Citing slow sales, the Bath & Body Works shop at the Durango Mall plans to close Jan. 23.
Shanice Medina, store supervisor, said store sales have slowed to a point where the store is no longer viable.
“With the pandemic, it’s been hard on the company in general, and this mall is not very big,” she said.
The store has two full-time employees and 18 part-time employees, she said.
Bath & Body Works is part of L Brands, which also includes Victoria’s Secret. Emails to L Brands corporate office seeking comment were not returned.
Desiree Padilla, office administrator with the Durango Mall, said several residents have contacted the mall expressing inaccurate beliefs that the entire shopping plaza will be closing.
“We have plans to lease the former J.C. Penney and Pier 1 locations and look forward to bringing new retail opportunities to Durango and the Four Corners area,” she said in an email to The Durango Herald.
Padilla said it is unclear how the rumor about the entire mall’s closing began. She said it could be because of recent discussions about redevelopment in the area, a discussion that began when FIS Worldpay vacated its neighboring 81,000-square-foot building.
“While Durango Mall is looking forward to participating in conversations with the community and its leaders, we do not expect the redevelopment of the area or neighboring parcels to negatively impact the mall or its operations,” she said in the email.
A semi-annual sale offering 50% to 75% off products from fall, Christmas and discontinued merchandise will be underway at the Bath & Body Works shop until it closes, Medina said.
After Jan. 23, any unsold products will be shipped to other Bath & Body Works shops, she said.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
