In 2015, with much fanfare, Arizona’s first and only American Girl doll store opened at Scottsdale Quarter. Sadly the retail chain has announced the store is closed for good.
“It has been our privilege to serve this community for the past five years, and we thank our customers for their loyalty and look forward to continuing our valued relationship with them,” Jamie Cygielman, American Girl general manager, said in a press release.
“While decisions that impact our associates, our customers, and the community are always difficult, the closure is a necessary step to optimize our store portfolio and accelerate our expanding e-commerce business.”
The Wisconsin-based maker of inclusive dolls, which has been owned by toy giant Mattel since 1998, said the closure will impact 26 employees, including 12 regular full- and part-time workers.
Arizona collectors only option now is to shop online at AmericanGirl.com or travel to one of the company’s 14 remaining stores. The closest store is in Los Angeles, California.
American Girl dolls debuted in 1986 with a line of historical characters representing girls ages 8-12, complete with books about their backstories and a selection of accessories.
Over the years, the company began producing dolls of varying ethnicities and backgrounds, each model with her own motivational story. In addition, the line offers customers the opportunity to custom order dolls that match their own appearance and style.
In addition to the impressive retail store which sales a variety of dolls, clothing, accessories and books, American Girl stores host birthday parties and events and offer makeovers in their in-house doll hair salon.
The dolls have also been the subject of theatrical, TV and several direct-to-video movies.
