Laura’s Shoppe to close 20 womenswear stores and seek rent cuts on 26 others

MONTREAL – Canadian retailer Laura’s Shoppe Inc. is planning to close 20 stores within a few weeks and seek rent reductions on 26 others as it restructures in an effort to ensure its survival.

The stores will close by Sept. 13, according to a report from the court-appointed monitor KPMG.

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Besides the Laura, Laura Petites and Laura Plus brands, the company operates under the Melanie Lyne banner.

READ MORE: Clothing retailer Laura files for creditor protection, plans to restructure

It isn’t immediately clear which of the chain’s 162 locations are affected or how many of Laura’s 2,330 employees will lose their jobs.

The company is also terminating leases at its office and warehouse in Laval, Que., and office in Mississauga, Ont.

The Montreal-based company, founded in 1930, had almost $124 million in liabilities and only $72.5 million of assets as of July 4, according to the report.