SALT LAKE CITY — Kiddie Kandids — or at least the name — is back at a mall near you.
St.Louis-based CPI Corp. purchased the right to use the Kiddie Kandids name for photo studios in 134 Babies R Us and mall locations, including six in Utah.
Kiddie Kandids studios are once again open at the Midvale Babies R Us, Layton Hills Mall in Layton, Cache Valley Mall in Logan and the South Towne Center in Sandy. A studio will open at the Newgate Mall in Ogden on June 25, according to a CPI corporate spokeswoman who provided only a first name, Ntaura. One is planned in Provo, as well.
CPI also operates the PictureMe Portrait Studios in Walmart stores and Sears Portrait Studios.
The original Kiddie Kandids closed abruptly in early January, with little notice to employees or customers. Shortly after, the Sandy-based company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In a Chapter 7 filing, assets are liquidated to pay debts. At the time, the company was 35 years old and had grown to 184 locations, with at least a dozen along the Wasatch Front. The owners blamed "negative growth" in the down economy and a decision by lenders to "no longer fund Kiddie Kandids operations."
CPI said the deal includes purchase of the Kiddie Kandids tradename, customer lists, studio and lab equipment, inventory and the former corporate building. It said earlier in a news release with its earnings report that CPI plans to sell "certain of the acquired equipment and inventory as well as the corporate building" this year.
CPI's use of the Kiddie Kandids name was acquired at least through January 2016.
The agreement means CPI now offers portrait services in about 3,000 North American locations.
e-mail: Lois@desnews.com
TWITTER: Loisco