Retail chain with 125 locations confirms it is closing a store after ‘difficult decision’ – 50% off sales are ongoing

A luggage and luggage retail company will no longer be based in this Ohio megamall.

Vera Bradley is known for making unique handbags and luggage options for women for over 40 years.

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But on June 23, the company will close its store at Ohio’s Summit Mall in Fairlawn, a few miles northwest of Akron.

“We love being part of the local community, but we recently made the difficult decision to close Vera Bradley at Summit Mall,” the retailer told customers in an email.

The company did not provide a specific reason for the store’s closure.

The store has an ongoing semi-annual sale, with up to 50% off select styles from June 6th to July 10th.

Located just minutes from Akron, the mall features more than 100 specialty stores and carries several well-known jewelry and fashion brands, including Vera Bradley, Pandora and J Crew Factory.

“Once the Vera Bradley location closes at Summit Mall in Fairlawn, there will only be three locations left open in Ohio,” the Akron Beacon Journal reported in a Facebook post.

More than 50 people reacted to the post announcing the store’s closure.

Comments flooded the post on social media – but many weren’t surprised to see the store closing.

Several Facebook users said they felt Vera Bradley’s patterns and style had become outdated and expensive.

“Unfortunately, we are out of Vera Bradley’s overpriced quilt bags,” one Facebook user commented on the post.

“I used to run to the Hallmark store to buy the newest pattern. Now I’ve sold all of mine at garage sales!”

“Vera Bradley seems like an outdated product,” echoed another.

One user said that Vera Bradley’s aesthetic no longer appeals to the community.

Multiple resellers on Poshmark and ThredUp are trying to get rid of their Vera Bradley items.

Although the company is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, it still operates an online store and more than 150 physical stores nationwide.

The company started as a way to bring a range of luxury luggage and luggage options to women.

CSI Marketan independent financial media company, cites that Vera Bradley faced a significant revenue drop in the first quarter of 2024.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the retail industry and Vera Bradley Inc is expected to face significant challenges in the coming quarters,” the report states.

In December 2022, another Vera Bradley store closed its doors at the Natick Mall in Massachusetts.

Summit Mall is waiting to announce the retailer that will replace Vera Bradley at the end of the month.

US Sun has reached out to Vera Bradley for comment.