The retail retreat isn't slowing down. Nearly 300 stores are scheduled to close across the United States in 2026, marking another year in what's become a steady drumbeat of physical retail downsizing.
The closures span household names and specialty retailers alike. Kroger (KR) and Macy's have both announced multi-year closure plans extending into 2026, while smaller niche players are quietly pulling back from brick-and-mortar to pump resources into their digital storefronts.
So far, around 270 closures are confirmed for 2026. For context, retail consulting firm Coresight Research had projected roughly 15,000 retail locations would shut down in 2025 alone.
Who's Closing What
Carter's, one of North America's leading children's and baby apparel retailers, is closing 150 stores across the region over the next three years. Macy's has similar plans, shuttering 150 locations through 2026 to concentrate on its best-performing stores and strengthen its online experience.
Kroger is closing 60 stores it deemed "unprofitable" over 18 months starting June 2025. Meanwhile, Newell Brands (NWL) announced it's shutting down 20 Yankee Candle stores across the U.S. and Canada beginning in January 2026.
The list continues with select Saks Off 5th locations closing in early 2026 and three REI stores scheduled to shut down in the first quarter of the year.
The Bigger Picture
The retail industry keeps grappling with the same fundamental challenge: consumers increasingly prefer clicking to walking. E-commerce growth and shifting shopping behaviors have made physical stores less essential, and many retailers are responding by cutting their least profitable locations.
The pandemic accelerated what was already happening, pushing more shoppers online and forcing retailers to choose between propping up underperforming stores or investing in digital platforms. Most are choosing the latter.
This downsizing wave isn't stopping at 2026. Both major chains and smaller specialty retailers are signaling more closures ahead as they recalibrate their footprints. The retail landscape is being redrawn, and how consumers shop—and where—will look noticeably different in the coming years.
