Pier 1 Imports said Monday it is filing for bankruptcy and closing nearly half of its stores.
But it looks like the Springfield site and other locations in Missouri are safe for now.
The furniture company announced it was looking for a buyer to purchase it, but in the meantime, its CEO said Pier 1 closures would allow “additional time and flexibility.”
The Pier 1 announcement came as large retailers across the country struggle to stay relevant amid a shift of shopping habits to online.
In recent months, major national chains such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, Macy’s, JC Penney and Forever 21 have announced large-scale closures.
Springfield’s locations have largely been spared from those announcements, but that could be changing.
Earlier this month, a spokeswoman confirmed the Sears location in the Battlefield Mall would close, more than a year after Sears, Roebuck and Co. filed for bankruptcy.
And recently, Bass Pro announced staff reductions, the Ozark Russell Stover store closed, a downtown Starbucks shut its doors and the local Lucky’s Market announced it would be shutting down.
But things aren’t all bad in the local retail market, including at Battlefield Mall.
Fashion retailer H&M will be opening a location in the mall later this year, and Urban Air Adventure Park and Pizza Ranch are recent additions.
The Pizza Ranch occupies half of a 12,000-square-foot addition to the south end of the mall, facing Glenstone.
A project assistant superintendent told the News-Leader last year the remaining part of the space was “up for grabs.”
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