The Francesca’s women’s clothing store is closing at St. Johns Town Center.
A store employee told customers the store will close May 27 although little merchandise remained May 20.
Merchandise was discounted 40% with costume jewelry marked down at two for $15 and some at a flat rate of $2.98.
The store operates at 4712 River City Drive, No. 113, between Chico’s and Lucky Brand Jeans.
Francesca’s Collections opened in spring 2016 in about 1,000 square feet in the former Aerosoles space at Town Center.
Francesca’s says it offers “carefully curated fashion, accessories, jewelry & lifestyle products that celebrate individuality.”
It says it has 457 boutiques in 45 states.
The are 34 in Florida, with the one closest to Jacksonville in The Oaks Mall in Gainesville.
Francesca’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware in December 2020 with $13.5 million in long-term debt, one of dozens of retailers that saw sales collapse amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After closing 140 stores, Houston-based Francesca’s filed for bankruptcy with 558 remaining locations across 45 states. Soon after filing, Francesca’s said it would close another 97 stores, including one in the St. Augustine Outlets mall.
In January 2021, a Delaware bankruptcy court approved a sale of the retailer to an affiliate of TerraMar Capital LLC and Tiger Capital LLC that would keep at least 275 stores open.
Tiger Capital is affiliated with Tiger Finance LLC, a pre-bankruptcy lender, which provided $25 million in debtor-in-possession financing to fund operations during the case.
The sale approval was its exit from bankruptcy.
St. Johns Town Center, which opened its first phase in 2005, has been changing its retailing mix as it groups stores with similar target markets, such as women’s clothing stores near each other and luxury boutiques in the same area in the newest part of the center.
St. Johns Town Center opened March 18, 2005, and later added a second phase that opened Oct. 26, 2007.
The third phase, anchored by Nordstrom, opened Oct. 10, 2014.
A fourth phase started Nov. 19, 2021, with the opening of RH, formerly Restoration Hardware. That phase continued with the AC Hotels by Marriott in March 2024, a Pinstripes entertainment center planned to open in 2025 and other tenants that have not been confirmed.