Ascena Retail Group, filed for bankruptcy last month, as The Bee reported July 23.
At the time, the company said it planned to close “a significant number” of Justice stores, but did not name locations.
Now, the website lists the stores in River Park and Tulare as closing.
The shop also had a location in Fashion Fair, but it is listed as already closed on the mall’s website and no longer appears in Justice’s store list.
Employees are telling customers the River Park store will close Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Justice caters to girls ages 6 to 12 and is located between Tilly’s and C&S Jewelers near Macy’s.
The Tulare store does not have a closing date.
Justice’s parent company was already struggling before the coronavirus pandemic, having closed its Dressbarn locations and sold its Maurices clothing stores. The effects of COVID-19, including closing malls in California for months at a time, worsened its situation.
It’s not alone.
Also closing soon in River Park is the Sur La Table store.
Destination Maternity, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, YOSHINO restaurant and Planet Hair closed earlier this year, the latter two were part of the natural churn of leases expiring.
However, there are new businesses opening at the shopping center. It has welcomed Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery in recent weeks, and Fuwa Fuwa Souffle & Cafe is expected to open soon serving Japanese souffle pancakes.
The pandemic has hit retailers across the city hard, forcing closures of Pier 1, the northwest Fresno Kirklands, Tuesday Morning stores in Fresno and Visalia.
