Bed bugs shut Hollister store in New York

Hollister, the popular teen apparel store, has shut its flagship New York store due to a bed bugs infestation.

The company, which playfully dubs its male and female customers "dudes" and "bettys", learned of the embarrassing problem earlier this week and shuttered its store at 600 Broadway immediately. Bed bug experts have been combing through the location since.

A spokesperson for Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister's parent company, told the New York Daily News it is trying to determine whether the outbreak originated on the main floor or whether it is a back-room issue. It is as yet unclear whether or when the store might reopen.

Bed bugs are a common problem in New York, but so far it is unclear whether retail establishments have been affected. The pests are most often found in mattresses and closets inside private homes, and sometimes seedy theaters and hotels.

The federal government has resisted proposals to use industrial pesticide to combat bed bugs.