Claire's history dates back to 1961. After becoming a mall staple in the '90s, the retailer has fallen on hard times and announced US store closures.

Mall-based teen accessories retailer Claire’s, known for helping to usher in millions of teens into an important rite of passage — ear piercing — but

Claire’s, the low-cost jewelry and accessory retailer, filed for bankruptcy Wednesday and notified the state of New Jersey that it plans to lay off employees. “This decision is difficult but a necessary one,