The Florida-based retailer started in Miami in 1989 with one store and now operates more than 80 stores located in malls across several states and Puerto Rico. Traffic Shoes also markets its teen fashion products at trafficshoe.com.

"Shopping malls have been hit hard in the last few years by the significant increase in online shopping (...) Stores targeting junior or teenage customers have suffered significantly as the younger generation is very tech savvy and more likely to shop online", it can be read at the bankruptcy filing.

Traffic Shoes is led by David Goodman and has a workforce of more than 600 employees. Debts have accumulated and the creditors include California-based Forever Link Int'l Inc. (claiming 2.4 million US dollars), California-based Hana Financial Inc. (claiming 0.5 million US dollars) and New York-based Yoki Fashion International LLC (claiming 0.2 million US dollars).

"The purpose of  the bankruptcy is to enable the debtors to restructure occupancy and operational costs and to shed certain stores in order to continue to offer the best value to its customers".