New Jersey-based Dressbarn closing its 650 women’s clothing stores

BY Christopher Lang, Correspondent, @topherlang2, MonroeNow, May 21, 2019

The parent company of a women’s clothing retail chain said Monday that it plans to close all 650 Dressbarn stores to focus more on its profitable brands.

Ascena Retail Group, which owns Dressbarn, said the decision to end the retail store that has been in business for 50 years was not any easy choice.

The parent company of Dressbarn, New Jersey-based Ascena Retail Group, announced Monday that it will close the women’s clothing stores 650 locations. Photo Courtesy of Dwight Burdette

“This was difficult, but necessary, as the Dressbarn chain has not been operating at an acceptable level of profitability in today’s retail environment,” said Dressbarn CEO Steven Taylor in the statement announcing the closing. “During the wind down process, we will continue to provide our customers with the same great experience both in-store and online, offering them even better deals and value.”

Dressbarn has 29 locations in New Jersey, including East Windsor, Hamilton, Jackson, South Plainfield, and Toms River.

The first Dressbarn store opened in 1962 in Stamford, Connecticut, by Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe. The chain has 6,800 associates and is based now in Mahwah, the headquarters of Ascena Retail Group.

Ascena is also the parent company of Ann Inc., which operates Ann Taylor and Loft stores.