economy
February 2, 2026
Here are the retailers with the most store openings and closures planned for 2026
Stores closures in the U.S. are expected to fall to the lowest level in the past three years, according to an analysis by Coresight Research.
TL;DR
- U.S. store openings are expected to rise by 4.4% in 2026, while closures are projected to fall by 4.5% to approximately 7,900, the lowest in three years.
- Value retailers, including discounters and off-price chains, are expanding their national presence, while department stores and legacy retailers are reducing their store counts.
- Planned store closures in 2026 include retailers like GameStop, Francesca's, and Walgreens, while Dollar General, Aldi, and Tractor Supply lead in planned openings.
- Economic factors like high inflation and a slow housing market are expected to ease, but this is seen as an incremental improvement rather than a major shift for retailers.
- Retail bankruptcies, which drove many closures in the previous year, are expected to slow down, potentially tightening real estate demand.
- Retailers are increasingly competing for physical space not only with peers but also with expanding food and beverage concepts and fitness studios.
- The rise of AI chatbots for shopping advice is challenging brick-and-mortar stores to offer convenience, immediacy, compelling discounts, or unique experiences to complement e-commerce.
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