She's baaaaaack. And by she, we're of course referring to Charlotte Russe, one of the most beloved mall brands of all time.
You may recall that earlier this year, Charlotte Russe announced that it was filing for bankruptcy, shuttering a bunch of stores, and liquidating all of its inventory. It was a sad, sad day to be sure, but now it looks like the retailer is ready for a comeback.
And we are definitely here for that comeback, especially considering everything on its website is currently 50% off! While the options are more limited at the moment — its plus-size line, for example, hasn't returned yet — it's still worth keeping an eye on what Charlotte Russe will do next.
Back in March, we shed tears over some devastating news.
One of our go-to teen retailers, Charlotte Russe, announced that it was filing for bankruptcy. The store has been a mall favorite for more than a decade thanks to its wide selection of affordable yet trendy clothing. Charlotte Russe also had an incredible collection of plus-size apparel that many people were going to miss. Hearts everywhere shattered.
But the story doesn't end there!
The retailer just provided a major update that we are honestly still trying to process: It's coming back, and we have a feeling it'll be better than ever. On Instagram, Charlotte Russe shared the big news with this announcement:
"WE’RE OPEN!
Come visit us at our new store locations:
– Willowbrook Mall, NJ
– Monmouth Mall, NJ
– Southland Center, MI
– Park City Center, PA
– Cumberland Mall, GA
Stay tuned for more openings!"
Fans of the brand promptly rejoiced.
One Twitter user joked that the retailer had "played us all," but what's the point in being upset when all of their inventory is currently 50% off??
"They have TONS of cute tube tops and off the shoulder tops and cardigans," @stillnotivonne tweeted. "All things I love coming back to style further proving THIS IS MY YEAR."
I repeat: Everything. Is. 50. Percent. OFF!!
According to Retail Dive, Charlotte Russe's new owner, YM Inc., already operates more than 560 stores across the continent under multiple brands. The outlet reports that YM's CEO Eric Grundy previously said Charlotte Russe is well known for its "affordable on-trend fashions" and that the brand is "a great fit for our growth strategy and our mission to exceed customer expectations by delivering fast fashion at amazing value."
And well, it's safe to say our paychecks are going bye-bye.
YM Inc. said it plans to ultimately open 100 Charlotte Russe locations, according to Retail Dive. For comparison, the retailer previously had more than 500 brick-and-mortar shops when it filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. So while the number of physical stores may be going down, the company's e-commerce business seems to be its main focus anyway.
Based on what we've seen so far, Charlotte Russe 2.0 is going to be pretty epic.
Although the retailer's new website doesn't have everything we'd like to see just yet — *ahem* plus sizes *ahem* — we're sure it's only a matter of time before the inventory is back up to speed. Until then, we're stocking up on some trendy footwear for the summer months, like wedges and sandals. The accessories page is also full of affordable pieces that will complete all of your warm weather looks.
We're so glad you're back, CR!
With fewer physical stores to manage this time around, it's likely that Charlotte Russe will be able to focus on improving its merchandise selection and merging its in-store experience with its e-commerce operation. We can't wait to see how the retailer refashions itself moving forward. In the meantime, we'll be taking advantage of this major sale before all the goods sell out!
