Shuttered Children's Clothing Store Announces PA Relaunch

A children's clothing retailer that closed all of its stores is making a comeback in Pennsylvania.

Gymboree this week announced plans to relaunch its brand at more than 200 Children's Place locations nationwide, including 10 in Pennsylvania.

A year after the New Jersey-based company closed its Gymboree stores, The Children’s Place announced Wednesday it will relaunch the kids' clothing brand in February.

The reboot includes 10 locations within Children's Place stores in Pennsylvania, according to the newly-launched Gymboree website.

The Eastern Pennsylvania locations include:

• Philadelphia Premium Outlets, Limerick
• The Crossings, Tannersville
• Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall
• Springfield Mall, Springfield
• The Shoppes At Wyomissing, Wyomissing

In a statement from the company, President and Chief Executive Officer Jane Elfers said the company is "very proud to announce the return of Gymboree." She said the company has worked "tirelessly to bring this iconic brand back to its passionate and loyal customers.”

Gymboree's launch will include eight collections in sizes 12 months to 8.

The company will offer free shipping and free returns with no minimum purchase for all online orders. Plus, a loyalty program called My Place Rewards will be introduced.

In January 2019, Gymboree filed for bankruptcy and closed all its stores. The Children’s Place paid $76 million in March 2019 to acquire the brand, as well as Gymboree’s value brand, Crazy 8, according to a report from Chain Store Age.

Before it closed its locations last year, Gymboree operated stores in Warrington, Glen Mills, Springfield, Oxford Valley, Limerick, King of Prussia, Collegeville, Plymouth Meeting and more.

The news of the relaunch comes as more and more national chains are closing stores.

Last week, Papyrus, a stationery retailer, said it is closing all of its stores. The chain operates three Pennsylvania stores, including in King of Prussia and Philadelphia.

Papyrus joins other chains that are closing all or some of their Pennsylvania stores, including Pier 1 Imports, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sears, A.C. Moore, Kmart, Motherhood Maternity, Dressbarn and more.

Earlier in January, Pier 1 said it would likely close half of its stores. Twelve Pennsylvania stores, including in Fairless Hills, Paoli, and Feasterville, were removed from the chain's website. The company confirmed the stores removed from the website were slated for closure.

Bed Bath & Beyond, the popular home wares and kitchen supply store operating 29 locations in the Keystone State, also announced changes to its local stores, including one planned closure.

The majority of Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Pennsylvania will remain open despite the announcement in late 2019 that the company had many changes planned for 2020, the company confirmed to Patch.