ATTLEBORO — Bob’s Stores at Marketplace Square on Route 1 in South Attleboro is going out of business as the discount clothing and shoe retailer announced it is closing all its stores.
The store at 287 Washington St. (Route 1) will be closing in September, a store representative said Tuesday.
The owner of Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports two weeks ago filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing a “liquidity crisis.”
“We regret that our financial position necessitated the liquidation of Bob’s Stores,” Bob’s Stores president Dave Barton said in a statement.
“Bob’s has been a stalwart of our local communities for nearly 70 years, and we know our customers remember us as having been there for major moments in their lives,” Barton said.
The store in Seekonk closed in 2020.
The South Atteboro store is among six in Massachusetts. They are also located in in Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Liquidation sales at Bob’s Stores are already underway, with discounts of between 30% and 70% off regular retail prices. Store fixtures, furniture and equipment will also be for sale. The company will accept gift cards and exchanges up until July 14.
Founder Bob Lapidus opened the first “Bob’s Surplus” store in Middletown, Conn. in 1954. The brand was acquired by Marshalls and TJ Maxx owner TJX in 2003 before being sold to private equity firms in 2008.
Retail store closures have been surging across the country in 2024 as the industry deals with bankruptcies and the impact of inflation on shoppers.
David Linton may be reached at 508-236-0338.