South Windsor Christopher & Banks Store In Jeopardy Of Closing

CONNECTICUT — The Christopher & Banks Corporation Thursday joined the parade of retailers with a presence in Connecticut and locally to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Minnesota-based Christopher & Banks said in a news release it expects to close most — if not all — of its stores.

The chain specializes in petite, misses and women's clothing.

There are currently 449 Christopher & Banks stores in 44 states, including three in Connecticut.

The are:

• South Windsor at Evergreen walk
• At Foxwoods Resort Casino
• At the Westbrook Outlets

"Since the start of the COVID pandemic, we have taken aggressive steps to protect our business while continuing to serve our customers in a healthy and safe environment," Christopher & Banks President Keri Jones said. "Despite the tremendous advancements we have made in executing our strategic plan, due to the financial distress resulting from the pandemic and its ongoing impact, we elected to initiate this process and pursue a potential sale of the business in whole or in part to position the Company for the future. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our dedicated associates, loyal customers and supportive partners for their commitment to Christopher & Banks throughout these challenging times."

Christopher & Banks has launched a store closing and liquidation process but did not reveal specific details or a timeline.

The company says it will continue "normal operations" as the Chapter 11 process begins.

The pandemic has been rough on even major retail giants like Macy's and Lord & Taylor, which recently announced a rash of closings.