Teen apparel retailer Rue21, the chain that filed for bankruptcy protection and closed its stores earlier this year, is getting a new lease on life.

Toronto-based YM, with a portfolio that includes the Charlotte Russe and Urban Planet chains — has already begun reopening shuttered Rue21 stores. YM acquired Warrendale, Pennsylvania-based Rue21's intellectual property rights and brand name out of a Chapter 11 proceeding in May for roughly $4 million.

Eric Grundy, CEO of privately held YM, declined to comment Friday about the plans for Rue21, how many of the stores will come back or if new sites will be leased.

But the retailer's website heralded the chain's rebirth. It listed 39 locations as already opened, and 20 that are slated to do so this month. Of the 59 total locations, just over dozen are in outlet centers owned by Tanger. Rue21 is a relatively rare instance this year of a chain headed toward closing instead embarking on reopenings around the country.

"More stores coming in the fall," states Rue21's website.

Rue21 — a mainly mall-based chain — is one of a number of retailers this year that filed for Chapter 11 and, in some cases, liquidated and shut all their stores. That group includes discounter 99 Cents Only Stores and Conn's HomePlus, a seller of furniture and other goods. A number of chains said they were never able to bounce back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that inflation putting a crimp on consumer spending proved the final blow.

In Rue 21's case, it filed for Chapter 11 — the third time it has done so — in early May and said it planned to close all its 540 stores in the following two months. It's unclear if it actually shut down its entire fleet.

In a court filing in May, Rue21 Interim CEO Michele Pascoe said, "Over the past several years, the debtors’ business operations, like those of many of their peers in the retail space, have been negatively impacted by challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and related adverse market trends, including a shift in consumer shopping patterns from traditional brick-and-mortar retailers to online retailers and changing consumer preferences."

On its website, Rue21 said that under new ownership and management, it is on an "exciting journey" and is "diligently working to revitalize" the chain.

"As we kick off this transformation, we appreciate your patience and support," the website said. "Our team is dedicated to opening locations throughout the country, and we're committed to making Rue21 a brand we can all be proud of."

Rue21 also said it "welcomed previous employees to apply and join us in this exciting new chapter."

CBL Properties, a mall landlord based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, reported its second-quarter earnings Friday and mentioned the Rue 21 store reopenings.

"CBL has executed agreements to reopen 14 stores representing approximately 94,400 square feet of (Rue21) stores under its new ownership by first quarter 2025, with the majority opening in 2024," the real estate investment trust said.

One of the Rue21 locations that has already reopened is at the Northwoods Mall in Peoria, Illinois, owned by Kohan Retail Investment Group of Great Neck, New York. A district manager from YM requested to see Rue21's former space at that mall and liked it, according to a report by the Peoria Journal Star, and the location reopened earlier this month.

YM described itself as "first with fashion" on its website. It addition to Charlotte Russe and Urban Planet, it owns Bluenotes, Suzy, Aéropostale Canada, Stiches, Amnesia, Sirens, Urban Kids and West49.

"Across all our brands, we provide value for today’s trends for kids, teens and adults," according to the company's website.