Medford, Oregon- Jewelry and accessories retailer Claire’s, long a staple of American malls, plans to close more than half of its Oregon locations as part of its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings — including one of its two stores in Medford’s Rogue Valley Mall.
Court documents filed in late August show the company will shutter nine Claire’s and Icing shops statewide. In Medford, the Icing location on the mall’s upper level near Macy’s Backstage is slated to close, while the Claire’s store on the lower level near Kohl’s will remain open.
Claire’s, headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, operates more than 2,750 Claire’s stores and 190 Icing locations worldwide. Founded in the 1960s, the retailer became a go-to stop for ear piercings, jewelry, and teen fashion accessories, embedding itself in the culture of U.S. shopping malls.
But the company has struggled with declining mall traffic and changing consumer habits. Claire’s first filed for bankruptcy in 2018 and has since gone through several rounds of restructuring. The latest plan calls for widespread closures across the United States, though the company has not said when the Oregon locations will close.
Other Oregon stores slated to shut down include Washington Square Mall in Tigard, Cascade Station in Portland, Salem Center, Albany’s Heritage Mall, Lincoln City Outlets, Nyberg Woods in Tualatin, Roseburg’s Garden Valley Shopping Center, and Gresham Shopping Center.
Seven locations will remain open: Bend’s Old Mill District, Eugene’s Valley River Center, Woodburn Premium Outlets, Hillsboro’s Streets of Tanasbourne, Clackamas Town Center in Happy Valley — where both a Claire’s and an Icing will continue operating — and the surviving Claire’s at Medford’s Rogue Valley Mall.
The company said in filings that the closures are aimed at streamlining operations and stabilizing finances while maintaining a presence in key markets.
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