Last Dayton-area Loft closing at Greene center

The last Loft location in the area will close later this month at The Greene Town Center.

The parent company of clothing retailers Loft, Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant announced in 2017 it would close up to 667 locations in the next two years. The Greene store will shut March 24.

Ascena Retail Group Inc., which operates Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant, Loft, Dressbarn, Catherines and Justice, announced it will close the locations because of a shift in consumer habits. The Mahwah, N.J.-based company has approximately 4,850 locations.

Ascena identified more than 250 locations that will be closed permanently through July 2019, and 71 stores have already shut down this year. An additional 400 or more stores could close as well.