A much-loved toy store in Charlotte is scheduled to close early next year — its last in the Carolinas.
American Girl has been a popular presence at South Park Mall since 2014, with young customers visiting the experiential retail store for tea and parties, as well as to purchase from a wide range of dolls.
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This Christmas will be the last time gift shoppers will be able to purchase toys at their local North Carolina store, and it will be the last time young people will be able to spend their holiday money in person on their favorite characters.
Once the store closes its doors for good in February next year, fans will have to travel to Nashville, Tennessee or Washington, D.C. to get to their nearest outlet.
Final chance
The 12,000-square-foot Charlotte store opened in 2014 in the Macy's wing of South Park Mall.
It will close on February 17 next year. A message on the American Girl website simply says: “Thank you, Charlotte. We will miss you!
Read more about store closures
Fans received the news sadly on Facebook.
“We have to go one last time,” said one of them.
Another simply commented: “Oh my goodness!”
Girl power
This latest closure reduced the number of American Doll stores nationwide to seven, as there were branches throughout the United States.
The brand, now owned by Mattel, was launched by businesswoman Pleasant T. Rowland in 1986.
Her first product line was the American Girls collection, historical dolls representing girls living during different periods of US history.
Each of the characters in the collection is also featured in a series of books that explore different eras.
Roland's focus was on integrating learning and play through aspirational characters, with historical dolls representing those different times in US history.
The first American Girl store opened in Chicago in 1998 and was more than just a place to buy toys, featuring events, activities and salon treatments for young fans and their dolls.
That same year, Mattel purchased the company and at one point there were 18 American Doll stores across the country.
Figures on the American Girl website indicate that since the company was founded in 1986, it has sold 36 million dolls and more than 162 million books.
American Girl Store Locations
When the Charlotte branch of American Girl closes, there will be seven remaining locations across the country. they:
- chicago
- Dallas
- Los Angeles
- nashville
- New York
- Orlando
- Washington, DC
closing
The closing of the American Doll store in Charlotte is the latest in a string of stores that have closed shop.
Discount Big Lots closed 50 stores in October, then announced it would close 19 more in nine states, including Texas, Oregon and California.
Furniture retailer American Freight is closing all 328 of its locations in 41 states.
Save A Lot is expected to close its Cedar Rapids, Iowa, store around Christmas after 28 years of operation.
Kohl's is scheduled to close its store in Stoughton, Massachusetts, in the new year.
