Forever 21 files Chapter 11 bankruptcy, asks to close 355 stores. Which locations in Florida?

C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida

Mon, Mar 17, 2025, 12:30 PM 3 min read

Forever 21, the fast-fashion clothing retailer once ubiquitous in shopping malls, has been struggling for years from an increase in global competition. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2019. sold off stores and assets, briefly resurged in the last few years, and finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday after laying off 700 employees earlier in the month and closing its headquarters.

In the filing in a Delaware court asking permission to close more locations, the company listed "inflationary pressures, decreased consumer discretionary spending, contracting margins, and shifting customer preferences" along with decreasing mall traffic and competition from overseas discount companies Temu and Shein as its reasons for wanting to restructure. Initially, Forever 21 announced in November 2024 that the company was closing 11 underperforming stores and then added seven more in December.

The company is asking to close 355 locations, including all 23 in Florida, listing liabilities between $1 billion and $5 billion. The Forever 21 website currently lists storewide sales up to 80% off, online orders only.

Forever 21’s locations outside of the United States are operated by other licensees and are not included in the Chapter 11 filings.

“On behalf of the Company, I’d like to express our deep appreciation for the hard work of our dedicated employees and their commitment to our customers," Brad Sell, Chief Financial Officer of F21 OpCo said in a release. "We are also grateful for the many years of support from our partners and our loyal customers, who have allowed us to serve as a fashion industry leader and go-to retailer for generations.”

Forever 21 escaped Chapter 11 five years ago when mall owners Simon Property Group and Brookfield Corporation joined Authentic Brands Groups, a global brand development company, to buy the fashion retailer out of bankruptcy and save it from liquidation.

According to Forever 21's website, the company has 540 locations around the world.

Here's what to know.

According to the filing, sales will be finalized by April 30, 2025.

• Altamonte Springs: Altamonte Mall, 451 E. Altamonte Drive Suite 2113

• Boca Raton: Town Center at Boca Raton 6000 West Glades Road, Space #1166E

• Brandon: Brandon Town Center, 566 Brandon Town Center

• Clearwater: Countryside, 27001 U.S Highway 19 N., Ste #2030

• Doral: Miami International 1455 NW 107 Ave, Suite 560A

• Florida City: Florida Keys Outlet Market, 250 East Palm Drive

• Gainesville: The Oaks, 6419 Newberry Rd., Space #B16

• Jensen Beach: Treasure Coast Square, 3080 NW Federal Highway

• Kissimmee: Osceola Crosslands 620 Center View Blvd.

• Miami Beach: 701 Lincoln Road

• Naples: Coastland, 1704 Tamiami Trail North, Ste A19

• Orlando:

  • Florida Mall 8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail

  • The Mall at Millenia 4200 Conroy Rd Ste #206

  • Orlando Premium Outlets 8249 Vineland Ave., Unit 2201

  • Prime Outlets Int'l 4951 International Drive, Suite #1C06

• Panama City Beach: Pier Park, 15575 Starfish St.

• Pembroke Pines: Pembroke Lakes Mall 11401 Pines Blvd. #576

• Sarasota: University Town Center, FL 140 University Town Center Drive Suite 215

• Sunrise: Sawgrass Mills 12801 W. Sunrise Blvd. Ste 555

• Tallahassee: Governor's Square 1500 Apalachee Pkwy, Ste 1210

• West Palm Beach:

  • Palm Beach Outlets, 1795 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. #W500

  • Wellington Green 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Ste 191

• Winter Garden: Winter Garden Village, 3049 Daniel Road Unit 220C

Since 2022, when there were 32 Forever 21 locations in Florida, the company has already closed locations in Aventura, Destin, Jacksonville, Kendall, Lutz, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, South Miami, and Tampa, according to a comparison between current listings and an archived list.

Forever 21 gift cards will be honored through April 15, according to the filing. Stores stopped selling them on Feb, 27.

(This story was updated with new information.)

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Forever 21 bankruptcy: Which Florida locations are closing?