Ascena closing all 650 of its Dressbarn stores

MAHWAH, N.J. -- Ascena Retail Group Inc. has announced that its Dressbarn brand has "commenced a wind down" of operations and plans to shut all 650 of the women's clothing stores in order to focus on its more profitable brands.

"This decision has no impact on the operations of any of Ascena's other brands and will strengthen the company's overall financial performance," Ascena officials said in a press release.

Monday's announcement follows Ascena's recently completed sale of its Maurices brand.

Ascena is a leading national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes and accessories for women under the Premium Fashion segment (Ann Taylor, LOFT and Lou & Grey), Value Fashion segment (Dressbarn), Plus Fashion segment (Lane Bryant, Catherines and Cacique), and for tween girls under the Kids Fashion segment (Justice).

Ascena retail group, through its retail brands operates e-commerce websites and approximately 3,500 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Its e-commerce distribution location is in Greencastle.

"Dress Barn" was the name chosen by founder Roslyn Jaffe in 1962 when she opened her first store for working mothers, a daring premise at a time when women were expected to quit work after having a baby.

David Jaffe, her son, earlier this month stepped down as chief executive after leading the company for 27 years.

By the time the name was changed to Ascena in 2011, it was an apparel conglomerate, having acquired discount brand Maurices in 2005 and tween company Justice (previously Limited Too) in 2009. Plus-size banners Lane Bryant and Catherines, and discount Fashion Bug were added in 2012, then Ann Inc., including Ann Taylor and Loft, in 2015.