WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — All three Claire’s stores in the Lehigh Valley will remain open following the retailer’s bankruptcy filing and sale to private equity firm Ames Watson.
Employees at the Promenade Saucon Valley store said they were informed by their district manager and the company this week that none of the local stores are slated to close. A district employee said 16 stores elsewhere in the region will shutter.
The update comes after “store closing” signs and liquidation sales caused confusion earlier this month at the Lehigh Valley stores, which had been uncertain about their futures.
Claire’s announced this week it has reached a definitive agreement to sell part of its North American operations to Ames Watson as part of its Chapter 11 restructuring.
“As we continue through our restructuring proceedings, our team has worked tirelessly to explore every option for preserving the value of the Claire’s business and brand,” CEO Chris Cramer said in a statement. “We are glad to reach this definitive agreement to sell a portion of our North America operations to Ames Watson and maximize the value of our company for all our stakeholders.”
Claire’s, founded in 1974, operates more than 2,300 stores worldwide under its Claire’s and ICING brands. The company said it will maintain employee wages and benefits during the restructuring process.
