Hundreds of Zara stores have closed over the last few years, but this budget Inditex fashion brand is rising fast

"The brand's decline in physical storefronts has been moderate but meaningful, from a third-quarter peak of around 2,139 stores in 2019 to just under 1,800 stores five years later, according to earnings statements from Inditex. That's a reduction of 16%. Now, thanks to new accounting metrics from the company, we've learned that Zara's physical footprint is even smaller than we thought. Earlier this year, Inditex began breaking out store count numbers for Lefties, its discount chain."

""Under this strategy, smaller stores have been absorbed into larger, upgraded locations," Guillermo said. "Creating distinctive retail spaces allows us to enhance the customer experience by incorporating the latest in-store technologies, including assisted checkouts, among many other features." Guillermo further points out that while Inditex has fewer stores, its commercial space grew by 2% as of 2024, with sales up almost 5.9% that same year."

Zara's global store count has fallen notably since 2019, from a third-quarter peak of about 2,139 stores to just under 1,800 five years later, a 16% decline. Inditex reclassified Lefties locations this year, revealing Zara's adjusted store total of 1,528 as of October 31. Lefties reached 213 global locations in the third quarter of 2025, up from 203 a year earlier. Inditex is pursuing an optimization plan that absorbs smaller stores into larger, upgraded locations and adds in-store technologies like assisted checkouts. Despite fewer stores, commercial space grew 2% and sales rose roughly 5.9% in 2024.

Read at Fast Company