Coresight Research has a dedicated team tracking news about store closures and openings, bankruptcies and management changes. Our Weekly Store Openings and Closures Tracker focuses on department stores and specialty retail, including, but not limited to, softlines, hardlines, consumer electronics, grocery and furniture.

2018 Major US Store Openings and Closures

Year-to-date 2018, the number of US store closure announcements stands at 3,258 and the number of store openings is 1,699.

What Is Happening this Week in the US?

The Michaels Companies to Close All 94 Aaron Brothers Stores

The Michaels Companies, the largest crafts retailer in the US, has announced that it will shut down all 94 Aaron Brothers framing and art supplies stores. The arts and crafts retailer plans to make Aaron Brothers a store-within-a-store and to provide custom framing in all Michaels stores. Michaels owns and operates about 1,300 stores in the US and Canada.

Non-Store-Closure News

Walmart Unit Jet.com Taps Tesco Grocery Veteran Simon Belsham as New President

Walmart has tapped grocery veteran Simon Belsham to be the new President of Jet.com effective immediately. Belsham worked as an executive for seven years at British retailer Tesco, where he expanded its online business. At Jet.com, Belsham will be “driving an integrated customer experience with grocery and general merchandise.”

Brookfield Property Partners and GGP to Merge in $9.25 Billion Deal

Mall developer Brookfield Property Partners has agreed to buy fellow mall developer GGP in a cash deal for $9.25 billion. The deal between the mall operators would create a new real estate investment trust (REIT). Back in December, GGP had reportedly declined a $14.8 billion cash and stock offer from Brookfield, its largest shareholder at the time, with 34% ownership.

Coresight Research has calendarized the announcements of store openings/closures, which involves an estimation for some retailers. The Children’s Place will close 300 stores by 2020. Ascena will close between 268 and 667 stores by July 2019, depending on negotiations with landlords. Gap will close 200 stores by 2020. Vera Bradley will close 50 stores by 2021. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Coresight Research has calendarized the announcements of store openings/closures, which involves an estimation for some retailers. Mackage plans to operate 25 stores across North America in the next five years. Gap will open 270 stores by 2020. Costco has opened net 26 stores for the fiscal year ended September 2017, and plans to open net 25 stores for fiscal year 2018. In June 2017, Aldi announced it was aiming for 900 store openings by end-2022. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Year-to-Date 2018 Major US Store Bankruptcies

Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

2017 Major US Store Openings and Closures

Coresight Research has calendarized the announcements of store openings/closures, which involves an estimation for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Coresight Research has calendarized the announcements of store openings/closures, which involves an estimation for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

2017 Major US Store Bankruptcies

Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

2018 Major UK Store Openings and Closures

Year to date in the UK, there have been 221 store closure announcements and 491 store opening announcements.

Coresight Research has calendarized the announcements of store openings/closures, which involves an estimation for some retailers. Monsoon Accessorize announced in 2016 that it will close 141 stores as leases expire over the next five years. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Coresight Research has calendarized the announcements of store openings/closures, which involves an estimation for some retailers. Aldi will complete a 300-store expansion by 2022. Smiggle will open 200 stores by 2019. Pets at Home will open five stores in fiscal 2017 and 10 stores in fiscal 2018. M&Co will open 60–75 stores by 2022. Footasylum plans to open 8–10 new stores a year. Lidl opens 50–60 stores per year. Greggs plans to open net 110–130 stores this year. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

2017 Major UK Store Openings and Closures

Coresight Research has calendarized the announcements of store openings/closures, which involves an estimation for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research

Coresight Research has calendarized the announcements of store openings/closures, which involves an estimation for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research