Major Retailers and Restaurants Announce Store Closures in 2026

Store closures 2026 are already underway as major retailers and restaurants plan shutdowns. Here’s a full list of chains closing locations next year

It was another brutal year for traditional brick-and-mortar retail in 2025, with iconic chains like Joann Fabrics, Party City, and Rite Aid disappearing from shopping centers across the United States. Even before the calendar turns, the store closures of 2026 are already shaping up to be a major trend as national retailers and restaurant brands move to cut costs, streamline operations, and adapt to shifting consumer habits.

From children's clothing and department stores to grocery chains and fast food, a slew of popular companies have announced plans to downsize or close locations in the upcoming year.

Carter's plans multi-year pullback

Children's clothing company Carter's announced in late 2025 that it will shutter roughly 150 stores within three years, including about 100 store closings slated for 2025 and 2026. The rest of the approximately 50 stores will be phased out by 2028. Executives with the Atlanta-based company blamed increases in its costs associated with new U.S. tariffs. The duties increased already high expenses, which had topped $100 million every year. While trimming its portfolio, Carter's still reports upwards of 770-plus locations in the United States as of December 2025, but that number will continue to decline as store closures 2026 continue.

Foot Locker and Dick's streamline operations

Foot Locker also remains in limbo after being absorbed by Dick's Sporting Goods in 2025. According to Ed Stack, Dick's executive chairman, the company will close underperforming stores as part of a broader reset strategy. An exact number has not been confirmed, but Foot Locker previously projected up to 400 closures between 2023 and 2026, making the retailer one of the most closely watched retail stories tied to store closures in 2026.

Kroger and Macy’s trim underperforming locations

Grocery giant Kroger announced its intention to shed roughly 60 stores from its network of over 2,700 locations across the United States within 18 months. Interim CEO Ron Sargent added that several states would experience store closures, but he did not name specific stores.

Macy's department store chain continues to implement its strategy dubbed the "Bold New Chapter". It involves closing 150 underperforming stores by the end of 2026. The company is instead focusing investment in stronger locations and growth brands like Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury, a move analysts say reflects long-term changes behind store closures in 2026.

Restaurants and specialty retailers impacted

Red Robin is eyeing shutting as many as 50 underperforming restaurants after initially evaluating 70 locations, while outdoor retailer REI confirmed it will close three stores in 2026, including its New York City flagship. Pharmacy chain Walgreens is well into a three-year plan to close about 1,200 locations nationwide, citing concerns about theft and a continued shift to online shopping. Fast food chain Wendy's has also warned it could shutter between 150 and 300 restaurants by the end of 2026.

A retail landscape in flux

Taken together, these announcements illustrate how store closures in 2026 reflect deeper trends in evolving consumer behavior, increased costs and a sustained pivot to e-commerce. As retailers focus on profitability over physical expansion, shoppers can expect fewer storefronts-and a retail landscape that looks very different from just a few years ago.