Guilford Commons 'Charming Charlie' Store Among Hundreds To Close

GUILFORD, CT - Charming Charlie, the accessories store known for organizing its purses, jewelry and apparel by color instead of category, filed for bankruptcy on Thursday for the second time in two years, and is expected to close all of its 261 stores including one located in Guilford Commons shopping complex.

The Guilford store has been at Guilford Commons for slightly less than four years.

Other Connecticut locations to close are South Windsor, West Hartford and Plainville.

After a failed turnaround attempt after the first bankruptcy, which included closing 100 stores, the Houston-based retailer said it plans to hold going out of business sales at its remaining 261 stores which are spread across 38 states.

Coming out of its first bankruptcy, the company "continued to face challenges that make it impossible for Charming Charlie to continue as a going concern," CFO Alvaro E. Bellon said in a court filing.

The company said it faced "unsustainable operating expenses, including onerous leases" at a time when many brick-and-mortar stores are battling with online retailers

Charming Charlie said in the filing it expects its liquidation sale to take about two months.