Fitness Holdings International, a retailer of fitness equipment for home use, has closed two O.C. Busy Body Home Fitness stores in Tustin and Costa Mesa.
The Long Beach-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2008, according to a court document.
Initially, the retailer planned to close 19 stores. None of those were in Orange County. Then, the retailer announced additional unprofitable stores it wanted to close — which include the locations at The District at Tustin Legacy and Costa Mesa, according to a bankruptcy court document. I recently drove by these two stores and they were closed.
In Orange County, Busy Body has three locations left –- Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel and Huntington Beach, according to its Web site.
Busy Body sells treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines, dumbbells and other fitness equipment.
“The impact of weakness in the economy and declines in the performance of the retail sector, in general, has negatively impacted sales …,” according to a bankruptcy court document.
(Photo of the Tustin Busy Body store from the retailer’s Web site.)
More from OC Retail:
- Clothing maker files for bankruptcy
- Another big store at The Block closes
- Clothing maker has major expansion in O.C.
- What may replace Virgin Megastore at The Block
- Circuit City discusses possible sale
- The Block to get discount department store
- Kohl’s to move into 3 O.C. Mervyn’s stores
- Forever 21 to move into O.C. Mervyn’s store
- Downtown Disney store to close
- Macy’s exec addresses store closure rumors
- $35 movie ticket may be coming to O.C.
- Office Depot plans to close 112 stores
- 1,000-plus store closures expected after Christmas
- Quiksilver to close 25 stores
- Surf shop at The Block closes
- O.C.-based oil-change chain in bankruptcy
- KB Toys closes O.C. store
- Clothing retailer to close as many as 100 more stores
- Downtown Disney store owner files for bankruptcy
- O.C. called 6th best U.S. market for mall owners
- Drugstore opens its first high-end beauty store in O.C.
For more from OC Retail, see list of links on right-hand side of this blog.
I was at the District last weekend and noticed that Hush Baby has vacated its store. It must have happened very fast as it was still there a couple of weeks ago.
I’m surprised more stores haven’t closed at The District. Sure, the big box stores might do alright, but the “mall” part of that center (where the movie theater and Borders is) is weak. First off there are several duplicated typed stores in a very tiny spot: Vans, Beach Bums, Zumies, Tilly’s… How many teen oriented generic surfwear stores do you need in a 100 yard radius? It’s shocking these stores are even still in business.
Other recent closures:
Erica Dee in Corona del Mar
Little Blossom at Bella Terra
Clothes for the Soul on 17th in Costa Mesa
Bella Bleu on 17th in Costa Mesa
Wine Styles on 17th in Costa Mesa
Well this is not surprising given the crisis.
MikeCrabe
This economy is definitely doing damage to businesses big & small.
One correction though:
Bella Bleu on 17th Street in Costa Mesa is still open.