After an eight-year absence, J.Crew is zipping back into the Twin Cities mall scene with a new storefront at Mall of America slated to open this summer. The return follows a low-key relaunch at Southdale Center late last year and reflects a broader trend of familiar brands cautiously testing out mall space again.
According to Mall of America confirms J.Crew's return, the retailer is set to open on Level 1, South this summer. The report notes J.Crew previously closed both its Mall of America and Southdale Center stores in 2018, making this comeback roughly eight years in the making.
Southdale Already Open
J.Crew actually slipped back into the market a bit earlier at Southdale Center, quietly opening there in November. Simon’s mall listing shows the new Southdale location along with event dates, and J.Crew’s own store directory lists the Edina shop and its hours.
From Chapter 11 To A Retail Return
The Twin Cities revival follows the company’s Chapter 11 restructuring in May 2020, when Chinos Holdings and its affiliates filed for bankruptcy and agreed to a debt-for-equity swap to reduce what it owed, according to a company press release. That restructuring gave J.Crew room to close underperforming stores and refocus on stronger markets.
What Shoppers Can Expect
Mall of America has been busy filling out its lineup with fresh stores and experiences in recent months as part of a broader retail push, the mall has noted in press materials. J.Crew joins that mix as a mid-market apparel option, although there are no plans yet for Rosedale or Grand Avenue in St. Paul to see J.Crew return.
