The Icing, which filed for bankruptcy in May 1995, and began going-out-of-business sales late in December, was an upscale accessories and apparel chain.
Claire’s, based in Pembroke Pines, Fla., did not purchase any other assets or liabilities of The Icing.
According to a Claire’s spokesman, the company expects to have 55 to 60 of the new locations stocked and in operation by May 1.
Thirty-three of the units are in malls currently without Claire’s stores.
Those stores will be switched to the Claire’s name, whereas some of the remaining 52 units, where Claire’s already has stores, will continue to use The Icing label.
Claire’s already has some mall locations with more than one unit bearing the Claire’s name and the spokesman said that if the units are spread reasonably far apart, it is possible that both will carry the Claire’s name. He said decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Claire’s Stores Inc. owns and operates 1,329 stores in the U.S., Canada, Japan and the Caribbean, under the names Claire’s, Claire’s Boutiques, Topkapi, Dara Michelle and Claire’s Accessories.