Retail Apocalypse: More Potential Closures Coming In Minnesota

TWIN CITIES, MN — The outlook for retail shopping is off to a rocky start in Minnesota in 2020, with several chains announcing possible and certain closures for the Twin Cities. Most recently, stationery store Papyrus announced it will be closing all of its locations nationwide.

Papyrus has locations at the Galleria in Edina and one in Minnetonka.

"This decision is heartbreaking for me, personally of course," CEO Dominique Schurman said in a letter to Papyrus's 1,400 employees, "and also because I know how dedicated you all have been to your stores and this company."

Are there local or chain closures we may have missed? Let us know in the comments, or email william.bornhoft@patch.com

Pier 1 closing 450 stores nationwide

Pier 1 Imports, which has four locations in the Twin Cities, is closing hundreds of stores. The retail chain said up to 450 locations — about half of its total — would be closed to "better align its business with the current operating environment."

The company plans to close certain distribution centers and lower its corporate spending, as well as lay off workers at the corporate level.

The home furnishing store is using a third-party liquidator to help with the closings, noting that its lenders signed off on its plan to reduce its brick-and-mortar footprint.

Robert Riesbeck, CEO and CFO of the retail chain, thanked store workers for their hard work and commitment to serving customers.

"Although decisions that impact our associates are never easy, reducing the number of our brick-and-mortar locations is a necessary business decision," he said in a statement.

The planned closures come as the company deals with less foot traffic.

Net sales for the third quarter plummeted more than 13 percent to $358.4 million. That number was $413.2 million in the same quarter for the previous fiscal year. Company comparable sales fell more than 11 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

Here are the locations for Minnesota:

• Maple Grove
• Woodbury
• Minnetonka
• Burnsville

Express closures are certain in Minnesota

Fashion retailer Express will close 31 stores by the end of the month, including two stores in the Twin Cities, the company announced.

The retailer plans to close stores in 20 states, a move that follows the closure of nine locations in 2019, according to this week's announcement. An additional 35 locations are expected to close by the end of January 2021, leaving a remaining 25 to shutter next year, Business Insider reports.
In Minnesota, Express plans to close its Burnsville and Eden Prairie Center locations by month's end.

Express has 10 locations in Minnesota.

Edina's high-end shopping mall on the market

With the impending exit of Gabberts, the Galleria in Edina is now for sale, reports the Star Tribune.

This article includes reporting from Massachusetts Patch editor Dave Copeland