A major clothing brand is pulling out of Washington, D.C., after thieves ransacked one of its stores

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Lululemon has shut down its 14th Street location in Northwest Washington, DC. The store’s abrupt closure, which took place on Sunday, July 21, 2024, comes just days after the store was ransacked by thieves.

The brand left a heartfelt farewell note to its loyal customers, expressing gratitude for their support over the years. The note, which was shared with local news site PoPville, read:

“Our location is closing. Our time at this location is coming to an end. We’ve loved being a part of this community and are grateful to have been here!”

It didn’t specify the reasons behind the closure, but it’s clear that recent thefts played a role. The 14th Street store was one of several Lululemon locations targeted in Washington DC recently. On the same day as the 14th Street robbery, the Georgetown and Penn Quarter stores also experienced thefts. Surveillance footage revealed that four individuals were involved in these thefts.

The company has yet to confirm the exact reasons for the closure, but it’s part of a larger trend. Lululemon has been scaling back operations in various cities, with recent closures including their Pacific Place store in Seattle back in April. The retail chain is also planning to shut down four more stores soon.

This pattern of closures comes amidst a troubling rise in retail crime across the US. The National Retail Federation reports that retailers lost $112 billion to theft in 2022, a significant jump from $93 billion in 2021. Inflation and economic pressures have made many stores more vulnerable to such crimes.

Lululemon’s exit from DC is a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by retailers in today’s climate. The community will surely miss the store, which had become a staple for many fitness enthusiasts and fashion-conscious shoppers alike.