They include fabric and crafts retailer Joann Inc and Party City. In February, Outdoor apparel seller Liberated Brands, which has operated stores for surfer and skater-inspired labels like Quiksilver, Billabong, and Volcom, filed for bankruptcy — and said it plans to shutter its locations across the U.S. From Jan. 1 through March 14, U.S. retailers have so far announced 3,735 store closures, according to Coresight Research's weekly tracker. Forever 21 had been battling a host of macroeconomic challenges as well as its own issues. Forever 21 was founded in 1984 and, along with other fast-fashion chains like H&M and Zara, rode a wave of popularity among young customers in the mid-1990s. Their popularity grew during the Great Recession, when shoppers were seeking bargains. But Forever 21 went on an aggressive expansion just as shoppers were moving more online. Critics have said that Forever 21 was too slow to embrace online shopping.