Final sales as popular sporting retail store closes for good after 31 years but it’s not all bad news for shoppers
A POPULAR sportswear retailer has begun closing a West Virginia mall, but shoppers can still find their favorite items.
Several store changes are coming to Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
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Some businesses are expanding, others are opening for the first time, and one is reopening under a different name.
The Finish Line store will close on September 30 after 31 years in business, The US Sun confirmed with a local employee.
The good news is that it is moving to another location in the mall and reopening as JD Sports – the company that owns Finish Line.
The England-based sports fashion company stocks men’s and women’s shoes and activewear from brands such as Nike and Adidas.
This will be the first JD Sports store to open in West Virginia. According to its website, there are seven locations in Virginia, seven in Pennsylvania and one in Kentucky.
It will take over two retail stores currently occupied by a gaming company and a clothing store.
The two current stores will also be relocated within the mall, WDTV reports.
STILL IN THE RACE
This comes after another Finish Line location at Tusla Promenade in Tulsa, Oklahoma closed on September 17th.
It was one of 17 stores affected by the mall’s closure.
However, the company has faced mass closures in the past.
In 2016, the company closed 150 stores due to financial and inventory difficulties.
Rival Foot Locker has its own problems.
After nearly 50 years in business, the retailer said it would close up to 400 underperforming stores by 2026.
“As we enter 2023, we are focused on transforming the business – simplifying our operations and investing in our core competencies and capabilities to position the company for growth in 2024 and beyond,” said Mary Dillion, president and CEO of Foot Locker, in March.
“We are thrilled to unveil our Lace Up plan with a new set of strategic and financial targets to position us for success over the next 50 years.”
The plan aims to close underperforming stores and open 280 new locations while increasing the number of stores outside of malls.
The stores in the new format will be larger in order to be able to offer customers a greater variety of products.
Meanwhile, an eveningwear chain abruptly closed 100 stores in the wake of a lawsuit.
Plus, learn why a city is experiencing an “unlucky cycle” of business closures.