Justice Stores To Shut Down 3 Long Island Locations

LONG ISLAND, NY — Justice, a Tween clothing store chain, will be closing all stores — including three on Long Island — by early next year, parent company Ascena Retail Group announced on Wednesday. The news comes after the company, which also owns Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant and Lou & Grey, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy over the summer. As a result, Justice Brand Holdings, an entity formed by Bluestar Alliance, will acquire the Justice brand's intellectual property, as well as certain assets and liabilities, for about $90 million, according to the company.

"The conclusion of the sale process for our Justice brand is a significant step forward in our efforts to complete our restructuring process and maximize value for all our stakeholders," Gary Muto, Chief Executive Officer of Ascena said in a statement. "The optimization of our portfolio better positions Ascena for long-term success and supports our vision for the future. As we seamlessly transition ownership of Justice over the coming weeks, we remain committed to delivering meaningful experiences for our customers every day."

On Long Island, the brand has stores at the Tanger Outlets in Deer Park and Riverhead as well as one in Lake Success. Justice stores will remain open throughout the holiday season. While an exact closing date has not been announced, the stores are expected to close in early 2021. A hearing to seek court approval is scheduled for Thursday. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the month.

In July, Justice closed seven Long Island stores after the company declared bankruptcy.