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The Cache in Lehigh Valley Mall has closed.
(Precious Petty | lehighvalleylive.com)
The Delia's at Lehigh Valley Mall is closing this weekend.
The Cache at Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township has closed.
Several employees were inside the store Wednesday evening, but its doors were closed and locked. Bare mannequins were visible through the storefront window.
A notice posted on the door confirms the store is permanently shuttered and advises customers to visit the Cache at King of Prussia Mall.
Cache, a New York City-based women's clothing retailer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month. Reports say that, for now, the 40-year-old mall chain plans to stay in business while it closes stores and sells or renegotiates leases.
The chain is in default on about 50 commercial leases, according to reports, and its largest creditor is Simon Property Group Inc., which operates Lehigh Valley Mall. Cache owes Simon $1.4 million.
Known for helping to popularize Armani and Versace in the U.S., Cache has become a go-to store for prom dress shoppers over the years. It's the fourth women's clothing retailer with a Lehigh Valley Mall store to file for bankruptcy since the end of last year. The others are Deb Shops, Delia's and Wet Seal.
Delia's last day of business at the mall is Sunday, according to signs posted in the store and an employee on hand Wednesday. The store's remaining merchandise only fills a handful of clothing racks and the furniture is on sale, as well.
Deb Shops is closing all of its stores in the region, including the one at Lehigh Valley Mall, however, it's not clear when. Employees on Wednesday said they don't know either and noted that new merchandise continues to arrive.
Wet Seal's mall store is slated to remain open.
Precious Petty may be reached at ppetty@express-times.com. Follow her on Twitter @precpetty. Find Lehigh County news on Facebook.