The Fox River Mall continues to be a bustling hub for Fox Valley residents and beyond, and with the new year, updates and new additions to the mall have shaken up its store inventory.
To help keep you informed, the Buzz has put together a list of openings, closures and other updates worth noting.
Francesca’s future uncertain following bankruptcy
Recent news states that Francesca’s is set to close its stores nationwide following its bankruptcy, leaving the Fox River Mall location’s fate up in the air.
An employee for the mall location confirmed to the Appleton Post-Crescent that many Francesca’s locations will close by the end of February. Despite the news, they have yet to receive word on whether or not their store is one of the locations slated for closure.
The retailer, known for its clothing, accessories and giftable items, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Feb. 5, the company announced store-closing sales the following day in a news release.
Liquidation sales are still ongoing for the Fox River Mall location, ranging from 30-45% off all products.
Eddie Bauer to close following bankruptcy
Around 180 Eddie Bauer stores in the United States and Canada, including the Fox River Mall’s location, are set to close following its retail operator filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Catalyst Brands, who owns the rights to operate Eddie Bauer stores in North America, announced its bankruptcy on Feb. 9. An employee for the Fox River Mall store told the Appleton Post-Crescent there is no set date for the closure, but it will happen in the coming months.
The retailer, known for its outdoor apparel, outwear and gear, will continue to be available online, the closures are not expected to impact manufacturing e-commerce and wholesale operations.
GAP Factory is now open for business
GAP Factory, located between Torrid and Earthbound, opened Feb. 4.
The retailer is an outlet store for the GAP brand, carrying clothes for women, men and children and babies. While it acts as an outlet store, it manufactures its own line of products with lower price points rather than selling past-season items or overstock.
Claw machine arcade opens next to Scheel’s
PixelJoy Arcades had its first day in the Fox River Mall on Feb. 1, offering an array of claw machines containing prize options such as stuffed animals, trading cards, keychains and more. The business is located just outside of Scheel’s.
The arcade is unstaffed and incorporates new items weekly. Machines are played via tokens, which are dispensed from a self-serve kiosk and cost a minimum of $10 for 10 tokens. A majority of the machines cost two tokens per play.
Sisa opens with short-term lease
Sisa, a retailer selling Native American merchandise such as ponchos, hoodies, blankets, decor and more, is currently open in the former Icing.
The general manager for the Fox River Mall, Shari Schmelebeck, confirmed the store opened in November with a short-term lease. The business will be staying till the end of April.
What’s to come? Keep an eye out for these 3 businesses
In addition to the Fox River Mall’s current updates, there are a few businesses opening in the near future to look forward to:
Faith Huey is a business reporter for The Appleton Post-Crescent. You can reach her at fhuey@usatodayco.com or view her Instagram profile at @Faith.Huey.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: What’s new or leaving the Fox River Mall? The Buzz has answers
Reporting by Faith Huey, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
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