A major women’s clothing retailer with 2,800 stores around the world, nine of them in the Valley, has filed for bankruptcy and some store closings are included those plans.

Ascena Retail Group announced this week that it will close all Catherines stores around the country, including the Great East Plaza location in Niles. 

Negotiations are underway to sell Catherines intellectual property assets and move its online business to a subsidiary of another plus-size retailer City Chic.

Catherines website posted the following message for its customers:

THANK YOU

For more than 60 years, we have been proud to be there to care and celebrate the women who always put others first. On behalf of the entire Catherines team, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for your loyalty, business, and love.

The world has changed these last few months, and we regrettably announce that we will be closing our Catherines stores. But this is a process. For now, we invite you to shop with us in-store and online. We are still offering the same great customer experience, with even better deals and value.

We appreciate your support during the next few months. We care for you. And we love you.

With love and care, Catherines

Ascena said it also plans to close a “significant number” of Justice stores and a “select number” of Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant, and Lou & Grey stores under its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

The company has not revealed which of those stores will close.  Ascena says in a media release that which stores will be shut down depends on Ascena’s efforts to renegotiate leases with landlords.

Justice has stores at the Shops at Boardman Park, the Southern Park Mall, the Eastwood Mall, and Grove City Premium Outlets.

Lane Bryant has stores at the Shops at Boardman Park, the Eastwood Mall, and Grove City Premium Outlets.

Ann Taylor’s only Valley location is a factory store at Grove City Premium Outlets.

Ascena says it has received commitments for a $150 million loan from its existing lenders.