Rue 21 closing all stores; there is one in Gainesville

Rue 21 plans to close all 543 of its of its stores within the next two months while conducting “going out of business” sales, according to court documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. 

The teen fashion retailer has 38 stores in Georgia, including one each in Gainesville, Buford, Commerce and Dawsonville.

This decision comes as a result of pandemic challenges and the rise of online shopping, which have impacted many retailers. 

The company is nearly $200 million in debt and had tried to find a buyer for its stores.