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.
1. Orvis
The Vermont-based outdoor apparel and gear retailer recently announced that it plans to close 36 stores, including 31 retail shops and all five of their outlet locations, by early 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 33 stores will continue to operate normally.
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2. Foot Locker
Following its May 2025 merger under Dick’s Sporting Goods, an undisclosed number of Foot Locker locations are set to close. These closures will focus on underperforming mall-based locations, while the company pivots toward larger, “power stores.” Although Dick’s says it plans to keep the brand alive, many smaller stores (especially in older shopping centers) will be gone by next year.
3. 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. In June, 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.
4. Walgreens
Walgreens continues to scale back its footprint after announcing plans to close 1,200 stores by the end of 2027. Hundreds of those closures are expected to happen throughout 2026, as the company continues to shutter its underperforming locations. These plans were announced at the end of 2024, and they haven’t changed much since.
5. 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.
6. Saks Off 5th
The discount sister store of Saks Fifth Avenue will shut down nine stores beginning in January. The company said in an announcement the goal is to “optimize” its store presence. There are around 100 locations of Saks Off 5th around the country.
7. 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.
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.
