A national retailer that also does business in Canada and Puerto Rico is closing hundreds of their locations after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year. The business is Destination Maternity and they are the world’s largest designer of maternity clothing.

 

Underneath their business umbrella is Motherhood Maternity. That brand makes up more than 400 of the 1100-plus locations between the two brands.

 

National media outlets reported last year that it planned to close as many as 180 of the locations. Bridgeport’s Meadowbrook Mall is home to Motherhood Maternity.

 

Unfortunately, the store is one of the 180 stores that will be closing. For weeks, the store has been clearing out items at reduced rates and have posted “store closing” signs throughout. The closing is one of several the mall has witnessed in recent years as the result of either complete closings, such as Sears and Payless Shoes, or as part of bankruptcies, such as Sears, that often have seen the entire franchise go under.

 

“Whenever you have a national bankruptcy , you’re looking at debt loads and management problems creating these issues and not always reflective of what’s going on as far as on the ground at the stores in many cases,” said Joe Bell, the director of corporate communications for the Ohio-based Cafaro company that owns the Meadowbrook Mall. “I’m not sure if that’s the case here.”

 

What he is sure is that when bankruptcy is declared by national brands stores often get closed. At that point, options are limited once closings are announced, he said.

 

“This is one you can’t do much about,” said Bell.

 

The closing is one of many the mall has faced, as well as other large retail outlets nationwide, in recent years. Bell said the mall is still healthy and that talks continue with retailers from Cafaro’s real estate department looking to keep the facility viable as it nears its fourth decade of operation.

 

“We’re always talking and will continue to talk to all kinds of businesses that could fill the various spaces that are available,” said Bell. “Even when you have occupied space, are real estate people look at businesses struggling who may be leaving in the years ahead so you can have some options for a good replacement if those businesses do leave. We hope to have something to fill the spaces soon.”

 

Bell said there are no imminent deals that can be discussed, but that negotiations take place regularly. As far as new businesses, Planet X – a virtual gaming location – has recently opened its doors.

 

An employee of Motherhood Maternity said the plan is to have the store closed by the end of March. According to the Bridgeport Finance Department, the store opened on May 15, 2003.