Not long ago, at malls and strip centers across Illinois, shoppers could count on finding Dress Barns, Lane Bryants, Ann Taylors, Justices and other apparel stores run by Ascena Retail Group. Five years ago, the retailer operated nearly 5,000 bricks-and-mortar locations catering to women, teens and tweens. As of 2020, that number had been halved and the bankrupt chain has agreed to sell off its surviving stores. Fashion apparel is a tough business for any merchant, given powerful e-commerce competition and the effects of the pandemic on all retail sectors. In the case of Ascena, some of its wo…