Francesca’s is closing its store in downtown SLO. Here’s why
A staple of many millennials’ closets seems to be permanently closing up shop — including in downtown San Luis Obispo.
According to an exclusive report in Women’s Wear Daily on Jan. 15, clothing and accessory chain Francesca’s is preparing to close all its stores and liquidate inventory amid claims from one of its vendors that they are owed $250 million from Francesca’s in unpaid invoices.
This comes after a rough couple of years for the Houston-based company, which in 2020 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections, citing reduced foot traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After narrowly avoiding having to liquidate the entire business, the chain emerged from bankruptcy in 2021.
According to its website, Francesca’s currently operates 457 boutiques across 45 states and employs 3,414 associates.
Details from the company itself on the closures were scarce. An official statement was not posted on the Francesca’s website or social media, and a Tribune request for comment was not returned as of Tuesday afternoon.
SLO Francesca’s holding storewide sale
Meanwhile, at the San Luis Obispo location, signs went up in the windows of the 846 Monterey St. store over the weekend announcing a store-wide sale, with prices between 20% and 40% off.
A store worker declined to share information on if or when the business was closing.
Francesca’s opened in what was called the SLO Chinatown project in October 2016, alongside the since-closed Marine Layer and Mint+Craft, as well as longtime businesses Williams Sonoma and H&M.
Marine Layer has since been replaced by Sandbox Kids and Nomo Domo took over the former Mint+Craft space in August 2025.
Lululemon also opened near the same time on that same downtown block, but has since moved to a larger space at 980 Higuera St. It was replaced by Brandy Melville in May 2025.
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