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Forever 21 is calling it quits (round two)

If you usually hit up the mall on the weekends, you’re gonna want to plan a trip down Portage pretty quick here because two huge staple stores are throwing in the towel, and it's happening fast.

Shout out to the Winnipeg Free Press for originally breaking the scoop on this—it feels like the mall lineup changes every time you turn around, but this is a pretty big shakeup. Here’s the deal on what’s closing, what’s coming, and how much time you have left to hunt through the clearance racks.

So, Forever 21 is wrapping things up again. According to the Free Press report, their final day is looking like July 12, and they’re already doing the whole storewide liquidation thing. It feels like just yesterday they did that massive exit from Canada back in 2019, only to buy their way back into our hearts a few years later. Guess the Polo Park run just didn't stick this time.

Thriftys is moving in

But hey, the space isn’t just going to sit there under a giant sheet of drywall for months. Thriftys is moving right into that exact spot. They’re aiming to open around July 22, so a super quick turnaround.

The actually good news here—and I was honestly relieved to hear this—is that since Forever 21 and Thriftys are owned by the same massive parent company (YM Inc.), the staff are being offered transfers to the new store or other spots they own. At least our local retail folks aren't just getting left out in the cold, which is a massive win.

This one hurts a bit for the affordable jeans department: Bluenotes is also leaving Polo. They’ve got a little more time left on the clock than Forever 21, with their doors staying open until about July 27.

It’s definitely a bummer to lose a reliable, casual spot, but hey, you've still got a few weeks to pop in, cruise the clearance section, and see if you can score some cheap hoodies or whatever before they lock the gates for good.

The “Don't Forget” Timeline

Because honestly, who can keep track of July schedules when it's finally nice outside?

  • Right Now: Forever 21 closing sales are fully happening.
  • July 12: Forever 21's expected final day.
  • July 22: Thriftys opens up in the old F21 space.
  • July 27: Bluenotes calls it a day.

It’s always weird when the mall changes layout, but losing two spots at once definitely ruins the usual routine. If you want to grab some cheap stuff or just see the stores one last time, fight the parking lot traffic and get down there before mid-month!

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