Fort Chiswell Outlets is losing two more of its retail stores this month. The Dress Barn is closing Saturday, Dec. 20, while Van Heusen Factory Store 211 is going out of business Sunday, Dec. 28.
“The retail industry has been hit hard by the economy,” said Tammy Owens, mall manager. “It’s devastating to lose any store. It makes it hard on everybody.”
Dress Barn co-manager Jamie Henderson verified the closing of the women’s clothing store. She said the company, which also owns Maurice’s stores, decided not to renew its lease with the mall because of the small number of stores there.
Open since 1992, the Dress Barn has three full-time and five part-time employees. Henderson has worked at the store for 13 years and her manager Angela Townley has employed there for 15 years.
Dress Barn, a national chain with more than 1,000 stores, recently opened a business at I-81 Exit 7 near Bristol. It also has a store in Winston-Salem, N.C.
According to Henderson, the Fort Chiswell store is shipping much of its stock to its other chain stores. It is selling some of its merchandise at reductions of 20 to 60 percent.
“We have many loyal customers,” Henderson said. “We appreciate their support and we will miss them.”
Henderson will have a job when the store closes; she will begin her student teaching next month.
Van Heusen, a leading manufacturing of men’s and women’s clothing, has operated an outlet at the Fort Chiswell mall for 20 years. The local store employs three full-time and two part-time people.
A spokesman from the company’s corporate headquarters in Bridgewater, N.J., confirmed the Dec. 28 closing. She cited economic reasons for the decision.
Local store manager Brenda May declined comment. She said it was company policy for her not to make any statements.
With the departure of the two stores later this month, only six businesses will remain at the outlet mall. They include Hush Puppies Factory Direct, Kitchen Collection, Bon Worth, Hanesbrands Inc., Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store and Reebok Factory Direct Store.
The mall opened at Fort Chiswell in 1988. At one time, approximately 35 outlet stores were operating there.
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or wquesenberry@wythenews.com.
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