Report: Filene’s Basement closing 11 stores

BOSTON—Filene’s Basement, the chain known for its bridal gown sale, reportedly is closing about a third of its 36 stores.

A spokeswoman for the chain’s parent company told The Boston Globe it has been unable to negotiate rent reductions for 11 locations and plans to close them by the end of February.

Julie Davis, general counsel of Retail Ventures Inc., told the Globe: “We’re still hoping there are some landlord negotiations that might help us keep stores.“ Stores to be closed are in Framingham, Mass.; three in Maryland, two in Illinois, two in Pennsylvania, and one each in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.

Davis declined to comment whether there would be cuts at the chain’s Burlington headquarters.

A message left at Retail Ventures corporate offices after business hours Tuesday was not immediately returned. The Burlington offices of Filene’s Basement were closed for the day.