We visited Barneys as the iconic department store prepares to close and found a bleak, nearly empty scene in total disarray

Bethany Biron/Business Insider

Barneys is expected to close in mid-February.

• As Barneys nears its final days, inventory is growing sparse and stores are in a state of complete disarray as liquidation sales culminate. The two remaining stores in Manhattan are expected to close in mid-February, according to employees.
• I visited the uptown flagship store on Madison Avenue and the downtown location on 7th Avenue and found bleak scenes at both locations, with empty shelves, ransacked beauty counters, and messy floors.
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For Barneys, the end's not near, it's essentially here.

As New York's iconic luxury department store prepares to close its doors in mid-February, store-wide liquidation sales are rapidly approaching final days as remaining inventory wanes.

On a recent visit to Manhattan's two stores - the Madison Avenue flagship and the downtown location on 7th Avenue - shelves were sparse and picked-over, and very few shoppers were seen braving the messy racks.

The most devoted bargain hunters can still score a deal, but only if they're willing to dig through disorganized piles of luxury items, which are discounted by as much as 90% off.

Here's what it was like visiting Barneys in its final days.