Coresight Research tracks 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

YTD 2018, the number of US store closure announcements stands at 5,468 and the number of store openings is 3,060. We have expanded our coverage list to include more US retailers. We have updated our opening and closure charts for 2017 and 2018 to reflect this.

What Is Happening this Week in the US?

Gap to Close ‘Hundreds’ of Stores US apparel and accessories retailer Gap announced last week that it intends to shut “hundreds” of stores “with urgency.” The company announcement will affect only Gap stores, it is not expected to include other brands Gap Inc. owns such as Banana Republic or Old Navy. The retailer did not disclose a specific number of stores, locations or timelines for these closures, so those numbers are not included in our total figures in this report. Gymboree Mulls Closure of Over Half of its Stores US based children’s apparel retailer Gymboree is reportedly considering closing half of its approximately 900 stores. The retailer who survived bankruptcy last year has called in consulting firm Berkley Research group LLC for assistance in evaluating options including that of filing bankruptcy again. We await details of confirmed closures and timelines before including the closures to our total.

Non-Store-Closure News

Sears Looking to Sell over 500 Stores US department store chain Sears, which filed for bankruptcy in October, is now scouting for buyers for over 500 stores (to be sold as Sears stores) as it seeks to keep the brand alive. The retailer obtained approval from the court last week to sell its best performing stores. Although the company is looking for buyers, it has not ruled out liquidation.

Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which the opening or closure occurred or is expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers. These include: Ascena, Casey’s General Stores, Gap, H&M, Lord & Taylor, Mattress Firm, Michael Kors, The Children’s Place and Vera Bradley. Tapestry and Victoria’s Secret store numbers are for North America. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research.

*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one store opening and are not included in the chart above. Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures based on the year in which they are expected to occur, not when they are announced. This involves an estimation for some retailers, including: Aldi, Casey’s General Stores, Casper Sleep, Gap, Lidl and Mackage. Store opening numbers for Fabletics have not been included in the calendar as the retailer did not provide a time frame. Lululemon Athetica, Tapestry and Victoria’s Secret store numbers are for North America only. Store opening count for Amazon includes both Amazon Go (6) and Amazon 4-Star (3) stores. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research.

Year-to-Date 2018 Major US Store Bankruptcies

Source: Company reports/Coresight Research.

Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which the opening or closure occurred or is expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research.

Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which the opening or closure occurred or is expected to occur. We estimate this information 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

YTD in the UK, there have been 1,394 store closure announcements and 783 store opening announcements.

What Is Happening this Week in the UK?

No major retailers reported store openings or closures this week.

Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which the opening or closure occurred or is expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers. These include: Argos, B&M, Homebase, M&S, Monsoon Accessorize, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research.

Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which the opening or closure occurred or is expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers. These include: Aldi, B&M, Foot Asylum, Greggs, Habitat, Hema, Heron Foods, House, Lidl, M&Co, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Pets at Home and Smiggle. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research.

2017 Major UK Store Openings and Closures

*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one store closure not included in the chart above. Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which the opening or closure occurred or is expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research.

*Total includes a small number of retailers that announced one store opening not included in the chart above. Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which the opening or closure occurred or is expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers. Source: Company reports/Coresight Research.