Retail apocalypse closings: Here’s how these 20 retailers have affected Harrisburg-area malls

When retailers close hundreds of stores or go out of business completely, those closings end up affecting hundreds of malls in shopping centers around the country. And the midstate is no exception.

Retailers are continuing to close brick and mortar stores this year.

As of August 9, there were more than 7,600 retail closings in the United States compared with 5,864 closings during the entire year in 2018, according to Coresight Research which tracks news about store closures, openings and bankruptcies. Coresight Research estimates that the number of retail closures this year could reach 12,000.

The “retail apocalypse” has been going on for several years. Below we take a look at specifically how these large store closings have affected the Harrisburg area’s three malls -- The Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township, The Colonial Park Mall in Lower Paxton Township and the Harrisburg Mall in Swatara Township. The Harrisburg Mall and the Colonial Park Mall both have more than a dozen vacancies. And while you’ll find that the Capital City Mall has lost numerous tenants over the last few years, they seem to do a good job in rebounding with new tenants. During a recent visit to the Capital City Mall, the mall looked like it was near full occupancy. A number of new tenants have opened or will open soon at that mall.

Below are 20 retailers that in most cases have closed hundreds of stores and sometimes all of their stores. But, in each case a retailer has closed at least one store at one of the three malls in the past five years. In most cases the midstate closing was part of a larger store closing but not in every case.

Here’s the list:

Things Remembered

In March, Things Remembered, a distributor of giftware, and home and garden décor filed for bankruptcy. The company was acquired and only 176 of the 450 stores remained opened under the new owner at that time. The stores at the Capital City Mall and the Colonial Park Mall closed.

Gymboree

In January, Children’s clothing retailer, Gymboree announced it was closing all of its stores after the Gymboree Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The store at the Capital City Mall closed.

Gap

Gap has closed hundreds of stores over the years. The retailer is closing 230 stores this year. And previously the retailer had stores at the Capital City Mall and the Colonial Park Mall.

RadioShack

Over the last several years, RadioShack has closed hundreds of stores including stores at the Capital City Mall and the Harrisburg Mall.

Payless ShoeSource

In February, Payless ShoeSource announced it was closing all of its stores in North America. The discount retailer closed its stores at the Colonial Park Mall, the Harrisburg Mall and the Capital City Mall.

Vitamin World

Vitamin World has closed numerous stores over the years including one at the Capital City Mall.

BodyCentral

In 2015, BodyCentral, a teen fashion retailer closed all of its stores. The retailer had stores at the Colonial Park Mall and the Capital City Mall.

Charlotte Russe

Earlier this year the retailer filed for bankruptcy and closed all of its stores. Although, the company’s new owner is starting to reopen stores. The women’s clothing retailer had a store at the Capital City Mall.

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The Limited

The Women’s Clothing retailer closed all of its stores in 2017, according to a BusinessInsider report. The retailer had a store at the Capital City Mall.

Sears

Sears has been closing hundreds of Sears and Kmart stores for years. In 2017, the Sears at the Capital City Mall closed. The retailer later opened a smaller store that sells mattresses and appliances in the former Sears space. The Sears store remains open at the Colonial Park Mall. The retailer owns that store.

Toys R Us

Toys R Us closed all of its stores last year. The store at the Harrisburg Mall closed in 2015. The new owner of Toys R Us has announced the reopening of two stores. Toy R Us also had a store at the Capital City Mall a number of years ago that later relocated to the Carlisle Pike before closing last year.

• READ MORE: Thousands of stores will close in 2019

Claire’s

Claire’s closed 92 stores in March and April of 2018 including several stores in Pennsylvania. One of those stores, was a store at the Harrisburg Mall. The jewelry and accessories retailer has stores at the Colonial Park Mall and the Capital City Mall.

Crazy 8

In January, Children’s clothing retailer, Crazy 8 announced it was closing all of its stores after the Gymboree Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The store at the Capital City Mall had closed previously.

Finishline

Finishline announced previously that it would be closing 150 stores by 2020. The sports clothing and footwear retailer closed its stores at the Harrisburg Mall and the Colonial Park Mall. There is still a store at the Capital City Mall.

GNC

GNC plans to close 900 stores by the end of 2020. The store at the Harrisburg Mall closed. But, the health and nutrition retailer’s stores at the Capital City Mall and the Colonial Park Mall remain open.

Bon-Ton

The Bon-Ton closed all of its stores in 2018 including a store at the Colonial Park Mall.

Aeropostale

In 2016, Aeropostale closed all of its stores and a new owner reopened many of the stores. Aeropostale previously had a store at the Colonial Park Mall and a store at the Capital City Mall remains open.

Deb Shops

Women’s fashion discount retailer Debs Shops closed all of its stores in 2015 including a store at the Colonial Park Mall.

Hollister

A Hollister store was previously located at the Colonial Park Mall. The Hollister store at the Capital City Mall remains open. Abercrombie & Fitch announced it would be closing up to 60 Abercrombie and Hollister stores last year, according to BusinessInsider. This year the company says it plans to open 40 stores, remodel another 45 stores and close up to 40 stores among its brands.

PacSun

The retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2016, according to the Los Angeles Times. The store at the Colonial Park Mall closed in 2017.

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