The Limited's Stores Just Got Eliminated

The Limited is a mall staple no longer, abruptly announcing that all its remaining 250 locations would close Sunday, reports the Washington Post, resulting in about 4,000 job losses. Per a statement on the retailer's website: "We're sad to say that all The Limited stores nationwide have officially closed their doors. But this isn't goodbye," as the company's website will continue to operate. It's a stark turnaround for a chain that "was on fire" two decades ago, notes CNN, with a peak of more than 750 stores. But the writing was on the wall, notes the Post, over a holiday shopping season that saw discounts of up to 80% and a sudden no-returns policy. The major culprit driving The Limited's demise, one retail consultant says, is that shoppers are "looking for really fast fashion, for things that are hyper-relevant to what’s going on in fashion right now—and as inexpensive as possible." (Macy's also announced layoffs after a miserable holiday season.)