Two Delia’s stores to close in Indy as chain folds

Teen fashion retailer Delia's is closing two stores in the Indianapolis area as it seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to sell all its merchandise.

Delia's plans to close all of its 92 stores nationally. Its central Indiana stores are located in downtown's Circle Centre mall and at 14511 Clay Terrace Blvd. in Carmel.

Close-out sales were expected to get under way at all locations Thursday. The retailer did not specificy exactly when individual stores were set to close, which would depend on remaining inventory.

The company said Monday that it filed for bankruptcy after it failed to find a buyer for the business. Delia's said it has $74 million in assets and $32.2 million in debt.

Retailers, especially those that cater to teens, have been hit hard in the wake of the recession and almost all of them have posted lackluster sales.

Black Friday sales this year tumbled 7 percent this year. Overall, 133.7 million people shopped in stores and online over the four-day weekend around Thanksgiving, down 5.2 percent from last year, according to a survey of 4,631 people conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics for the trade group.

Americans are spending less at the mall and when they do spend, they're often doing so at fast-fashion stores like H&M and Forever 21.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Aeropostale Inc. have been hammered this year and their shares have fallen 22 percent and 73 percent, respectively, over the past 12 months.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. is down 20 percent in that same time period and Urban Outfitters Inc. is down more than 13 percent.

Last week, Delia's signed a deal with Hilco Merchant Resources, LLC and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners to liquidate its merchandise and dispose of its furnishings and equipment. CEO Tracy Gardner and Chief Operating Officer Brian Lex Austin-Gemas resigned on Friday.