The US

2019 Major US Store Closures and Openings Year to date in 2019, US retailers have announced they will close 7,037 stores and open 2,992. Coresight Research estimates US store closures could reach 12,000 by the end of 2019. By week 15 of 2019, year-to-date announced closures had already exceeded the total for all of 2018. We recorded 5,864 closures and 3,251 openings for the full year 2018. Our data represent closures and openings by calendar year. Following Ascena Retail’s June 10 quarterly report which revised its store closure numbers, we updated the Coresight Research estimate for the company’s store closures, which lowered the previously announced total figure for 2019 announced store closures.

What Is Happening This Week in the US

Fred’s Set to Shut 49 More Stores Discount chain Fred’s has announced it will shut 49 stores in what is its third batch of store closures this year. The chain previously announced the closure of 264 stores, taking the overall closure count this year to 313. Following the completion of the latest round of closures, Fred’s will continue to operate 244 stores. Coresight Research Insight: Fred’s continues to shrink its physical footprint as the grocery channel is in the early stages of disruption. Consumers are increasingly comfortable buying groceries and meals online and there is plenty of room for growth as online grocery sales are currently very low (estimated in the low single digits in the US).    Neighborhood Goods to Open Store in Manhattan Headquartered in Dallas, Neighborhood Goods is a new department store concept which made its debut in late 2018. The company has expanded its line-up to more than 35 brands since launch. The company has announced it will open a new store in Chelsea Market, Manhattan, which will be its second location to date. The new store will open in fall 2019 and will also feature a concept restaurant. Toys “R” Us Set to Reopen Around Six Stores Toys “R” Us is set to make a comeback and plans to open around six stores, according to Bloomberg. Richard Barry, CEO of Tru Kids Inc., the company that took over the iconic brand earlier this year and a former Toys “R” Us executive, has reportedly been pitching toymakers on connection his plans to reincarnate the brand. The new stores are expected to be smaller in size and more experiential. Coresight Research Insight: This iconic retailer beloved by children as a go-to toy destination could make a comeback, and its proposed focus on experiential retail in smaller locations fits in with our proprietary BEST framework, designed to help retailers frame their approach to physical retail around four themes: Brand building, Experiences, Service and Technology integration. Lululemon Closes its Menswear Stores Athletic wear retailer Lululemon has shut its two men’s standalone stores, one each in New York and Toronto. According to a company spokesperson, the decision to close was made after the company assessed customers responded better to Lululemon as a dual gender brand than as a men’s brand alone. [caption id="attachment_91920" 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, Ascena Retail, Chico’s, Hibbett Sports, Signet Jewelers, Tuesday Morning and Walgreens
*Ascena Retail excluding Dressbarn; these estimates were revised in week 24 from 400 to 120 based on closures announced in the company’s latest results.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_91921" 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
*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one store opening and are not included in the chart above.
**Indochino openings refer to North America total openings, excluding one opening announced for the Greater Toronto Area.
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 included in our totals, as the companies did not provide detail on timing or location. [caption id="attachment_91922" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_91923" 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_91924" 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_91925" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2018 Major US Retail Bankruptcies [caption id="attachment_91926" 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 325 store closures and 444 store openings. Our data represents closures and openings by calendar year. What Is Happening This Week in the UK

Aldi to Open Stores in UK  

Aldi has announced the opening of 21 new stores across the UK over the next three months. Twelve of the new stores will open by the end of August this year while the remaining nine are expected to open in September. The retailer had previously announced a medium-term target of opening 130 stores in 2019 and 2020 (the basis for our figure for Aldi in the 2019 store-openings chart below) and has a target of operating 1,200 stores by 2025. Carpetright May Shut 90 Stores Over Two Years UK floor coverings retailer Carpetright may close 90 stores by 2021, despite making some headway in its turnaround, according to The Telegraph. The company had entered a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) last year and shut around 76 stores, leaving it with a fleet of 334 in the UK and Ireland. We have not included the closures in our chart as details of the plan are not confirmed and it is unclear as to how many of these will occur in the UK. [caption id="attachment_91927" 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 Homebase, Laura Ashley and New Look
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_91928" 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 Iceland
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2019 Major UK Uncharted Openings and Closures [caption id="attachment_91929" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_91930" 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_91931" 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, Iceland, 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.