Claire's history dates back to 1961. After becoming a mall staple in the '90s, the retailer has fallen on hard times and announced US store closures.

Mall-based teen retailer Claire’s, known for helping to usher teens into a key rite of passage _ ear piercing _ but now struggling with a big debt load and changing consumer tastes, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Fashion jewelry retailer Claire's filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States on Wednesday, its second bankruptcy filing after 2018, with a plan to close hundreds of stores and find a buyer for about 800 remaining locations.