The Banana Republic store at Boise Towne Square closed permanently one day last month, but reopened the next morning with a slightly different look — and a different assortment.Gap, Inc. flipped the Banana Republic store on the mall’s lower level to its Banana Republic Factory brand. Though the two stores share similar names, they don’t carry the same line of items. Banana Republic Factory carries its own distinct line of clothing aimed at lower price points. Although the clothing often looks similar to items sold at regular Banana Republic stores, it uses different fabrics and manufacturing processes. Banana Republic Factory is not an outlet store for extra Banana Republic items, but instead sells a line of lower-quality items with corresponding lower prices. In 2014, the FTC advised consumers to be on the lookout for “made-for-outlet” stores. Banana Republic Factory replaced Banana Republic at Boise Towne Square. Photo: Don Day/BoiseDevAnother Gap, Inc. brand, Gap Factory, also operates at Boise Towne Square and uses the made-for-outlet model. Competitor J. Crew Factory also sells made-for-outlet items.Banana Republic first opened at Boise Towne Square in 1999 as the mall reconfigured several stores as it expanded and added the Dillard’s anchor store. It converted to the Factory store last month after 27 years.If you purchased items at Banana Republic’s Boise store or online, you cannot return them to the now-Banana Republic Factory store, the retailer warns on its website.Boise Towne Square is seeing a number of changes. It has two large anchor stores currently vacant: the former Kohl’s and Sears locations. Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn are opening new locations at the Village at Meridian soon, and the Boise mall locations will close. Apple also plans a new store at Village at Meridian, but has not said if the Boise store will remain.The mall has also seen a shift from retail to experiential retailers, with the large former Forever 21 store filled with an indoor kids’ playground and an indoor mini-golf business filling the former Abercrombie Fitch. ...read more read less