Disney is set to close its Character Warehouse clearance store at Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall in Sunrise, Florida, this spring, according to cast members and fan posts. The outlet, one of three such locations in Florida, sells discounted and overstock merchandise from Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line. It has long served South Florida shoppers, cruise passengers from Port Everglades, and visitors from Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
The store is scheduled to shut its doors on April 15, according to posts in the Disney Character Warehouse Sawgrass Mills Mall Facebook group. One group member wrote, 'Yes, they are closing. I was there yesterday and asked one of the associates. It's happening in April. Headquarters decided not to renew their rental lease. The revenues are not as they should be. They are not relocating either.'
Disney's decision may be linked to issues with resellers buying up stock, the store's three-hour distance from Disney World, and 'live shoppers' who stream themselves and take orders from viewers, upsetting regular customers, according to Disney fan blog Inside The Magic, citing cast members. The company recently tightened its return policy across all Character Warehouse and Cast Connection stores, making all sales final as of February 1, to deter resellers.
Members of the Facebook group largely blamed resellers for the outlet's closure. One wrote, 'Thank you resellers for ruining a good thing!' Another said, 'I've been going to that same store since I was a kid! I will be heartbroken if they close!'
Disney has not announced whether its two Orlando-area Character Warehouse outlets will remain open beyond their current leases. The Independent has contacted Sawgrass Mills Mall and Disney for comment.
