The US

2019 Major US Store Closures and Openings Year to date in 2019, US retailers have announced they will close 8,201 stores and open 3,446. 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 5,844 closures and 3,258 openings for the full year 2018. Our data represents closures and openings by calendar year.

What Is Happening This Week in the US

Big Lots Opens 20 Stores and Closes 13 Big Lots reported it has opened 20 stores and closed 13 in its second quarter ended August 3, 2019. The retailer operated 1,411 stores at the end of the quarter. According to previously announced plans, the retailer expects to close up to 45 stores in its current fiscal year ending February 2, 2020. Coresight Research insight: Notwithstanding the store closures, Big Lots plans to open or relocate 50 stores this year — representing its first net positive openings since 2012. The relocated stores have been resized appropriately and remodeled to feature furniture, seasonal and soft home goods. Burlington Opens 10 Stores and Closes Two Off-price retailer Burlington reported it opened 10 new stores, relocated one and closed two stores in its second quarter ended August 3, 2019. According to previously announced plans, Burlington expects to open 75 new stores in fiscal 2019 ending February 2, 2020. Coresight Research insight: Burlington reported strong results in the second quarter, highlighting its home category as the largest growth opportunity for the company, followed by beauty. The company reiterated plans to remodel and expand its store fleet, a positive sign for its off-price business. Conn’s HomePlus to Expand in Birmingham Furniture and home appliances retailer Conn’s HomePlus plans to open two new stores in Birmingham, Alabama, in September 2019. In April 2019, the retailer opened a store at Montgomery, Alabama. Both openings, along with other upcoming openings, are a part of the company’s previously announced plans to open 14 to 15 stores in fiscal 2020 ending January 31, 2020. Puma Opens Flagship Store in New York Athletic apparel and footwear retailer Puma opened its first North America flagship store on New York’s Fifth Avenue. The store features a basketball zone, a customization studio and a coffee shop. The digitally connected store provides shoppers the opportunity to view products in alternate styles and colors through specially designed mirrors. Sears to Shutter 100 More Stores Sears Holdings is set to shut 100 more Sears and Kmart stores by December 2019, according to USA Today. Among the stores set to close are four New Jersey Kmart stores in Wayne, Trenton, Wall and Somers Point. Liquidation sales at these outlets will commence in mid-September. The latest batch of closures comes in addition to three previous rounds of closures that saw a total of 93 Sears and 53 Kmart stores cease operations. Coresight Research insight: The department store sector is struggling, and Sears is no exception. The retailer continues to optimize its fleet to maintain its most productive stores.

Non-Store-Closure News  

Walmart to Pilot Healthcare Store Concept Walmart will open a “Walmart Health Center” in its Dallas, Georgia, store this month. According to a company spokesperson, the store will provide a range of health services at affordable prices. Patients can book appointments online for checkups, sick visits, injury visits, dental care, x-rays and a wide range of other medical services. Walmart is testing this concept with one store and could open more in the future. Coresight Research insight: Walmart is expanding beyond the pharmacies and vision-care clinics already housed in its stores into healthcare, just as drugstores are expanding into healthcare. The company also launched a website WalmartHealth.com to book appointments. Separately, Build-a-Bear Workshop and Walmart announced the launch of Build-a-Bear Workshops including interactive and experiential activities and limited-edition merchandise at 2,000 Walmart US stores running from September 7 through September 9 (National Teddy Bear Day.) [caption id="attachment_95773" 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 for some retailers, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Athleta, Ascena Retail, Chico’s, Gap, Hibbett Sports, Old Navy Signet Jewelers, Tuesday Morning and Walgreens. Our closure estimates for Gap, GNC, GIII and Foot Locker are based on proportion of existing stores in the US. Ascena Retail includes Dressbarn. Foot Locker includes Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champ Sports, Footaction and SIX:02 banners. Gap includes Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta and Intermix banners. Sears includes Sears and Kmart banners.
*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced fewer than 10 store openings and are not included in the chart.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_95774" 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 Aldi, Five Below, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree and Costco. Our estimate of store openings for Foot Locker, Gap, Levi’s and Lululemon is based on proportion of existing stores in the US. Store total for Amazon includes Amazon Go (5), Amazon Books (2) and Amazon 4-Star (2) stores. Foot Locker includes Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champ Sports, Footaction and SIX:02 banners. Gap includes Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta and Intermix banners. Sears includes Sears and Kmart banners.
*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced fewer than five store openings and are not included in the chart.
**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_95775" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_95776" 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_95777" 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_95778" align="aligncenter" width="700"] *A’gaci filed for bankruptcy for the second time after entering and exiting bankruptcy in 2018
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2018 Major US Retail Bankruptcies [caption id="attachment_95779" align="aligncenter" width="700"] *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 431 store closures and 633 store openings. Our data represents closures and openings by calendar year.

What Is Happening This Week in the UK

Viu Enters UK Market Swiss eyewear specialist Viu has opened its first physical store in UK in Soho, London. According to the company, the new store is “an immersive and unique” destination and features signature design elements that are synonymous with the brand. [caption id="attachment_95780" 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 B&M, Homebase, Laura Ashley, New Look and Office.
*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one or two store closures and are not included in the chart.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_95781" 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 Iceland and Heron Foods. Our estimate of store openings for Card Factory is based on proportion of net existing stores in the UK.
*Total includes a small number of retailers that each announced one or two store openings and are not included in the chart.
Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   2019 Major UK Uncharted Openings and Closures [caption id="attachment_95782" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Source: Company reports/Coresight Research[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_95783" 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_95784" 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, 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.