TOPEKA (KSNT) – A women’s clothing company has started to liquidate its store locations across the nation, impacting several locations it has in Kansas.
Francesca’s is undergoing the process of shutting down its stores nationwide in early 2026. It currently operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, per its website.
Francesca’s previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced plans to close 140 of its stores in 2020, per a report from USA Today. The company had around 700 stores at the time of the bankruptcy filing.
We checked in with Casey Richardson, general manager and director of operations at West Ridge Mall in Topeka, to find out what the fate of its Francesca’s location will be. She said a final closing date for the mall’s Francesca’s boutique isn’t known yet as the company is still early in the liquidation process.
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“We are truly sad to see them go, as they have been a valued tenant and a strong performer in our market,” Richardson said.
(Photo By: Savannah Meier)
(Photo By: Savannah Meier)
(Photo By: Savannah Meier)
(Photo By: Savannah Meier)
Richardson explained the West Ridge Mall Francesca’s store recently experienced a strong sales year and described its future exit from the shopping center as disappointing. She said the mall expects to learn more about the specific timing of the closure in the weeks ahead.
West Ridge Mall recently lost another store, Icing, last year as well. It shut down as part of a corporate-level bankruptcy filing impacting stores across the nation.
Francesca’s operates six locations in Kansas, according to the company’s website. These are in Topeka, Manhattan, Wichita, and the Kansas City metro area.
West Ridge Mall is currently undergoing significant renovation work. Dream Big Partners LLC, owned by Advisors Excel co-founders Foster and David Callanan, is looking to add new retail shopping options to the mall in the years ahead.
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