Payless to close 4 Kansas stores as part of bankruptcy

Topeka-based retailer Payless ShoeSource filed reorganization bankruptcy Tuesday and said it will close four stores in Kansas.

The Kansas store closures are in Great Bend, Emporia, Hutchinson and Liberal. None of its eight stores in Wichita and Derby are affected.

In all, Payless will close 400 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. They are among 4,400 total in more than 30 countries.

“This is a difficult, but necessary, decision driven by the continued challenges of the retail environment, which will only intensify,” Payless CEO Paul Jones said in a news release. “We will build a stronger Payless for our customers, vendors and suppliers, associates, business partners and other stakeholders through this process.”

Payless said the bankruptcy is expected “to strengthen its balance sheet and position the Company for long-term success.”

Payless filed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis, the company said.

This story was originally published April 4, 2017 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Payless to close 4 Kansas stores as part of bankruptcy."