Store Closing List 2020: Macy’s, Pier 1, Zara, Nordstrom, and More
Between COVID-19's catastrophic impact on retail coupled with the continued rise of online shopping, 2020 has brought a store closing list that's predictably vast. According to a recent report from retail data firm Coresight Research, as many as 20,000 to 25,000 stores in the U.S. could permanently shutter this year, with more than 4,000 stores saying they'll close down this year. More than half of the closures would be situated in malls, which are already in peril but have faced particular challenges due to social distancing.
Before the health crisis, a number of retailers filed for bankruptcy and started to shutter physical locations, but in recent weeks the number has shot up. J.Crew, Neiman Marcus, and JCPenney are among the companies that filed for bankruptcy protection, while bankrupt sporting-goods retailer Modell's stopped liquidation sales and closed all its stores.
It's not all gloom and doom, though: While some of your favorite retailers are closing select locations, several plan to divert savings into a focus on e-commerce, which is the way most of us shop these days anyway.
Below, an evolving tally of store closing updates.
Stock up on Perfect Peony body splash now: Bath & Body Works's parent company, L Brands, announced in May 2020 that 50 locations in the United States, as well as one store in Canada, will close in 2020. The closures will mostly affect mall locations. It's not all bad news for the brand: Though in-mall stores are largely going away, 26 new locations will also open this year.
The company—which runs several familiar mall jewelry stores including Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, H.Samuel, and Piercing Pagoda—revealed in June 2020 plans to close 150 U.S. stores and 80 U.K. stores ASAP, and that it will close at least another 150 stores before the end of the year, citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
In March 2019, Gap said it will be shuttering approximately 230 stores during the next two years due to falling sales. As of January 2020, here are the locations that have closed or are scheduled to close.
Controversial lingerie retailer Victoria's Secret's parent company, L Brands, announced in May 2020 that it plans to close a quarter of its stores—250 locations—in the U.S. and Canada during the next few months. The brand also said more closures could be on the horizon over the next few years. According to CNN, there are around 1,100 Victoria's Secret locations in North America.
Paper goods and stationery chain Papyrus filed for bankruptcy in January 2020, which prompted plans to close all of its 254 stores across the U.S. and Canada.
Fast-fashion retailer Zara was hit hard by COVID-19 and will close upwards of 1,000 retail locations.
In June 2020, the fast-fashion retailer's parent company, Inditex, announced plans to close between 1,000 and 1,200 stores over the next two years and divert resources into online sales strategies due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The company hasn't announced which Zara locations will be affected, but said in a statement that closings will be "stores at the end of their useful life."
Chico’s FAS, the parent company of the women's clothing chain, said in a 2019 press release that it will close 250 locations over the next three years and will put more effort into online sales. The company also operates White House Black Market and Soma.
The department store filed for bankruptcy in May 2020, and said it planned to eventually close about 30% of its 846 stores, many of which are situation in malls. Business Insider published a list in June 2020 of the JCPenney locations that will be closing as part of phase one.
In February 2020, department store Macy's said it will be closing 125 stores over the next three years and cutting thousands of corporate jobs. It also will be shuttering several office locations throughout the country and will consolidate customer service centers. The retailer's Manhattan location will become its only corporate headquarters.
G.H Bass and Wilson’s Leather
New York–based fashion manufacturer G-III Apparel Group Ltd. announced in June 2020 that it will permanently close all 110 Wilsons Leather and 89 G.H. Bass stores.
The furniture chain is planning to close 450 stores—about half of its total locations—the company announced in January 2020 amid falling sales. The retailer's CEO also said it planned to cut its corporate head count and shut down select distribution centers.
In 2019, it was announced that 183 Destination Maternity locations will close after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod also fall under the retailer's parent company and will be affected. USA Today published the list of closures the same year they were announced. Online retail is up and running under Motherhood Maternity.
Floral Wrap Long-Sleeve Maternity Maxidress
Plus Size Full-Coverage Nursing Bra
Super Stretch Skinny Maternity Jeans
As of March 2020, bankrupt sporting-goods retailer Modell's stopped liquidation sales and closed all of its stores, according to Crain's.
In early 2020, fashion retailer Express said it will close 100 stores by 2022.
Nordstrom announced in June 2020 that it will permanently close all three Jeffrey designer apparel stores (which it owns) in addition to the 16 Nordstrom department stores it plans to shut down.
The apparel chain's parent company, RTW Retailwinds, revealed plans to close 27 stores in its portfolio in 2020, including 19 New York & Company locations, four Fashion to Figure stores, and four New York & Co. outlets.
Craft-store chain A.C. Moore plans to close all 145 of its stores in 2020, according to an announcement made by its parents company, Nicole Crafts, in November 2019. The company said it plans to acquire and convert around 40 locations into Michaels craft stores, a former competitor of A.C. Moore.
In October 2019, the fast-fashion mega-chain announced it would be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and planned to close up to 178 U.S. locations. “The decisions as to which domestic stores will be closing are ongoing, pending the outcome of continued conversations with landlords,” a spokesperson for the retailer told Glamour in 2019. However, a month later, the company said it planned to reduce the U.S. closures to 88 locations. E-commerce for the retailer is business as usual.
Kids' apparel retailer The Children’s Place announced in June 2020 that it will close 300 of its 920 stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with 200 planned for this year and 100 for 2021. E-commerce will be the company's focus.
Electronics brand Bose is closing all of its 119 stores in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Australia and will focus on online retail. According to Business Insider, approximately 130 locations will remain open in China, the United Arab Emirates, India, and South Korea.
Apparel and accessories brand Guess plans to close approximately 100 stores in North America and China over the next 18 months.
Closeout discount decor chain Tuesday Morning filed for bankruptcy and plans to shut down around 230 of its nearly 700 locations in the coming months. "The prolonged and unexpected closures of our stores in response to COVID-19 has had severe consequences on our business," said CEO Steve Becker in a news release.
In 2020, the video-game chain said it expects store closures "to be equal to or more than the 320 net closures we saw in fiscal 2019 on a global basis. "
The home-goods giant announced plans to close dozens of stores in at least eight U.S. states in 2020. See the list of closures here.
Puredown All Seasons Down Comforter
In November 2019, Sears revealed plans to close 96 stores in February 2020, including 51 Sears locations and 45 Kmart stores. (The chairman of Kmart purchased Sears for $11 billion in 2004.)
Business Insider reported that at least 16 Hallmark-branded stores in 12 states would close in the first half of 2020, according to local reports and social media posts by store owners.
In June 2020, the coffee giant said it will close up to 400 company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada over the next 18 months, as it rolls out new-format stores and makes other changes better suited to quick pickup and convenience.
