Pier 1 stores in Ross, Washington among hundreds set to close

Two local Pier 1 Imports stores are among the more than 400 that will close this year, according to the retailer’s court filings this week.

The locations on McKnight Road in Ross and Washington Road in Washington will close, though it was not immediately clear when, according to court documents filed alongside Pier 1’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Both locations remained open Thursday. Store associates did not know when they might be shuttered.

The retailer announced in early January that it would close 450 stores across the United States and Canada in order to “better align its business with the current operating environment.”

The closures affect every store in Canada.

A news release issued Monday indicated the company already has closed or begun going-out-of-business sales at 400 locations.

Pier 1 CEO Robert Riesbeck said the company has been working to establish an “appropriately sized and profitable store footprint, operating structure and merchandise assortment.”

The voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings are “intended to provide Pier 1 with additional time and financial flexibility as we now work to unlock additional value for our stakeholders through a sale of the company.”