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End of an era? Claire's will reportedly file for bankruptcy

The accessories retailer will file for bankruptcy in the next few weeks, Bloomberg reports.
Claire's has pierced more than 100 million ears since the 1970s.
Pedestrians pass a Claire's store, operated by Claire's Stores Inc., on Oxford Street in London, U.K., in April 2014. The chain is seeking Chapter 11 protection, according to Bloomberg.Getty Images
/ Source: TODAY

We can hardly believe our (pierced) ears!

Claire’s Stores Inc., the fashion accessories chain that has apparently pierced more than 100 million ears since 1978, reportedly plans to file for bankruptcy.

The company is about $2 billion in debt, according to a recent report from Bloomberg. Seeking Chapter 11 protection would be a way to keep stores open, at least for now, while executives figure out a longer-term plan. (We reached out to Claire's parent company for more details and will update this post if we hear back.)

So, Claire’s stores aren’t shutting their doors just yet — but things aren't exactly looking up for the tween retailer.

Like other former mall standbys such as Limited Too and Wet Seal, Claire’s has struggled to compete against online shopping and the general drop in popularity of physical malls in the U.S.

Claire's public image also took a hit this past December, after a Rhode Island mom discovered asbestos in her daughter's makeup from the store.

Still, Claire's was a huge part of many people's childhood and preteen years, and fans took to Twitter to pay tribute to the beloved accessories retailer.

Claire’s really was (and still is) a magical, one-stop shop for cheap jewelry, nail decals, glittery butterfly clips and plastic tiaras. If the company does end up shutting down, it will truly be the end of an era.

Claire's is hanging in there, though, and they may still find a way to keep doors open.

But if the stores disappear for good, they will leave at least one lasting legacy: the millions of holes they’ve pierced in ears around the world!