Mar. 18—ROCHESTER — Even forever ends in today's retail world as "fashion-forward" Forever 21 declared bankruptcy again and plans to close stores, including its only Minnesota one in Rochester's Apache Mall.
Los Angeles-based F21 OpCo announced the bankruptcy this week blaming Chinese Internet retailers Temu and Shein as undercutting its business. The company has started liquidating the stock at its 354 stores with expectation that the stores will close, unless something unexpected happens.
Forever 21 opened its 12,686-square-foot store in the Macy's wing of the Apache Mall in 2012. It is next to Victoria's Secret. It stepped in space previously occupied by the Disney Store. It was the company's fourth Minnesota store at the time.
"Adding Forever 21 to our existing unique selection of fashion retailers provides the Rochester community with yet another reason to shop at Apache Mall," stated Apache Mall General Manager Kim Bradley in 2012.
This is Forever 21's second time in bankruptcy. The first was in 2019. It was saved by being sold to a consortium that included Apache Mall owner Brookfield Properties. That consortium, Authentic Brands Group, still owns the international intellectual property associated with the Forever 21 brand, though it sold the retail operations.
If Forever 21 stores closes as anticipated, it will be the latest in a string of national retailer chain closures including Joann Fabrics and Party City.