Bridal dress retailer closes all stores — and panic ensues

It's a nightmare for brides-to-be.



Alfred Angelo, which has more than 60 stores nationwide, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and abruptly closed all its locations, leaving untold numbers of shocked customers in a panic. A note on the bridal retailer's website said that "Alfred Angelo filed for bankruptcy on July 14, 2017. As a result, all stores and wholesalers are closed." The company also said it would post "additional information regarding the status of dresses on this web-site as it becomes available."



According to various reports, Alfred Angelo headquarters told stores to ship out any dresses ordered by brides before closing the stores. But not all did, and many customers are left with no idea of when they will receive their dresses—if ever—and if their money will be refunded. As part of its filing, Alfred Angelo dismissed all its employees, including headquarters executives.



David's Bridal is reaching out to customers impacted by the bankruptcy, offering a 30% discount on wedding dresses and a 20% discount on bridesmaid dresses to customers who present their originial Alfred Angelo retail receipt. It is also waiving rushing fees on alterations.



Based in Delray Beach, Fla., Alfred Angelo is privately owned. In addition to its own stores, it sold dresses under its brand at more than 2,500 stores.



In Alfred Angelo's bankruptcy filing, it revealed that it had no more than $50,000 in assets and was over $50 million in debt, according to the New York Times.