The Gap’s closure leaves gap at Centerra

LOVELAND — The Gap’s apparel store in Loveland will close today, one of 70 locations in the United States and Canada to be shuttered as part of what the San Francisco-based chain called a “fleet optimization” in the wake of sluggish holiday sales.

Eight employees worked at the store in the Promenade Shops at Centerra as of today. The 10,485-square-foot store opened in November 2006, Promenade Shops marketing manager Tiffany Villavicencio said in an email to BizWest, adding that “their departure coincides with their original lease expiration date.”

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Gap corporate officials did not return calls seeking more details before BizWest’s afternoon deadline.

“As part of a comprehensive strategy to position Gap brand for improved business performance and build for the future, Gap Inc. recently announced it would reduce its North America specialty-store fleet by about 175 stores over the course of the next few years,” said the company in a statement on its website.

The company also closed its store at Southlands in Aurora on Tuesday. Its remaining Colorado stores are at FlatIron Crossing in Broomfield, the Promenade Shops at Briargate in Colorado Springs, and Denver-area locations at the Cherry Creek, Park Meadows, Aspen Grove, Denver Pavilions and Southwest Plaza shopping centers.

Gap stores at Greeley Mall in Greeley and at Broadway and Spruce streets in Boulder closed in January 2005. A store at Foothills Mall in Fort Collins closed a few years later.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) is the parent company of Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and Athleta stores. It said its outlet stores were not affected by the closures. It reported on Jan. 7 that holiday-season sales were down 4 percent from the previous year.