#store-closures

#store-closures

Amazon said it is discontinuing Amazon One, its palm-authentication service, across all retail businesses. Users will be able to continue to use Amazon One at supported retail locations until June 3, though some locations may phase the services out before this date. The services will remain available to patients for check-in at healthcare locations until further notice. Amazon One enables users to use their palms for actions such as paying at a store, presenting loyalty cards, and entering sports venues.

Retailers such as Dollar General and Nordstrom Rack plan major store expansions in the US in 2026. Store openings are outpacing closures so far, with nearly 300 closures announced for 2026. From Uniqlo to L.L. Bean, see what retailers have said about plans to open new stores next year.

Earlier this month, when a sudden swirl of social media rumors began to suggest that the polarizing bakery chain was closing down, some of the online reactions were downright gleeful. "Too sweet and too expensive!" went one typical comment. The chatter was so loud that Crumbl cofounder Sawyer Hemsley took to TikTok to dispel the rumor, explaining that the fast-growing chain is just moving offices as it prepares for its next wave of expansion.

The Decatur staple, which opened in 1996, has been sold for nearly $1 million by the Shumacher Group. The restaurant's patron, Ben Kori, has purchased the 4,800 square foot place, according to Tomorrow's News Today. Raging Burrito's original owner, Scott Herman, says he is retiring and took care in choosing the next owner. There is no word on Kori's plans for the future of the restaurant.

An uncertain economic environment has led some consumers to be more selective about where they spend their money. As a result, some are reaching for cheaper styles - fast-fashion retailers like Shein took market share from competing brands in 2024, according to data and analytics company GlobalData - or buying secondhand clothing. Many retailers and restaurants, such as baby apparel brand Carter's and department store chain Macy's, have been shuttering stores.

"Our first priority is clear. We need to clean out the garage of underperforming assets," executive chairman Ed Stack told investors during Dick's third-quarter earnings call. "This means clearing out unproductive inventory, closing underperforming stores, and rightsizing assets that don't align with our go-forward vision for the Foot Locker business." Stack said that while the business shows significant promise, Foot Locker's prior leadership did not respond appropriately to market changes, including Nike's decision to shift a greater portion of its business to direct-to-consumer sales.

The company recently announced that the closure-part of a larger plan affecting nine other U.S. stores-is an effort to "place greater attention on our high-performing and high-potential store locations." The additional closures, set to begin in January 2026, include locations in Austin, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; East Hanover, New Jersey; Niagara Falls, New York; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Plymouth, Michigan; Washington, D.C.; and West Hartford, Connecticut.

I wish I could sit, but if I do, someone may try to take my place, or think that I'm cutting the line,

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

Starbucks said Thursday it's closing hundreds of stores in the U.S., Canada and Europe and laying off 900 nonretail employees as it focuses more of its resources on a turnaround. The Seattle coffee giant said store closures would start immediately. Starbucks said affected baristas will be offered severance packages and transfers to other locations where possible. The company wouldn't give a number of stores that are closing, but the bulk of the closures appear to be in the U.S. and Canada. Starbucks said it expects to have 18,300 North American locations when its fiscal year ends on Sunday.

Store closures have emerged as an ominous through line across the retail business landscape this year, with decades-old chains trimming their physical footprints, seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection-sometimes twice in one year-and even winding down operations altogether in some cases. Petco Health and Wellness Company is not facing such dramatic dire straits yet, but the beloved pet retailer has been reevaluating the size of its brick-and-mortar fleet as it struggles to lift its bottom line.

The following Safeway locations will reportedly close on or before November 7: 201 E. Jefferson, Englewood, Colorado 80113 500 E. 120th Ave, Northglenn, Colorado 80233 1653 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, Colorado 80222 12200 E. Mississippi, Aurora, Colorado 80012 3657 S. College Ave, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 860 Cleveland Ave., Loveland, Colorado 80537 5060 North Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918 1425 S. Murray Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colorado 80916 315 W. 2nd St., La Junta, Colorado 81050 906 E. Olive St., Lamar, Colorado 81052 230 Morehead Street, Chadron, Nebraska 69337 730 W. Main St., Farmington, New Mexico 87401

Popular teen accessories and ear-piercing outlet Claire's, which announced earlier this month they are filing for Chapter 11, has begun shuttering stores in the Bay Area. This is the second time the chain has filed for bankruptcy since 2018 citing large debt load and fierce competition from online retailers. Crowds are flocking to two of the mall-based outlets that are touting mass liquidation sales of as much as 80 percent off.

Most of the big retailers in the Bay Area will be open on Labor Day, which this year falls on Sept. 1. RELATED: Explore these new trails in California over Labor Day weekend Celebrated on the first Monday of September, Labor Day recognizes the achievements of workers across the United States. Except for memorial events and marching activities to celebrate the contributions of workers, Labor Day is one of the major shopping weekends in the U.S.; many retailers offer special deals and back-to-school promotions.