Claire’s has been a mall favorite for decades, especially for tweens, teens, and young women looking for trendy earrings, hair accessories, and, of course, ear piercings. But the company has hit a financial wall. On August 20, Claire’s Holdings LLC announced that it sold its North American business to Ames Watson, a private equity firm, for $104 million. Just a few days later, Claire’s filed court documents revealing plans to shut down more than 290 stores.
The closures include 235 Claire’s shops in the United States and 56 Icing locations, which is the sister brand aimed at women ages 18 to 35. The chain currently operates more than 2,300 stores across North America and Europe, along with thousands of mall kiosks. But competition from fast fashion giants like Shein and Temu, combined with inflation and higher interest rates, has made it hard for the brand to keep up.
How many Claire’s stores are closing in Florida
Out of the 291 closures nationwide, 15 are in Florida—12 Claire’s and three Icing stores. That is a significant number considering Florida has 74 Claire’s locations and six Icing stores in total.
The company has not given specific closing dates, but it confirmed that shutdowns will take place on a rolling basis in the coming weeks. Some locations may also hold closing sales, while others have already ended theirs.
Here are the Florida stores set to close:
- Brandon: Brandon Exchange, 459 Brandon Town Center Drive (Icing)
- Cape Coral: Pine Island Marketplace, 511 SW Pine Island Road #103 (Claire’s)
- Clearwater: Countryside Mall, 27001 U.S. Hwy 19 N (Claire’s and Icing)
- Cutler Bay: Southland Mall, 20505 S Dixie Highway (Claire’s)
- Davie: Tower Shops Center, 2044 S University Drive (Claire’s)
- Daytona Beach: Volusia Mall, 1700 W International Speedway Blvd. (Claire’s)
- Hollywood: Sheridan Plaza, 5121 Sheridan Street #22 (Claire’s)
- Miami: River Landing, 1440 NW North River Drive 350 (Claire’s)
- Orlando: Colonial Plaza, 2752 E Colonial Drive (Claire’s)
- Orlando: Waterford Lakes Town Center, 411 North Alafaya Trail (Claire’s)
- Port Orange: Pavilion at Port Orange, 5509 S Williamson Blvd. (Claire’s)
- Wellington: The Mall at Wellington, 10300 West Forest Hill Blvd. (Claire’s and Icing)
- Yulee: Villages of Amelia, 463895 State Road 200 (Claire’s)
If one of these stores is near you, it will not be around much longer.
Where to shop if your Claire’s is closing
If your local Claire’s is shutting down, you still have options. The chain is not disappearing entirely. Claire’s will continue to operate 785 U.S. stores and 45 Icing stores that are not on the closure list. Florida still has dozens of open locations, and you can find them at or for Icing at.
The company also has a presence inside more than 200 Walmart stores, so even if your nearby mall location closes, you may still spot Claire’s displays while grocery shopping.
What this means for shoppers in Florida
For many, Claire’s is more than just a store. It is where a lot of people had their first ears pierced, picked up accessories for school dances, or found last-minute gifts. Losing these mall staples will feel personal, especially in smaller communities where Claire’s was one of the few trendy accessory shops around.
At the same time, the closures reflect a larger shift in how you and other shoppers are buying fashion and accessories. Online retailers with low prices and endless inventory are now pulling shoppers away from mall chains. Claire’s, even after downsizing, will need to find new ways to compete if it wants to stay relevant.
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