Nostalgic teen accessory retailer to close 290+ stores, including 1 in Wichita
A longtime tenant at NewMarket Square will soon close its doors.
In a court filing Aug. 25, teen accessory retailer Claire’s laid out its plan to close more than 290 stores across the U.S., including seven Kansas locations. The Claire’s in NewMarket Square in west Wichita is among them.
The planned closings come after the company filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, according to USA Today. Claire’s Holdings LLC announced Aug. 20 it sold the company to private equity firm Ames Watson.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Claire’s and support the next chapter for this iconic brand,” Lawrence Berger, co-founder of Ames Watson, said in a statement. “We are committed to investing in its future by preserving a significant retail footprint across North America, working closely with the Claire’s team to ensure a seamless transition and creating a renewed path to growth based on our deep experience working with consumer brands.”
Claire’s was founded in 1961 and specializes in hair and fashion accessories. It offers ear piercing services.
There’s also a Claire’s store in Towne East Square in Wichita, which was not on the closings list. The Icing store, which is owned by the same parent company, in Towne East is also not slated to close.
“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,” Claire’s CEO Chris Cramer said in an Aug. 20 statement following the company’s sale.
Claire’s is not the only longtime business that has filed for bankruptcy in recent years. Clothing store Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy for the second time in six years in March, closing all stores in the U.S., including its one location in Wichita.
Claire’s to close Kansas locations amid bankruptcy
The other Kansas Claire’s stores slated to close are:
- Town Center Plaza in Leawood
- Flinthills Mall in Emporia
- Manhattan Town Center in Manhattan
- Village Square Mall in Dodge City
- Meadowbrook Mall in Pittsburg
- Garden City Shopping Center in Garden City
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM.
