You’ve probably walked past it a thousand times while trying to find a parking spot near the food court. The massive Forever 21 at The Parks Mall at Arlington has been a fixture of local weekend plans for years. It’s that place where you go to find a last-minute outfit for a Saturday night or grab a cheap pair of sunglasses because you lost yours at Six Flags. But lately, things have been feeling a little different.
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news, you know the retail world is currently in a bit of a tailspin. Forever 21, the brand that basically invented the "buy it now, wear it tonight, forget it tomorrow" style of shopping, has been navigating some seriously choppy waters. In early 2025, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time. For shoppers in Arlington, this isn't just corporate jargon. It means the physical store we’ve visited for years is caught in the middle of a massive national restructuring.
The Reality of Forever 21 Arlington TX Right Now
So, what’s actually happening on the ground? The main location people care about is at 3811 S. Cooper St., tucked inside The Parks Mall at Arlington. It’s a huge space—nearly 40,000 square feet—and it has historically been one of the anchor-adjacent heavy hitters in the mall.
Right now, the store is still operating, but it’s under a cloud of "liquidation" talk. When a company hits Chapter 11, they don't always vanish overnight. Instead, they try to slim down. They cut the stores that cost too much in rent or aren't pulling their weight. Unfortunately, the Arlington location was specifically named in the initial lists of potential closures across Texas.
If you head there today, you might see "Going Out of Business" signs or deep discount banners. It’s a bittersweet vibe. On one hand, you can snag a jacket for the price of a latte. On the other, it’s the end of an era for a store that defined high school and college fashion for a whole generation of North Texans.
Finding the Store (While You Still Can)
If you're planning a trip to grab those final deals, here is the basic info you need to know. Don't rely on old GPS data because mall entrances can be a pain.
- Location: The Parks Mall at Arlington (Level 1 and 2, near the Barnes & Noble entrance).
- Address: 3811 S. Cooper St., Arlington, TX 76015.
- Typical Hours: Mon-Thu 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Fri-Sat 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Sun 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM.
The phone number for the store is (817) 557-0431, though honestly, with the bankruptcy proceedings, getting someone to pick up a landline in a retail store is getting harder by the day.
Why is this happening?
It’s easy to blame the internet, but it’s more specific than that. Forever 21 got squeezed from both sides. On the high end, you have brands like Zara and H&M that managed to feel a bit more "adult." On the low end, the rise of Shein and Temu basically beat Forever 21 at its own game. Why drive to South Cooper Street when you can scroll through 10,000 items on an app while lying in bed?
Plus, rent at major malls like The Parks isn't cheap. Maintaining 34,000+ square feet of floor space requires a massive amount of foot traffic. When that traffic dips, the math just stops working.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Closures
A lot of people think that once a store announces bankruptcy, the doors lock the next day. That’s not how it works. These things are slow. They have to sell off every single belt, sock, and mannequin.
Also, it’s worth noting that the Grand Prairie Premium Outlets nearby often get confused with the Arlington location. While they are close, the Parks Mall location is the primary "full" store experience. If you’re looking for the current trendy items rather than last season’s leftovers, the Parks Mall spot was always the better bet.
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Actionable Tips for Arlington Shoppers
If you are a die-hard fan of the brand or just someone who loves a good liquidation sale, here is how you should play this:
- Check for "Final Sale" Stickers: During bankruptcy liquidations, the return policy usually goes out the window. If you buy it, you own it. Check for holes or broken zippers before you leave the store.
- Use Your Gift Cards NOW: This is the big one. Historically, when retailers go through this, there is a very narrow window where they are legally required to honor gift cards. If you have a $50 card in your junk drawer, drive to the mall this weekend. Do not wait.
- Watch the Rewards Points: If you use their credit card or loyalty program, those points might become worthless soon. Burn them while the registers are still ringing.
- Look for the Fixtures: Weirdly enough, some of the best deals at the very end of a store's life aren't the clothes—it's the furniture. If you’re a reseller or a small business owner, you can sometimes buy the clothing racks and displays for pennies on the dollar during the final weeks.
The Future of The Parks Mall
The loss of a massive tenant like Forever 21 is a blow to the mall, but it’s not a death sentence. The Parks Mall has stayed surprisingly relevant compared to other malls in DFW. With Dick’s Sporting Goods, Nordstrom Rack, and the Round1 Amusement center keeping people coming in, the space will eventually be filled. We might see it broken up into smaller boutiques or perhaps a new "entertainment" concept.
For now, the era of the giant fast-fashion temple in Arlington is fading. It’s a weird shift, but that’s the nature of retail in 2026. Everything moves fast, and nothing stays "forever."
Check the store's current status on the official mall directory before you head out, as things are changing weekly. If the doors are already dark, your next best bet for that specific aesthetic is the H&M just a few doors down or making the trek over to the Hulen Mall area in Fort Worth.