Payless ShoeSource Is Closing All Its Stores, and Twitter Has Gone Into Mourning
Payless ShoeSource, the seemingly endless repository of affordable shoes and sneakers, has announced that it will officially close its remaining 2,100 stores in the U.S and Puerto Rico. The chain is planning liquidation sales and expects some of its locations to close as early as March—and it's safe to say Twitter is having a hard time coping.
According to Reuters, the discount retailer had been trying to find a buyer since first filing for bankruptcy protection in 2017. After a major restructuring of its stores, the company managed to eliminate millions of dollars in debt, but it still wasn't enough to save the business in the end. Now, it's time to say goodbye.
For those who have nostalgic memories of browsing the stores' sky-high aisles, the end of the shoe company is a sad day: "Wow is it weird to mourn the death of Payless Shoes? My parents didn’t have a lot of money when I was growing up, and I’m pretty sure my first pair of “grown up girl shoes,” a scalloped white pump (3 in, max) with a cork heel (it was like, 2005, ok?) came from there," one Twitter user wrote.
The Payless eulogies also included memories of the store's Christian Siriano line, which launched in 2008.
Payless is just one of many chains that has had to shutter its brick-and-mortar operations as digital commerce companies like Amazon and Zappos have grown (Toys "R" Us and Sears have also said goodbye recently). As of this weekend, Payless has also closed down its website.
Apparently, however, Payless' stores in Latin America will stay open—so if you really, really miss those sweet Airwalks, you'll just have to travel a bit for them. Otherwise, thanks for the memories, Payless.
Published at Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:21:32 +0000
