Bridge Street Town Centre will lose three more major tenants by January 26, following recent closures of other establishments. Employees at Chico’s, Soma, and White House Black Market confirmed to FOX54 that their stores will shut down permanently on that date. These brands are all owned by Florida-based Chico’s FAS, which is under the ownership of Sycamore Partners.
The news of the closures came as a surprise to employees, who learned about it just days after Christmas. According to one employee, the general manager was informed by the district manager, adding that management had previously been assured their locations would remain open.
The closures hit long-term employees especially hard. One worker shared that some staff members have been with the company for eight or even 11 years. “There’s no plan B for some people,” the employee said.
While there were some subtle signs of change, such as store surveys conducted by Bridge Street representatives in October, employees say they weren’t informed about the final decision until after the busy holiday shopping season. This timing left many feeling frustrated, as several workers had dedicated significant time and energy during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s periods.
“I feel like we worked so hard through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Some of us didn’t see our family because we work retail,” one employee commented. “They probably didn’t tell us until after Christmas so we wouldn’t quit. That’s my theory.”
The closure of these three stores adds to the ongoing struggles of Bridge Street Town Centre’s retail sector, following the recent shutdowns of Pieology in mid-November and PBR Lockhart Smokehouse, which announced its closure after its New Year’s event.
FOX54 reached out to Tanger Inc., which recently acquired Bridge Street Town Centre, for a statement. A spokesperson indicated that a statement would be provided on Friday morning. Attempts to contact Chico’s FAS via email and voicemail have not been returned. The company has been closing down many of its stores in recent years as part of an effort to improve its financial situation.
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