Mall Mainstay Could Soon Disappear from Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin

For decades, Claire’s has been a treasured stop for young shoppers. When I was a kid it was the go-to place for ear piercings, friendship bracelets, and all things glittery accessories. If we were going to the mall, my sister was going to make a stop. Even my daughter had her ears pierced at the Kennedy Mall location in Dubuque. Now, this mall staple is facing a tough road, including bankruptcy and closures.

Claire’s, founded in 1961 in suburban Chicago, is navigating its second bankruptcy filing in recent years. With mounting debt, missed rent payments, and stiff competition from fast-fashion online brands, the company is struggling to keep its doors open. New tariffs on products imported from China, which supplies over half of Claire’s jewelry, have added to the financial strain.

The company operates more than 1,300 stores across the U.S., with a significant footprint in the Midwest, with almost 80 stores across the Tri-State area. However, court documents reveal that Claire’s has identified over 1,100 stores nationwide that could close soon if a buyer isn’t found quickly. That includes many in these three states, putting their local presence at serious risk.

The Debtors concluded in their business judgment that (a) the services of the Agent are necessary (i) for a seamless and efficient large-scale store closing process, as is contemplated by this motion, and (ii) to maximize the value of the saleable inventory located in the Closing Stores (the “Merchandise”), and the associated furniture, fixtures, and equipment (“FF&E” and, together with the Merchandise, the “Store Closure Assets”), and (b) the Agent is qualified and capable of performing the required tasks in a value-maximizing manner.

-Claire's Bank Ruptcy Court Filing, Page 5

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Here’s where Claire’s currently has stores in these states:

Iowa (12 stores)

• Sioux City (1)
• Cedar Rapids (1)
• Ames (1)
• Des Moines (1)
• West Burlington (1)
• Cedar Falls (1)
• Dubuque (1)
• Davenport (1)
• West Des Moines (1)
• Coralville (1)
• Altoona (1)
• Council Bluffs (1)

Illinois (48 stores)

• Marion (1)
• Oak Brook (1)
• Skokie (1)
• North Riverside (1)
• Norridge (1)
• Fairview Heights (1)
• Geneva (1)
• Lombard (1)
• Mattoon (1)
• Peoria (1)
• Rockford (1)
• Aurora (2)
• Northbrook (1)
• Springfield (1)
• Champaign (1)
• Orland Park (1)
• Forsyth (1)
• Joliet (1)
• Bolingbrook (1)
• Schaumburg (1)
• Chicago Ridge (1)
• Calumet City (1)
• Vernon Hills (1)
• Lincolnwood (1)
• Gurnee (1)
• Algonquin (1)
• Mt Vernon (1)
• Moline (1)
• Deer Park (1)
• Ottawa (1)
• Bloomington (2)
• Jacksonville (1)
• Bloomingdale (1)
• Wheaton (1)
• Tinley Park (1)
• Chicago (5)
• Belleville (1)

Wisconsin (19 stores)

• Plover (1)
• Greendale (1)
• Janesville (1)
• Green Bay (1)
• La Crosse (1)
• Appleton (1)
• Eau Claire (1)
• Madison (2)
• Wauwatosa (1)
• West Bend (1)
• Oshkosh (1)
• Baraboo (1)
• Brookfield (1)
• Johnson Creek (1)
• Glendale (1)
• Lake Geneva (1)
• Pleasant Prairie (1)
• Beloit (1)

If Claire’s can’t find a buyer quickly, many of these stores could close, potentially wiping out much of the brand’s Midwest presence. The closure of these stores would be more than just a retail loss. For many, including my daughter and my sister, Claire’s was a rite of passage. It's the place where many kids got their first ear piercings or found that perfect little gift.

If a buyer is found, Claire’s still plans to significantly downsize its footprint. Of the 1,326 U.S. stores currently operating, the company hopes to keep about 800 open under new ownership. This means roughly 40% of its stores, or nearly 500 locations, would still close. And that's the best-case scenario. For Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, that likely translates to dozens of closures as the chain refocuses on its most profitable and strategically important locations. So while a sale could save Claire’s from complete liquidation, many communities will still lose their local store.

The retail landscape is changing fast, especially for malls, but Claire’s has been a mainstay for so very long. Whether this chapter ends in a comeback or a curtain call remains to be seen. For now, shoppers and communities will be watching closely as this brand fights to stay in the game.