The very first American Apparel is officially closing

It’s a sign of the times: American Apparel is closing its first ever store.

The company, known for their racy advertising, hip clothing, and playful sayings, has suffered a turbulent few years. Their controversial founder Dov Charney was ousted from the company twice, and in the year since his official firing, American Apparel has undergone some structural changes. They filed bankruptcy earlier this year and announcing the pending closure of several underperforming locations.

One of those locations is the original American Apparel in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles. The store opened its doors back in 2003 on Sunset Boulevard. Part of the store’s major appeal was that garments were manufactured hyper-locally, with AA’s corporate headquarters a hop, skip, and jump away in nearby downtown Los Angeles.

“This store closure is a next step in implementing our previously announced turnaround plan, which includes closing underperforming locations and investing in new stores in promising areas,” the company told The Eastsider in a statement.

There’s no news on when exactly it will close, but a listing on LoopNet notes that the 5,300-square-foot store is already up for lease and available in February.

(Images via Shutterstock)