The Retail Reckoning: How America’s Store Closures Reveal a Changing Consumer Landscape

a city street at night with cars parked on the side of the street — Photo by Jonathan Cooper on Unsplash

The Great Retail Shakeout: Causes Behind the Closures

Lots of stores across America are closing down right now. This affects big national chains and smaller local places. Some folks call it the ‘retail apocalypse’ feeling.

This change shows how consumers buy things these days. Economic worries also add pressure on businesses. Companies are rethinking their physical store locations carefully. High running costs and online shopping compete heavily now.

Many established stores are announcing closure plans. Reasons given often include cutting costs. Poor sales at certain spots is another factor. How customers shop is changing widely now. This time is reshaping brand presence everywhere.

While online buying grew fast, closures are not only about that. Retailers want to make their store groups better. They exit underperforming places to boost other stores. Focusing on online is a common move. Companies are adapting to new realities.

Big-Box Casualties: Walmart and Walgreens’ Strategic Retreat

1. **Walmart Closures**Walmart, a very big retailer, changed its store numbers a lot. They said 11 stores would close nationwide now. This was explicitly because stores did not do well for them. A spokesperson said performance wasn’t what they hoped there. Six Walmart locations reportedly closed in 2024. This included two in California and one in Maryland state. Another pair in San Diego also closed, the company noted. These did not meet financial hopes either. Places like 605 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon closed. Also, 40580 Albrae St. in Fremont was on the list.

The closures were part of bigger changes for Walmart. Earlier they shut down many health centers. Fifty-one locations were deemed not sustainable business models. The company trying to adapt to buying things online. Walmart+ online program started in 2020 to compete well.

a large building towers over a city — Photo by Jen Shish on Unsplash

2. **Walgreens Closures**Walgreens pharmacy planned many store closures soon. The company announced closing 1,200 stores in total. A large number expect to close quite quickly. Walgreens plans to close 500 locations next year fiscal 2025. The total 1,200 closures should finish by 2027 close. These steps are part of their store footprint plan. They adapt to what the market is doing now. Closing stores reflects looking at how they perform. It also looks at how many stores in an area.

Downtown dwellers were sad when a Walgreens closed. This happened at the historic Olympia Building April 2024. That showed local impact of these big plans. The lease is until 2036 for that spot. Walgreens is trying to sublease it for now. This shows the company proactive real estate work.

Joann store closures — File:JoAnn OKC.jpg – Wikimedia Commons, Photo by wikimedia.org, is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Bankruptcy and Bailouts: Joann and Liberated Brands’ Struggles

3. **Joann Closures**Joann craft chain planning lots of store closings. They reportedly expect to close 500 stores out of 850. These closings are tied to Joann restructuring work. The company filed for bankruptcy Chapter 11 sometimes. They filed in March 2024 and again January 2025. This helped make a sale process easier. Money troubles were hard for Joann some years.

In the first bankruptcy filing March 2024, Joann got money. They secured 132 million new dollars. But they still had near 1 billion in debt. Even trying to go private, they struggled. The second filing in 2025 followed this problem. Latest plan wants to maximize value from a sale. It also reduces costs by closing stores now.

4. **Volcom, Billabong, and Quiksilver Closures**Many stores like Volcom and Billabong will close. Over 100 stores are affected by closure plans. Their parent company Liberated Brands filed bankruptcy. The Chapter 11 filing happened in Delaware. The company manages outdoor and sports apparel brands. They blamed financial trouble on economy factors. High interest rates and inflation impacted consumer spending there.

They also said shopper tastes changed. People moved to fast fashion more than branded clothes. Online shopping grew against brick-and-mortar retail. Stores are closing, but brand licenses moved. Another operator got the rights to the brands. Clothes will still be sold elsewhere. Places like Dick’s Sporting Goods will carry them.

5. **JCPenney Closures**Department store JCPenney said some stores will close. The company announced some closures by mid-2025. They did not give an exact number publicly now. But they told FOX Television Stations a few spots affected. JCPenney stated closures are separate from a recent merger. Other reasons is at play, they think. A specific list of stores closing wasn’t confirmed yet. They said closing stores is never simple. Lease ending or market changes cause isolated closures sometimes.

The company thanked workers and shoppers affected. They encouraged shopping at other stores or online. JCPenney left bankruptcy end of 2020 with new owners. It still faces problems inside the company. The economy is uncertain and affects all stores.

black and white store front — Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Department Stores’ Digital Pivot: Macy’s and JCPenney’s Reinvention

6. **Macy’s Closures**Macy’s department store starts big changes now. This involves closing many stores in few years. Macy’s said January 66 stores close this year. This is part of a big plan to help business. It’s part of cutting their physical presence. Macy’s plans closing about 150 stores total. They call these locations unproductive ones. Closures expected through year 2026 now. These plan across the nation. Places like Philadelphia and Detroit are affected. Also other coast-to-coast areas see changes.

The strategic closures let Macy’s focus resources now. They will invest in stores that do better. Digital business gets more attention too. Maybe new store ideas will appear. This move responds to changing buyer habits. They must adapt for money reasons later. It’s a hard retail environment today.

blue and white store front — Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

The story of America’s closing stores is not one of defeat, but of evolution. From Walmart’s strategic downsizing to Macy’s digital pivot, retailers are learning that survival requires more than just adapting to trends—it demands reimagining the very purpose of physical space. As a shopper in a shuttered mall recently reflected, “Maybe the apocalypse isn’t about stores dying, but about commerce being reborn.”

In the wake of empty shelves, a new retail landscape is emerging—one where convenience, experience, and sustainability dictate the rules. The question now isn’t whether stores will vanish, but how they’ll rise again.