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 5,994 stores and open 2,647. Our year-to-date closures have already exceeded our total for full-year 2018 closures: We recorded 5,864 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

Bed Bath & Beyond to Close 40 Stores while Opening 15 stores Home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond plans to shut 40 stores by the end of its current fiscal year ending March 2020. Additionally, the retailer announced it will open around 15 stores during the same period. Most of the stores earmarked for closure belong to the Bed Bath & Beyond banner. The retailer’s banners include Christmas Tree Shops, buy buy Baby, Cost Plus World Market and Harmon Face Values, among others. The closures and openings are not included in the chart below as Bed Bath & Beyond did not provide information about store locations. The retailer operated a total of 1,533 stores in the US, Canada and Mexico as of March 2, 2019. Coresight Research Insight: Big-box retailers selling nationally branded products are vulnerable to digital retailers that provide greater convenience, endless aisles and competitive pricing. Bed, Bath & Beyond, similar to other big-box, off-mall specialty retailers, is losing share to digital competitors. Aldi to Open 15 New Supermarkets Grocery retailer Aldi has announced that it plans to open 15 new stores in southern California this year. This includes the new Panorama City supermarket that opened on April 11. Aldi operated 1,864 stores across 35 states in the US as of January 8, 2019, and plans to increase its store count to 2,500 stores by 2022. Our charted figures for Aldi take calendarize its multiyear opening program. PGA Tour Superstore to Open Six Stores Golf and Tennis inspired apparel and accessories retailer PGA Tour Superstore will open six new stores in 2019. The retailer will open two Florida stores in Sarasota and Plantation. The openings include, the retailer’s  first-ever New England location in Peabody, Massachusetts that opened in February. It plans to open another Massachusetts stores in Braintree. In late spring 2019, the retailer plans to open stores in Denver, Colorado and Austin, Texas. The retailer plans to expand its physical presence by 50% over the next three years. The store offers indoor golfing lessons provided by professionals and cost $69.99, in addition to virtual driving ranges. Customers can also indulge in virtual golf games where swing simulators are equipped with technology that tracks the ball flight and swing.

Non-Store-Closure News

Best Buy Appoints New CEO Consumer electronics retailer Best Buy has named Corie Barry as CEO, effective June 11. She is currently the company’s chief finance and strategy transformation officer. Barry will become the first woman to serve as CEO of Best Buy. Current CEO Hubert Joly will transition to the newly created position of executive chairman and will advise Barry on strategy, external relationships and other related matters, according to the company. Marquee Brands Purchases Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasee Brands Marquee Brands announced it has acquired home furnishing products and publishing brands Martha Stewart and Emeril Lagasse from Sequential Brands Group. The deal includes all related intellectual property and was valued at $175 million with an additional $40 million added under an earnout arrangement. Marquee Brands said it expects to generate over $2.3 billion in total annual sales through this acquisition. [caption id="attachment_84285" align="aligncenter" width="720"] 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_84286" align="aligncenter" width="720"] 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 Aldi, Five Below, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and Costco.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   2019 Major US Uncharted Openings and Closures The table below shows announced openings and closures that we have not allocated to our current totals, due to a lack of detail on timing or location. [caption id="attachment_84287" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_84288" align="aligncenter" width="720"] *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_84289" align="aligncenter" width="720"] *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_84290" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2018 Major US Retail Bankruptcies [caption id="attachment_84291" align="aligncenter" width="720"] *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 322 store closures and 352 store openings. Our data represent closures and openings by calendar year.

What Is Happening This Week in the UK

Primark Opens the World’s Largest Fashion Store Apparel and accessories retailer Primark has opened the world’s largest fashion store in Birmingham and has been recognized with a Guinness world record. The store spans five floors and an area of 160,100 square feet. It houses a beauty studio, barbers and three themed eateries. The beauty studio provides services such as blow dries, manicures, pedicures, nail art and other make-up services. Primark has partnered with barber Joe Mills to provide haircut services. Additionally, the store has a custom lab in which shoppers can personalize t-shirts and other goods. Monsoon and Accessorize May Shutter Stores Apparel specialist retailers Monsoon and Accessorize may close stores in the coming weeks as its parent company Drillgreat has appointed accounting and consulting firm Deloitte to explore options around store closures and rent cuts. A Monsoon Accessorize spokesperson said, “We have made no secret of the fact that we have steadily reduced our store portfolio in recent years and shall continue to do so as leases expire. We are looking at options to accelerate these store closures.” Monsoon and Accessorize currently operates around 270 stores.

Non-Store-Closure News

Sports Direct to Close Wigan Warehouse, Will Relocate 300 Jobs Sports Direct has announced that it will close its distribution center situated in Wigan on June 13. The closure will result in a relocation of around 300 jobs. The employees will be offered roles at Sports Direct’s Shirebook warehouse. [caption id="attachment_84293" align="aligncenter" width="720"] 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_84294" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research [/caption]   2019 Major UK Uncharted Openings and Closures [caption id="attachment_84295" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_84296" align="aligncenter" width="720"] 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_84297" align="aligncenter" width="720"] 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.