A BELOVED fashion chain has abruptly closed all of its stores with no warning, leaving patrons devastated.
Al's Formal Wear, the popular chain of tuxedo rentals, has closed its doors for good.
The stores, located in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Colorado, shuttered their doors for good on Monday, August 7.
Employees were given little warning of the closure, according to ABC 13.
The publication reported that employees received an email that read: "I regret to inform you that you are being laid off from your position effective Monday, August 7, 2023.
"Unfortunately, the company is compelled to cease operations effective immediately."
One groomsman realized the store was closed amid trying to get fitted for a friend's wedding.
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He told ABC13 that the closure might disrupt his plans.
"We're all supposed to match and look the same," he said.
"Maybe we'll all be wearing cowboy boots, jeans, and T-shirts," he joked.
Al's Formal Wear, originally family-owned, was sold to Atlanta-based Dapper and Dashing in 2017.
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The office runs roughly seven regional rental and wedding boutique brands.
The closure comes amid reports that 1,400 outlets will shut their doors across the US this year.
Major retailers closed 12,000 stores in 2020 and over 9,300 stores stopped trading in 2019, according to The Week.
Thousands of stores have closed over the past decade as shoppers have transitioned to online retail.
The demand for online retail surged as stores were shut down during Covid-19 lockdowns.
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