Coresight Research tracks news about store closures, openings and bankruptcies. Our Weekly US and UK Store Openings and Closures Tracker focuses on department stores and specialty retail stores, including, but not limited to, those selling softlines, hardlines, consumer electronics, groceries and furniture.

The US

2019 Major US Store Closures and Openings Year to date in 2019, US retailers have announced they will close 5,846 stores and open 2,622. This compares to 5,854 closures and 3,239 openings for the full year 2018. Our data represent closures and openings by calendar year.

What Is Happening This Week in the US

Five Below to Open 145–150 Stores Value retailer Five Below has announced plans to open 145–150 stores during fiscal 2019, ending January 2020. In fiscal 2018, the company opened a total of 125 stores. The company is aiming to reach a total of 2,500 stores, for which it has not specified a timeline; the recently announced openings will take the total store count to 895–900 stores in the US by the end of fiscal 2019. We have calendarized our charted figures for Five Below. Coresight Research Insight: Five Below’s decision to open stores reflects the unique value proposition this retail concept provides shoppers: It is a destination for cool fun stuff, from candy, sports and tech to party, style and room, all for $5 or less. The Weinswig’s Hourglass model, which we have detailed over several years, speaks to the hollowing out of mid-market offerings as consumers trade up and down for many purchases. Untuckit Announces Opening of Seven Stores in Simon Malls Direct-to-consumer apparel brand Untuckit has announced the opening of seven stores in Simon Malls. The seven openings will be located in ABQ Uptown, SouthPark, Roosevelt Field, The Fashion Center at Pentagon City, Penn Square Mall, The Westchester and Burlington Mall. Currently, Untuckit operates 50 stores across the US and Canada. Coresight Research Insight: Physical retail provides digitally native brands with consumer touchpoints and an environment to tell the brand story and romance shoppers. As digital brands open physical stores, most experience a lift to e-commerce sales occurring in the vicinity. Consumers want both! Roberto Cavalli Shuts Operations in the US Luxury fashion brand Roberto Cavalli has closed its operations in the US. The brand’s North American subsidiary Art Fashion Corporation has liquidated and ceased operations across its eight stores and four outlets in the US. The news came hours after the brand said that it was in the process of striking a deal with creditors to avoid filing for bankruptcy in the US. Walgreens Revises Closures from 600 to 750 Walgreens has revised its US store closures target to 750 from 600 under its optimization plan surrounding the 1,932 stores that it purchased from Rite Aid in March 2018. The company expects to complete the closures by the end its current fiscal year, ending August 2019. The company noted very high customer retention rates around Rite Aid store closures, resulting in higher store traffic and lower operating costs. We have calendarized our charted figures for Walgreens. Signet Jewelers to Close Around 150 Stores while Opening 20–25 Stores Signet Jewelers has announced plans to shut around 150 stores during its current fiscal year, ending January 2020. The company announced it will open 20–25 stores during the same period. The company is reducing its retail footprint to increase store productivity, and to allow it to channel investments to new store designs and update store appearances across its portfolio. We have calendarized our charted figures for Signet.

Non-Store-Closure News

Charlotte Russe Sells its Brands while Liquidation Continues Womenswear retailer Charlotte Russe, which is in liquidation until April 30, has sold its namesake brand and related intellectual property to Toronto-based clothing manufacturer YM, whose store banners include Urban Planet, Bluenotes, Urban Kids, West 49 and Sirens. In addition, Charlotte Russe has sold its Peek Kids brand and related intellectual property to clothing designer and manufacturer Mamiye Brothers. [caption id="attachment_82784" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Chico’s, Hibbett Sports, Signet Jewelers and Walgreens.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_82786" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers, including Five Below, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and Costco.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2019 Major US Uncharted Openings/Closures The data below are announced closures that we have not allocated to our current-year total, due to a lack of detail on the timing or location of closures. [caption id="attachment_82787" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_82790" align="aligncenter" width="700"] *Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced between one and five store closures and are not included in the chart above. **Foot Locker includes the Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Foot Action and SIX:O2 banners.
***Urban Outfitters includes the Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie banners
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_82796" align="aligncenter" width="700"] *Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one or two store openings and are not included in the chart above
**Urban Outfitters includes the Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie banners
***Foot Locker includes Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Foot Action and SIX:O2 banners.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2019 Major US Retail Bankruptcies [caption id="attachment_82797" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2018 Major US Retail Bankruptcies [caption id="attachment_82798" align="aligncenter" width="792"] *A’gaci emerged from bankruptcy in August 2018
**Mattress Firm emerged from Bankruptcy in November 2018
***Sears Holdings emerged from bankruptcy in January 2019
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]  

The UK

2019 Major UK Store Closures and Openings Year to date in the UK, major retailers have announced 326 store closures and 347 store openings. Our data represent closures and openings by calendar year.

What Is Happening This Week in the UK

Office Outlet to Close 16 Stores by April 10, Putting 161 Jobs at Risk Stationery chain Office Outlet, which fell into administration on March 18, has listed 16 stores set for closure on April 7 and April 10. The company’s stores in Beckton, Catterick, Gloucester, Newport, Merton, Newcastle, Plymouth, Staples Corner (London) and Stratford will close on April 7, while stores situated in Cardiff, Carlisle, Manchester, Old Kent Road (London), Southampton, Walsall and Weston-super-Mare are scheduled for closure on April 10. The closures are due to the company’s inability to run all stores indefinitely while in administration, according to joint administrator Richard Hawes. Boots’ Parent Company Walgreens Boots Alliance to Review Stores in the UK Boots’ owner Walgreen Boots Alliance this week announced that it will review its store portfolio in the UK, to address costs. Previously, the company announced a 20% reduction in the headcount at its Nottingham headquarters as part of cost optimization. The store review will focus on low-performing stores while the company finds meaningful consolidation opportunities. We have not included these planned closures in our tracker because the company has not yet provided details.

Non-Store-Closure News

Pretty Green Falls Into Administration Fashion brand Pretty Green, owned by musician Liam Gallagher, has fallen into administration. The label has appointed Simon Thomas and Nicholas O’Reilly of Moorfields Advisory as joint administrators. The brand was significantly affected by the House of Fraser collapse as the department store retailer owed Pretty Green £0.5 million ($0.7 million) when it entered administration. [caption id="attachment_82799" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur. We estimate this information for some retailers, including Debenhams, Homebase, Laura Ashley and New Look.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_82800" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2019 Major UK Uncharted Openings/Closures [caption id="attachment_82801" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_82802" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur, and we estimate this information for some retailers, including Argos, B&M, Homebase, M&S, Monsoon Accessorize, Sainsbury’s and Tesco
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_82803" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Coresight Research attributes store openings and closures to the year in which they occurred or are expected to occur, and we estimate this information for some retailers, including B&M, Footasylum, Greggs, Habitat, Hema, Heron Foods, House, Lidl, M&Co, M&S, Pets at Home, Sainsbury’s and Smiggle
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   Notes Figures represent store openings and closures that occurred, or are expected to occur, in the respective calendar years. For some retailers, store opening and closure numbers are estimated, including from part-year data, global figures or announced closure/opening programs that span multiple years. Estimates are updated as companies announce details. Figures for openings and closures are gross.