Claire’s has been a fixture at Emporia’s Flinthills Mall for nearly 40 years. That is changing — and perhaps before month’s end.
Mall Manager Clarence Frye says he was notified Thursday about plans to close the local store by Aug. 27, although official notice is pending.
Claire’s is closing around 700 stores nationwide after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. The filing was Claire’s second in seven years. The company is looking for a buyer as part of its reorganization efforts.
Claire’s has been at Flinthills Mall since 1987.
The upcoming closure follows the departure of Maurices to Emporia Pavilions almost a year ago, followed by closures of Bling and Buckle this past January. On the other side, Gilded Fates opened earlier this summer, while Harbor Freight opened in October 2023 and Dunham’s Sports came to Flinthills Mall in July 2022.
