This popular mall store just filed for bankruptcy. Here's where they are closing stores.

Rin Velasco, Wicked Local

Another clothing retail franchise declares bankruptcy, closing hundreds of shops in its wake.

Rue21, a clothing retailer focused on teen fashion, will be closing over 540 store locations in the U.S.

In a Thursday bankruptcy court filing, Rue21 cited continued surge of consumer online shopping, in-person retail locations underperforming and inflation as reasons for the company's recent losses.

Rue21 currently has six locations in Massachusetts, out of the 542 stores in the United States.

Here are where all of the Massachusetts stores are located:

Massachusetts rue21 locations that are closing

  • South Shore Plaza, 250 Granite St., Braintree

  • Westgate Mall, 200 Westgate Drive, Brockton

  • Holyoke Mall, 50 Holyoke St., Holyoke

  • Cape Cod Mall, 793 Iyannough Road, Hyannis

  • The Mall Whitney Field, 100 Commercial Road, Leominster

  • Emerald Square Mall, 999 S Washington St., North Attleboro

Has rue21 filed for bankruptcy before?

Twice, in 2003 and in 2017 rue21 filed for bankruptcy.

Store Closings: rue21 files for bankruptcy for the third time, all stores to close

Are rue21 and Forever 21 the same store?

While the names of the stores are similar and they are both often found in malls, there is no affiliation between Forever 21 and Rue 21. They are owned by separate companies.

rue21 was founded in 1970 as Pennsylvania Fashions Inc. In 2003, after filing the first time for bankruptcy, it rebranded to rue21.

Forever 21 was first founded in 1984 as Fashion 21, eventually rebranding. They filed for bankruptcy in 2019, but it still has over 540 stores open.

Will rue21 have a going out of business sale?

The company said in court filings that Rue21 will be having closing and going-out-of-business sales at their stores.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: rue21 declared bankruptcy. See list of the MA stores slated to close

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