Retailers experience peaks and valleys, and not every company we love weathers financial storms unscathed. As e-commerce continues to expand and businesses contend with mounting debts and shrinking profit margins, a wave of notable store closures is slated to hit the U.S. in 2026.
That doesn’t automatically spell the end for these names — for many it’s a strategic shift to adapt to a transforming marketplace — but it could mean a few familiar storefronts vanish in the months ahead. Below is a rundown of 10 recognizable retailers that will be closing a significant portion of their locations next year.
1. Orvis
The Vermont-based outfitter for outdoor clothing and gear recently revealed plans to shut 36 outlets, including 31 full-price stores and all five outlet locations, by early 2026. The retailer says this is part of a larger strategy to concentrate on its best-performing markets and boost its online presence. While it will trim its brick-and-mortar footprint, the company stressed it won’t disappear entirely. Around 33 locations will remain operational.
Need Fast Cash to Shop at Some of Your Favorite Stores?
Going-out-of-business sales can deliver steep discounts. If you plan to shop these retailers while they’re still open — or you’re scouting alternative spots to spend — consider a few simple ways to earn quick money so you don’t blow your budget.
2. Foot Locker
Since merging with Dick’s Sporting Goods in May 2025, about 400 Foot Locker and Champs Sports locations are anticipated to close by the close of 2026. The cuts will largely target underperforming, mall-based stores as the business shifts toward bigger “power store” formats. Dick’s intends to preserve the brand, but many smaller mall storefronts — especially those in aging shopping centers — are likely to be gone by next year.
3. Kroger
The supermarket behemoth, operating under banners like Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers, and Smith’s Food and Drug depending on your region, announced in November it will close grocery delivery distribution centers in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; Frederick, Maryland; and Groveland, Florida by the end of January. Kroger is also closing some stores — in June it said it would shutter roughly 60 underperforming locations by the end of 2026. The move aims to concentrate efforts on higher-performing markets and streamline operations amid its ongoing merger activity with Albertsons.
4. Walgreens
Walgreens is continuing to pare back its retail footprint after announcing plans to close 1,200 stores by the end of 2027. Hundreds of those shutdowns are expected to occur during 2026 as the chain pulls the plug on underperforming locations. These steps were unveiled after the company was acquired by private-equity firm Sycamore Partners in March 2025, and the strategy has remained largely consistent since then.
5. Macy’s
Macy’s ongoing overhaul will lead to roughly 150 store closures by 2026, with 66 already shuttered in 2025. The initiative is intended to simplify operations and reinvest in higher-performing locations. “The punchline here is we’re very pleased with the traction and progress,” Macy’s CFO Adrian Mitchell said in a 2024 interview. The reductions are designed to eliminate redundancies and make room for smaller-format “Market by Macy’s” concepts.
6. CVS
CVS is progressing with a long-term plan to close hundreds of underperforming stores as it transitions from a retail pharmacy chain into a broader health care services provider. While many closures were first disclosed in 2025, more sites are slated to close in 2026 as CVS expands its MinuteClinic network and adds more in-store health services.
7. Big Lots
Following a Chapter 11 filing in late 2024 and a partial sale of assets, Big Lots is continuing to pare down operations under new ownership. Approximately 200–400 stores remain under the banner, but additional closures are likely as the company restructures through 2026. For customers, this means some outlets will persist while others quietly shut their doors over the coming year.
8. Joann
Long a staple for craft enthusiasts, Joann announced in February 2025 that it would close all remaining locations and liquidate inventory. Many stores closed during 2025, but liquidation sales are continuing into 2026 as the company fully winds down. The decision marks the close of an 80-year chapter in craft retail.
9. Claire’s
The accessories chain popular with teens and tweens filed for bankruptcy again, citing e-commerce rivals and dwindling mall traffic. The brand has already started closing stores nationwide, with further shutdowns expected through 2026. Both Claire’s and its sister label, Icing, will be scaling back significantly to prioritize online sales.
10. GameStop
The video game retailer has grappled with declining foot-traffic and stiff online competition. After closing roughly 1,000 stores over recent years, GameStop is expected to shutter more locations in 2026 as leases lapse. No official count has been announced, but analysts anticipate the chain will keep paring down its physical footprint while shifting toward digital gaming and collectibles.
Watch for Store Closures in Your Area
The upside? These shutdowns don’t always mean a brand’s demise. Many retailers are trimming unprofitable locations to concentrate on their most successful stores or improve digital offerings. Losing a nearby favorite can be frustrating, but these reductions are generally intended to help companies survive — and ideally prosper — beyond 2026.
