Forever 21 closing over 200 stores including Reno-Sparks locations

Forever 21 is closing over 200 stores, including locations in Meadowood Mall and the Outlets at Legends, leaving Reno-Sparks without a branch of the fast-fashion chain.

Here's what you need to know about store discounts in Northern Nevada, what is happening to the brand as a whole and when the Reno and Sparks locations will close.

Are Reno Forever 21 locations offering discounts? When will the Forever 21 in Reno and Sparks close?

Meadowood Mall and Legends stores are offering 30% off storewide and 50% off clearance items through Wednesday, March 12.

Starting Thursday, the discount is 40% off storewide and 60% off clearance items, a Forever 21 employee told the RGJ.

The closure date depends on how fast the products can be sold, with staff anticipating their final days in April or May.

Why is Forever 21 closing locations? Is Forever 21 bankrupt?

As news of other Forever 21 store closings trickle in across the country, the clothing retailer is set to lay off more than 350 employees from its Los Angeles corporate office, which it plans to close, according to a Feb. 14-dated Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification.

The chain, which sells trendy styles for young men and women at low prices, has struggled to compete with Chinese online discount sites Shein and Temu.

“This decision was not made lightly,” a Forever 21 spokesperson said in a statement provided to USA TODAY. “And we remain committed to transparency and fair treatment of our employees during this period of transition.”

Its operating company told USA TODAY it is exploring a potential sale. The Wall Street Journal reported in early February that the retailer is hoping to avoid bankruptcy, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. 

How many Forever 21 stores are there in the United States?

The chain currently has 359 U.S. stores, a decline from more than 500 at its peak. 

Are all Forever 21 stores closing?

So far the chain has announced they are closing 200 of its 359 locations.

Is Forever 21 going out of business?

According to People magazine, the brand is not disappearing but moving to a more digital-first platform.

Forever 21 online discounts, final sale notices on site

The Meadowood Mall Forever 21 location isn't the only place people can find discounts on the brand that reached its peak between 2005 and 2015. The online store is offering 70% off sitewide.

However, all sales are final, with no returns or exchanges after purchase. April 5 is the last day to redeem gift cards.

What is Forever 21?

Forever 21 is a fast fashion brand that was started in Los Angeles in 1984 by Do Won Chang and Jin Sook Change, a married couple who emigrated to California from South Korea in 1981.

The chain reached its height between 2005 and 2015 when it had more than 500 locations and is somewhat synonymous with Millennial fashion partly because it reached its height when that generation was in need of trendy, affordable clothes which F21 offered.

Forever 21 is now owned by Catalyst Brands, a parent company that formed when JCPenney merged with SPARC Group. Catalyst Brands also owns  Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, Nautica, Stafford, Arizona, and Liz Claiborne.