Once the governor’s stay-at-home order is lifted, Springfield-area residents will have a new retail option with the opening of Versona, an apparel, jewelry and accessories boutique. The specialty retailer is taking over the space at 2841 S. Veterans Pkwy. in White Oaks Plaza that was previously occupied by Charming Charlie. That retailer closed all its locations nationwide in the summer of 2019 after filing for bankruptcy a second time.
The shopping center, which is anchored by County Market and Kohls, is owned and operated by Simon Properties, which also oversees White Oaks Mall. In March, Versona opened its first Illinois location in St. Clair Square mall in Fairview Heights and has an additional store in the works for Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, another Simon property.
Versona, along with Cato and It’s Fashion, are brands operated by The Cato Corporation, which has more than 1,300 stores in 33 states. The company was in the midst of opening half a dozen new stores in various states when the COVID-19 shutdowns put plans on hold for many of the new locations. The Springfield store is now slated to open on June 4.
