July 23, 2019

Charming Charlie Closing All Stores as Of August 2019

I know it’s not beauty related but I wanted to share that Charming Charlie is closing all stores as of the end of August as I know many like the store as much as I do. 261 stores in 38 states will shut their doors as of August 31st and it appears even the online website will be done too. Charming Charlie filed for bankruptcy on July 11th and already are putting everyday on sale. Most of the online site is sold out at this point.

They originally filed for bankrupcy back in April 2018 and closed 100 stores but those efforts were not enough to cut debt so, they are not just apparently completely going out of business.

It’s pretty sad as I really like their accessories. Charming Charlie joins over 7,000 other stores that have closed in the past few years as it’s impossible for many brick-and-mortar stores to battle with online retailers.

I think the future pretty much holds absolutely no hope for malls or actual stores as everyone will be shopping online versus driving to the nearest store to pick up what they need. We are already a spoiled generation that gets everything delivered to our door from the common pizza to a full selection of groceries and everything else in between.

If you have gift cards from Charming Charlie I urge you to head to your local store and spend them while you can!

17 Comments

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Fey

    This is so sad! Yikes. I manage a brick and mortar accessory store and am always nervous about having to close without much warning. I loved Charming Charlie, too. Their stores were so fun and they had SO MUCH cat-themed stuff! Rip

    • Isabella Muse

      Fey, I hope that never happens! I support small businesses 100% in my neighborhood but I am very guilty of being an online shopper as well! I hope you have many, many years in your business.

  • Eraser

    I’m an historian researching a defunct local department store and studying much about retail in the process. I disagree with you about the future of malls and brick & mortar shopping. We human beings need to feed our senses, and real shopping satisfies that in a way that online shopping never can. There’s also the social aspect, as we naturally desire interaction with others. Not all retail is in crisis, although generally it is in transition. Over-expansion, failure to adapt, and poor management has been more responsible for these problems than online shopping. As for the latter, people are already getting frustrated with much of it (I’m first in line there). I shop online for things that I can’t find locally, but frankly, it’s a chore.

    • Isabella Muse

      I hope you are right! Because I love the mall! LOVE it. I agree that shopping is a sensory experience! I also love the idea of touching things, trying them on, etc…! I also like visiting several shops at once plus instant gratification of purchasing and using something right away! One of the sole reasons I shop online is selection and customer service. Shopping around here is awful in terms of CS. Asking someone where something is only to have them look at you puzzled and shrug or asking for a price and getting an attitude, etc…! Customer service is awful! Just awful! I’ve visited many different states and countries I think New York feels the worst in terms of CS. But it seemed limited to the city as in a suburb situation it’s a lot better. Secondly, selection! Nothing is available in stores anymore. They might have it but not in the right size or the right shade forcing me to turn online to get it. I think stores need a lot of improvement to regain our attention.

    • Denise

      Shopping feeds my senses, all right, in the sense that it aggravates the crap out of me! The less I have to leave the house and deal with the public, the better. I’m not spoiled, I’m efficient. And reducing my carbon footprint at the same time! I’m one Pea Pod account from never having to buy anything in an actual store.

  • kjh

    CC closed a couple of years back, near me. They had some delightful sea themed accessories. As to online, for me, it’s pretty much it. Even if I like s.t. at U, I order it, to get free shipping. Then there’s Amazon. If you can’t find it locally, it’s at your house, practically before you finish thinking about it. Even KB/AB. Having heard the NPR talk about how badly A treats its workers… you heard about the warehouse worker who DIED, and they put traffic cones around the deceased and kept working…I feel ashamed for using them. But convenience is the name of the game. The older I get, the less I tolerate crowds, so malls are not my thing, and I avoid them unless necessary.

  • Maggie

    I’m very sad about this! I ran to my local store and found they have barely anything left. It was so sad not to see the pretty color coordinated displays and all the empty tables. I am going to miss this store!

  • Adrienne

    I like everyone here will miss the store. I did not shop there often but when I did it was because I enjoyed seeing and touching the products. You can’t always tell the quality of an item by looking at it online. Sometimes your purchasing a handbag and it looks one way on line and you get it and its cheap and shiny looking, not the butter soft leather you thought you were getting or delicate sheens you didn’t expect. I really appreciated how everything was sectioned off by color. That’s the main reason for going there, if I needed a certain color to compliment something I knew it would be in one section or not at all. The staff was always very helpful too and handing out coupons every time I went in the store.

    Many of the malls are closed here. Many of them say it was because of the price to do business and rental space for retail stores is really expensive. If there are no anchor stores or nice restaurants in the area or that can be accessed from the parking lot they tend not to have a lot of foot traffic in the mall. That’s just my opinion. Hopefully things will turn around.

  • Sara

    Oh wow…I noticed one of them had closed but didn’t realize they were completely going out of business. I live close to a popular mall in a wealthy suburb and even many of those stores are struggling. The Abercrombie & Fitch closed there in the last week and the Gap store downsized to 1/2 the space, many storefronts are just sitting there empty. Sad. Buying online (especially clothes) can be kind of hit/miss and the packaging materials can’t be good for the environment.

  • Sarah

    I think I’m the only person who doesn’t like online shopping.I rarely do it though I will buy books online.Mainly because websites are generally awful (looking at you Amazon),I need to try clothes on and I like to be hands on with things.Charming Charlies was great as someone who enjoys the shopping part more than the buying part.

  • Dee

    I’m so sad to hear this. Loved the place and got so many cute things from CC.

  • Kimmyyy

    It is sad that some brick and mortar stores are closing, but I don’t think as many businesses are in danger as we think.
    For the stores that are closing, it’s mostly because the type of item they sell is just easier and cheaper to buy online. Most people don’t need to personally see a toy or piece of costume jewelry to decide if they’d like to purchase. I can’t say I’ve ever ventured out exclusively to buy accessories and would more than likely just search online, so I understand why both stores have gone under. We have a super, super busy shopping mall where I live near Houston and our Charming Charlies was always pretty empty, as was our Toys-R-Us (plus toy stores are just gross, because…kids). These types of places would have been better off going exclusively online as soon as that got big anyway.
    As for who is doing well, we all know the physical locations of variety stores like Target and Walmart aren’t going anywhere, and there are plenty of others that still do well. They sell too many different things and people enjoy being able to go in and browse all of the different categories. Who doesn’t love being able to buy beauty, clothing, food, and electronics all in one place? I know I always spend way too much there and wouldn’t do the same online. It’s the impulse buying that gets people, so I’m assuming they do at least a little better in physical stores than online.
    I think it just depends on what type of items they have. I hate clothing shopping online because I’m shorter, hourglass shaped and slightly larger busted, so that’s something I generally drag myself to a physical store for. I feel the same about makeup, fragrance, and skincare.
    I admit that I mostly online shop because I have social anxiety and also hate being in large crowds of strangers (I hate being touched/bumped by random people, even though I’m oddly OK with crowds at concerts), which makes the mall a huge stressor for me, but I do still enjoy getting to touch and try things on in person when I’m in the mood, especially if I’m with a friend. Sometimes the instant gratification of buying something in person and taking it home immediately wins over the stress I have to deal with.