Forever 21 closes in Stamford, keeps stores at other CT malls

Messages left last week for Forever 21 were not returned.  

Despite the closing of the store at Stamford Town Center, Forever 21’s other establishments in Connecticut are apparently staying in business. Employees who answered the phone last Friday at Forever 21’s stores at Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Crystal Mall in Waterford, Meriden Mall, Tanger Outlets Foxwoods in Mashantucket, The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester, Trumbull Mall and Westfarms on the Farmington-West Hartford line said that those stores were staying open. 

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Forever 21 was facing significant headwinds — particularly the rise of e-commerce. It filed for bankruptcy in 2019, and it was acquired the following year by Authentic Brands Group, Brookfield Property Partners and Simon Property Group. Today, Forever 21 has more than 540 locations, according to its website.

Shopping centers in Connecticut are also feeling the impact of a number of recent retail bankruptcies. In the past few months, Bed Bath & Beyond has been winding down its brick-and-mortar presence in Connecticut, as part of a shutdown of all of its establishments. Similarly, Christmas Tree Shops is planning to close its remaining locations, including stores in Danbury, Orange, Manchester and Waterford. Party City’s store in Stamford is scheduled to close this month, but it is keeping open its other stores in the state.