Forever 21 store closures: 26 are possible in Southern California

More than 40 Forever 21 stores in California are in danger of being closed as part of the bankruptcy chain's bankruptcy, court records show.

When applying for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday, the Los Angeles company said it planned to shut down about 350 of its 800 stores worldwide, including about 178 of its 549 U.S. sales.

Forever 21 issued a list of 178 U.S. stores for possible closure in the filings with the US Bankruptcy Court on Tuesday, including 41 California stores, with 26 Southern California locations, from Santa Barbara to San Diego. They also include a few of the chain's F21[ads1] Red-branded stores.

Among Southern California stores are stores in Los Angeles, Culver City, Pasadena, Valencia, Arcadia and Newport Beach.

Privately held Forever 21, a major player in the fast fashion sector that provides a rapidly changing range of clothing at modest prices, sought bankruptcy protection amid a cash crunch caused by slowing shopping center traffic, its own over-expansion and shifting consumer shopping habits toward online shopping.

Forever 21 has been particularly hard hit because it operates exceptionally large stores, many of which are anchor stores in malls.

In its filing, the company acknowledged that Forever 21 has struggled to support its “large-size footprint as consumers increasingly purchase clothing and other goods online. "

Closing stores is" a necessary tool "for Forever 21" to revive the "chain" and provide room for a reorganized business that is unloaded by under-prioritizing operations, "the company said.

Forever 21 also posted a statement warning that it was possible that not all of the listed US stores would actually close because it renegotiated leases with mall owners and other property owners in hopes of getting more favorable terms.

"Decisions on which domestic stores to close are ongoing, pending the outcome of continued talks with landlords, "said Forever 21." However, we expect a significant number of these stores to remain open and operating as usual, and we do not expect to leave any major markets in the United States. "

Here is a list of Southern California stores scheduled for potential closure:

• Anaheim – Anaheim Plaza
• Arcadia – Westfield Santa Anita
• Canoga Park – Westfield Topanga Plaza
• Culver City – Westfield Culver City
• El Cajon – Parkway Plaza
• Glendale – Glendale Galleria
• 19659013] Glendale – The Americana at Brand
• Lakewood – Lakewood Center Mall
• Los Angeles – Hollywood & Highland
• Los Angeles – Beverly Center
• Los Angeles – Garden State Plaza
• Newport Beach – Fashion Island
• Pasadena – 35 N. De Lacey Ave.
• Rancho Mirage – The River at Rancho Mirage
• Redondo Beach – The Galleria @ South Bay
• Riverside – Galleria at Tyler
• San Bernardino – Inland Center [19659013] San Diego – Mission Valley
• San Diego – University Town Center
• Santa Barbara – 901 State St.
• Sherman Oaks – Sherman Oaks Fashion Square
• Thousand Oaks – The Oaks
• Tustin (F21 Red) – Tustin Marketplace
• Valencia – Valencia downtown
• Van Nuys (F21 Red) – The Plant
• Ventura – Pacific View Ventura Mall