The Great Reshuffle: Who’s Opening, Who’s Closing in 2026
The 2026 retail landscape is a tale of two realities: value-driven chains are aggressively expanding, while legacy and specialty retailers are consolidating or collapsing under structural pressure.
Retailers Opening Stores in 2026 (Growth Mode)
1. Dollar General +483 Stores
Dollar General leads all U.S. retailers with nearly 500 new locations planned as value formats continue dominating wallet share.
Why they’re expanding: Inflation pushes consumers to discount channels, and Dollar General’s rural footprint keeps outperforming.
2. ALDI USA +168 Stores
The German grocer is investing heavily in U.S. expansion, adding 168 stores.
Aldi’s ultra-efficient model is winning across income groups and disrupting traditional supermarket share.
3. Tractor Supply Company Supply +100 Stores
America’s rural‑lifestyle leader continues its multi‑year expansion with 100 planned openings.
Strategy: Leaning into homesteading, pets, home projects, and rural investments while the category stays red‑hot.
4. Barnes & Noble, Inc. & Noble +60 Stores
One of retail’s most surprising comeback stories adding 60 new stores as its “local bookstore” model flourishes. hashtag#Analog is Back!!!!!
5. Target +43 Stores
Target grows cautiously, adding 43 new stores to optimize urban and suburban markets.
6. 7-Eleven‑Eleven +21 Stores
Convenience retail remains resilient, with 21 new stores planned.
7. POP MART +20 Stores
The collectible‑toy phenomenon continues its expansion surge, adding 20 stores.
8. Yankee Candle +20 Stores Opening (While Also Closing Some)
Even amid closures elsewhere, Yankee Candle has 20 new openings, tied to selective repositioning.
Retailers Closing Stores in 2026 (Contraction Mode)
1. Macy’s — Closing up to 150 Stores
Macy’s ongoing multi‑year consolidation accelerates: 150 locations closing by end of 2026.
Why: Shift to digital & focus on top‑performing flagships. [aol.com]
2. Kroger Closing 60 Stores
Following the failed Albertsons merger, Kroger plans to shutter 60 “unprofitable” stores.
3. Saks OFF 5TH — Closing 57 Stores
After Saks Global’s bankruptcy filing, the chain is eliminating 57 outlet locations, leaving only a handful.
4. GameStop ~300 Stores Closing
The troubled retailer continues its decline, shuttering 300+ stores, after 590 closures in 2025.
5. Walgreens — Closing Up to 1,200 Stores (Hundreds in 2026)
6. Starbucks ~400 Stores Closing
Part of a $1B restructuring plan, Starbucks is closing 400 locations, with dozens already gone in major metros.
7. REI — 3 Major Closures
Three REI locations (NJ, Boston, NYC) shut down in 2026. [aol.com]
8. Yankee Candle — Closing 20 Stores
The brands thriving in 2026 share one common playbook:
- Smaller footprints, bigger value.
- More data, less guesswork.
- Built for today’s shopper, not yesterday’s model.
Source – Gil Biberstein
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