Avenue was once one of the most recognizable names in plus-size fashion, with 222 stores spanning 33 states and a strong presence in California, where 46 locations served shoppers for years. But in August 2019, the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed every single storefront, ending decades of brick-and-mortar shopping for its loyal customer base of women sizes 14 and up. If you’ve searched “Avenue CA” hoping to find a nearby store, here’s what happened to the brand, why it closed, and where you can still shop its plus-size collections today.
What Is Avenue?
Avenue built its name as a specialty retail chain that sold plus-size clothing, footwear, apparel, and jewelry to women across the country. This clothing brand grew into a familiar name with 222 stores spread across 33 states, including many spots in California, before its doors closed in 2019. Avenue mainly served women between 25 years old and 55 years old who wore sizes 14 and above, and the brand ran this retail operation for decades before things changed.
Avenue’s Origins and Brand History
The Avenue brand history starts back in 1983, when Limited Brands merged Lerner Woman with Sizes Unlimited to form a new company called United Retail Group, based in New Rochelle, New Jersey. This company later held its IPO in 1992, and over time its ownership changed hands several times, eventually landing under Versa Capital Management, a private equity firm that guided the brand through its final bankruptcy. Under one corporate umbrella, Avenue also ran two smaller women’s fashion labels, Loralette and Cloudwalkers, alongside the main Avenue brand.
Avenue CA How Many Stores California Had
California held one of the largest concentrations of Avenue stores in the whole country, with 46 locations spread across the state before the shutdown. Out of all 222 Avenue stores operating nationwide, roughly one in five sat inside this single market. This heavy physical retail presence explains why people still search Avenue CA, hoping to find a California store among the old store locations, even though every location in the state has since closed.
Why Avenue Closed All Its Physical Stores
On August 16 2019, Avenue Stores LLC, a Chicago-headquartered plus-size retailer, filed for Chapter 11 reorganization and began store closing sales that Gordon Brothers and Hilco Merchant Resources handled. This bankruptcy filing led to a company-wide shutdown that closed all 222 physical stores at once, not just a handful of locations. No single root cause explained the collapse, but shifting shopping habits away from traditional storefronts and toward online purchasing hit mall-based apparel retail especially hard.
The Closing Sales and Liquidation Process
During the wind-down, Avenue ran storewide liquidation sales that cut prices by 30-50% off the lowest ticketed prices on merchandise such as denim, swimwear, shoes, and accessories. Even store fixtures went up for sale as part of these closures, and the discounts touched stores far beyond California storefronts, including locations on Preston Road in Frisco Texas. Stores in Ohio, New York, and Connecticut faced the exact same process, showing that this wind-down reached every corner of the country.
What Avenue Sold In-Store
Avenue stocked plus-size fashion essentials in sizes 14 to 32, giving shoppers a one-stop destination for everyday wardrobe basics rather than just special-occasion pieces. The clothing assortment covered denim, swimwear, shoes, and accessories, so customers could build a full outfit in one visit. This wide range of merchandise made Avenue useful for daily needs, not only for rare occasions.
Avenue’s Sizing Range and Target Customer
Avenue’s target customer was clear from the start: plus-size women wearing size 14 or larger, a demographic that mainstream mall retailers had long underserved. The brand kept a steady sizing range from 14 to 32 as its main brand promise, even as ownership and store count shifted over the years. This focus on women aged 25 to 55 years old helped Avenue hold onto loyal shoppers for decades.
Avenue Today Online-Only Operations
After the 2019 closures, Avenue did not disappear completely; instead, it transitioned into online-only operations. There is no mall storefront left to visit anywhere in the state, but the brand’s product catalog still lives on through its online retail operation. Anyone searching Avenue CA today should know the business model has fully shifted away from physical stores.
Shopping Avenue CA Online
Californians who once shopped Avenue in person now rely entirely on the brand’s digital presence at avenue.com. Company guidance during the 2019 closures made clear that store closing discounts did not apply to online purchases, and today there is no active physical storefront or brick-and-mortar option left in the state. Anyone searching Avenue CA should visit the official website directly to see what current merchandise is in stock, since that website is the only real way to shop the brand now.
What This Means If You’re Searching for a Local Avenue Store
If you type Avenue CA into a search bar hoping for directions to a local Avenue store, that search interest likely won’t lead anywhere useful in person. None of the 46 California locations that once operated under this name remain open at any nearby mall location today. This pattern happens often with older mall retailers, where strong brand recognition outlives the actual physical retail footprints on the ground.
Alternatives for Plus-Size Shopping in California
Shoppers looking for a similar in-person shopping experience after Avenue’s exit usually turn to other national chains that still keep storefronts open in California, along with plus-size sections inside larger department stores. Since no single successor brand has stepped in to fully replace Avenue, specialty online retailers have also grown fast to fill the gap in plus-size shopping. Because the plus-size retail category keeps changing quickly, it makes sense to compare a few current options before settling on just one.
Conclusion
Avenue’s 2019 bankruptcy closed all 222 of its stores nationwide, including all 46 California locations, marking the end of its brick-and-mortar presence. While no physical Avenue store remains open today, the brand lives on exclusively through its online store at avenue.com, still serving plus-size shoppers with sizes 14 to 32.
FAQs
Is Avenue still open in California?
No, all 46 California stores closed for good after Avenue filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2019.
Why did Avenue close its stores?
Avenue shut down all 222 of its locations nationwide due to declining mall foot traffic and a broader shift toward online shopping.
Can I still shop Avenue online?
Yes, Avenue continues to operate as an online-only retailer at avenue.com, though store closing discounts never applied to online purchases.
What sizes did Avenue carry?
Avenue specialized in plus-size clothing for women, offering sizes 14 to 32 across denim, swimwear, shoes, and accessories.
