4 Iconic Clothing Retailers Shuttering South Carolina Locations This Spring

Here are four iconic clothing retailers shuttering South Carolina locations this spring.

1. Rue21 (All Locations)

In one of the largest retail exits of the year, teen fashion staple Rue21 is liquidating all of its stores after filing for its third bankruptcy. Unlike its previous reorganizations, the company was unable to find a buyer to keep the physical brand alive, resulting in a total wind-down of its North American footprint.

With nearly a dozen stores across South Carolina, the impact is widespread. Final liquidation sales are expected to wrap up by late spring 2026 at locations including:

• Columbiana Centre (Columbia)
• Haywood Mall (Greenville)
• Coastal Grand Mall (Myrtle Beach)
• Magnolia Mall (Florence)

2. Express (Charleston & Spartanburg)

Fashion retailer Express is in the final stages of a massive footprint reduction following its Chapter 11 filing. To stabilize its business, the company is closing roughly 100 underperforming stores to focus on its "Express Edit" boutiques and high-traffic flagship sites.

In South Carolina, the restructuring has targeted several major mall units. Inventory clear-outs are reaching their final days at Westgate Mall in Spartanburg and locations in the Charleston area. Most of these storefronts are expected to be completely vacated by mid-May 2026.

3. Eddie Bauer (Multiple Locations)

The century-old outdoor apparel pioneer Eddie Bauer is officially transitioning to a digital-only model after its physical store operator failed to find a buyer during bankruptcy proceedings. While the brand will continue online, all 175 of its physical shops—including those in South Carolina—are being shuttered.

Shoppers in the Upstate and the Lowcountry are seeing the end of an era as stores in Greenville and various outlet centers finalize their liquidations. Most locations are slated to go dark by the end of May 2026, as the brand clears out its remaining racks of technical gear and outerwear.

4. Francesca’s (All Remaining Locations)

The boutique staple Francesca’s is reaching the end of the road for its physical storefronts. Following a second bankruptcy filing and the loss of critical investor funding, the chain is liquidating all 457 of its boutiques nationwide.

South Carolina shoppers are losing their neighborhood boutiques in several popular destinations, including:

• Haywood Mall (Greenville)
• Columbiana Centre (Columbia)
• Tanger Outlets Charleston (North Charleston)
• Broadway at the Beach (Myrtle Beach)

The brand’s total liquidation highlights the pressure on small-format boutiques in the age of e-commerce. Most South Carolina locations are expected to be fully vacated by mid-spring 2026.

The Future of the Palmetto State’s Malls

The departure of these clothing icons leaves notable vacancies in South Carolina's premier shopping centers. However, developers are already pivoting toward "experiential" replacements. In cities like Greenville and Columbia, former apparel spaces are being scouted for upscale dining, medical suites, and indoor entertainment facilities, signaling a broader shift toward multi-use lifestyle hubs in the South.