Fast-fashion retailer Forever 21 has started closing stores across the Houston area. The closings are not unexpected and were part of the company’s second bankruptcy last March. While Forever 21 has pointed to Shein and Temu as a primary reason for its downfall, the problems are rooted a bit deeper. The company originally filed for bankruptcy in 2019 and was bailed out by mall owners Simon and Brookfield. The plan was to give the company a bit of leverage and sell off the assets again, but if anything, it essentially served to put the chain on life support. Of the eight locations, the Woodlands Mall location was reportedly the first to go, closing last weekend. The seven other locations are reported to be all closed by May 1st. These include Deerbrook Mall, Willowbrook Mall, Katy Mills Mall, First Colony Mall, Baybrook Mall, The Galleria, and Pearland Town Center.
