WICKER PARK — At the end of April, American Apparel will close all of its retail stores, including its first Midwest outpost, directly across the street from the recently closed Double Door music club.
Located at 1563 N. Milwaukee Ave., the American Apparel Wicker Park shop opened in 2004.
On Wednesday, a worker at the Lakeview American Apparel, 929 W. Belmont Ave., said that its store will close on March 26, while stores in Wicker Park and Downtown, at 39 S. State St., will close at the end of April.
A spokeswoman for Los Angeles-based American Apparel did not return a request for comment on the closures of the Wicker Park shop and the Evanston, Downtown and Lincoln Park outposts.
For the last month, there has been a 40 percent off sale at the Wicker Park American Apparel, and even the mannequins in the display window are on sale — for as little as $5 a limb, according to posts on Instagram.
On Tuesday, the window display — known for featuring fashionably dressed mannequins decked out for the season or upcoming holidays — was empty.
"It's a bummer that the largest clothing manufacturer in the USA, @americanapparelusa is closing its doors. Another hit for American clothing manufacturing, but the good news is ... I cleaned up on clearance mannequins at the store closing sale," designer Anna Hovet posted on Instagram, while clutching two torsos.
The American Apparel brand's new owners, Canadian apparel maker Gildan Activewear, has not bought any of American Apparel's 110 retail shops, so all are scheduled to close by the end of April, according to reports.
American Apparel's landlord could not immediately be reached for comment on whether a new tenant will replace American Apparel after it closes.
Meanwhile, the former Double Door, at 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., has been shuttered since the club was evicted on Feb 6.
The building's owner, Brian Strauss, declined to comment on the future of the 10,000-square-foot location and what could replace Double Door.
Double Door's marquee has been empty for a few week and bar stools were removed on Monday. [DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]
