These Retail Store Closures Are Coming in 2026
Retail stores have good times and bad, and not every brand comes out on top amid financial hardships. As online shopping markets continue to grow and companies struggle with things like growing debts and shrinking profit margins, several notable store closures are set to sweep through the U.S. in 2026.
Although this isn’t necessarily a death sentence for these brands (it might just be their version of adapting to a changing industry), it could mean that one or more of your favorite stores disappears in the coming months. Here’s a list of well-known retailers that are closing a decent chunk of their locations in the year ahead.
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1. Francesca’s
Boutique clothing and accessories retailer Francesca’s is closing its remaining stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2026. The company operated roughly 400 stores when it began winding down its brick-and-mortar business. A bankruptcy court later approved its liquidation plan. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Francesca’s name will disappear. The retailer’s intellectual property was purchased by Stand Out For Good, the parent company of Altar’d State, potentially giving the brand a second life even as its former store network shuts down.
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2. Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer’s North American retail operator is closing all 175 of its remaining U.S. and Canadian stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2026. The company initially sought a buyer for its brick-and-mortar business, but that effort was unsuccessful, clearing the way for the remaining stores to close. However, Eddie Bauer itself isn’t disappearing. Its online and wholesale businesses are operated separately under licensing agreements, so shoppers can still find Eddie Bauer products even after the stores shut their doors.
3. Cato
Women’s fashion retailer Cato is closing about 120 stores in 2026 as it works to cut costs and eliminate underperforming locations. The company initially planned fewer closures but added 70 stores to the list for the second half of the year. CEO John Cato pointed to economic pressures weighing on customers’ discretionary spending and said the company doesn’t expect its weaker locations to improve enough to justify keeping them open. Cato operates stores under the Cato, Versona and It’s Fashion brands.
4. Walgreens
Walgreens originally announced plans to close roughly 1,200 stores over three years, but the pace of closures has slowed since private equity firm Sycamore Partners acquired the company in 2025. The chain is still closing underperforming locations in 2026, though fewer than 100 closures are now expected this year.
5. Carter’s
The children’s clothing store announced late last year that it planned to close 150 stores in North American over the next three years. That’s up from the previously announced 100 locations it planned to shut down.
6. Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus
The retail shakeup at Saks Global has expanded beyond its off-price stores. In March 2026, the bankrupt luxury retail company announced plans to close 12 Saks Fifth Avenue stores and three Neiman Marcus locations as part of its restructuring. Those closures come on top of previously announced plans to shutter most Saks Off 5th locations and all five Neiman Marcus Last Call stores. The restructuring will leave Saks Global with a substantially smaller brick-and-mortar footprint as it focuses resources on its strongest locations.
7. Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture
Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture are closing their remaining 89 stores as parent company American Signature winds down its business through bankruptcy. The company initially planned to close 33 locations, but announced in January 2026 that its remaining stores would also shut down. The closures mark the end of a decades-long run for the furniture retailer, which traces its roots to the late 1940s and grew into a familiar name across parts of the Midwest and eastern U.S.
8. West Marine
Marine supply retailer West Marine is closing dozens of stores in 2026 after filing for bankruptcy protection in May. The company initially announced a smaller round of closures but continued adding locations as its bankruptcy restructuring progressed. By July, 91 stores had been identified for closure. West Marine, which sells boating equipment, fishing gear and marine electronics, continues to operate other locations and its online store.
9. Kroger
The grocery store giant, which goes by other names including Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers, and Smith’s Food and Drug (depending on what part of the country you live in) announced plans in November to close distribution centers for grocery delivery in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; Frederick, Maryland; and Groveland, Florida by the end of January. Some physical Kroger stores are closing, too. Kroger announced it would shutter roughly 60 underperforming stores by the end of 2026. The idea is that the move will help the company “focus on higher-performing markets and streamline their operations” amid ongoing merger efforts with Albertsons.
10. Orvis
The Vermont-based outdoor apparel and gear retailer announced plans to close 36 stores, including 31 retail shops and all five of their outlet locations, in 2026. The company says the move is part of a broader effort to focus on its strongest-performing markets and expand its online business. Although consolidating its physical presence, the company emphasized they have no plans of disappearing entirely. Their remaining stores will continue to operate normally.
11. Macy’s
Macy’s ongoing restructuring plan will cause around 150 stores to close by 2026, with 66 already gone in 2025. The goal is to streamline operations and invest in better-performing locations. The closures are meant to reduce overlap and make room for the company’s smaller-format “Market by Macy’s” stores.
12. Foot Locker
Following its May 2025 merger under Dick’s Sporting Goods, it closed 13 North American Foot Locker locations in 2025 and another 18 North American Foot Locker locations in the first quarter of 2026. These closures will focus on underperforming mall-based locations, while the company pivots toward larger, “power stores.” In its quarterly report, Dick’s said it’s scaled back some shutdown plans because the success of its Fast Break initiative.
13. GameStop
The video game retailer has continued to struggle with declining in-store sales and increasing online competition. After closing roughly 1,000 stores over the past several years, GameStop is expected to close additional locations in 2026 as leases expire. Although no formal number has been announced, experts expect the company will continue shrinking its footprint as it pivots toward offering more digital gaming and collectibles.
14. Zumiez
Clothing and skateboard retailer Zumiez announced in an earnings report it’s closing 20 U.S. stores in 2026. The company, whose stores are frequently seen in malls, is closing these stores despite an increase in sales. So they won’t be going away completely anytime soon.
Keep an Eye Out for Retail Store Closures Near You
The good news? These retail store closures don’t necessarily mean the end of your favorite brands. Many companies simply are shedding unprofitable excess to focus on their strongest stores or improve their digital offerings. It can be inconvenient to lose a nearby store you love. But these cutbacks are ultimately designed to help brands survive (and ideally thrive), well beyond 2026.
