Last updated: July 23, 2026

Store-closing signs are appearing across shopping malls, grocery centers, and busy commercial streets in the United States. Several well-known retailers and restaurant chains have announced plans to close locations in 2026. Some are removing only weaker stores, while others are leaving the physical retail business completely.

The numbers can be confusing. A company may announce a multiyear plan, close stores during its fiscal year, or convert locations instead of shutting them permanently. This guide focuses on major U.S. closures confirmed for 2026 and explains which brands will continue operating.

Closure plans can change during bankruptcy, restructuring, or a sale. Store counts in this article should be treated as announced plans rather than a promise that every listed location will close.

Which Stores Are Closing in 2026?

More than 2,000 retail and restaurant locations have been included in announced 2026 closure plans. That total includes complete liquidations, underperforming store closures, restaurant shutdowns, and locations being converted into another format.

Company Announced closure scope Closure type Important context
7-Eleven 645 North American locations Closures and conversions Covers fiscal 2026, which continues into early 2027
Francesca’s Roughly 400 U.S. stores Full-chain liquidation plan Going-out-of-business sales followed bankruptcy
Wendy’s About 300 U.S. restaurants Selective closures Focused on underperforming restaurants
Pizza Hut 250 U.S. restaurants Selective closures Planned mainly for the first half of 2026
Kroger About 60 stores over 18 months Selective closures Plan began in 2025 and extends into 2026
Macy’s Part of a 150-store multiyear plan Selective closures Not all 150 stores are closing during 2026
Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go Physical grocery and convenience stores Format exit and possible conversions Some properties may become Whole Foods stores
Eddie Bauer North American stores affected Bankruptcy and liquidation Final store count may change through asset sales
Wren Kitchens U.S. showrooms and studios U.S. physical-store exit U.S. business entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy
REI Three major stores announced Selective closures Includes stores in New Jersey, Boston, and New York City

These announcements don’t mean every listed company is disappearing. Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Kroger, Macy’s, 7-Eleven, and REI will continue operating other locations.

Which Retail Chains Are Going Out of Business?

Which Retail Chains Are Going Out of Business?

A complete liquidation is different from closing a few weak stores. When a chain enters full liquidation, gift cards, return rules, loyalty points, and warranties may be affected much faster.

Francesca’s

Francesca’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2026. The women’s clothing and accessories retailer began going-out-of-business sales across roughly 400 U.S. stores.

The company had already gone through bankruptcy in 2020 before being purchased by new owners. Its 2026 filing placed its physical store network at risk again. A sale or court-approved agreement could change the final result, but shoppers shouldn’t assume every location will remain open.

Eddie Bauer

Eddie Bauer’s North American business entered bankruptcy proceedings with plans affecting its physical stores in the United States and Canada. Closing sales began at many locations while the company explored possible buyers and other options.

Bankruptcy doesn’t always mean a brand name disappears forever. A buyer can purchase trademarks, online operations, inventory, or selected stores. For shoppers, though, the safest approach is to check the exact location and use gift cards before its announced final date.

Wren Kitchens

Wren Kitchens closed its U.S. showrooms and studios after its American business entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Its physical partnership studios inside Home Depot locations were also affected.

This was a U.S. market exit rather than the worldwide end of the Wren Kitchens brand. The company’s operations in other countries should not be confused with its closed American showrooms.

Which Companies Are Closing Only Some Locations?

Several large companies are shrinking their store networks but aren’t going out of business. Many are also opening new locations, converting existing stores, or investing in stronger markets.

7-Eleven

Seven & i Holdings announced plans involving 645 North American 7-Eleven locations during fiscal 2026. The figure includes permanent closures as well as some stores being converted into wholesale fuel locations.

The company’s fiscal year continues into February 2027, so not every closure will necessarily happen during the 2026 calendar year. Thousands of 7-Eleven stores will remain open, and the company also plans to add new locations.

Wendy’s and Pizza Hut

Wendy’s announced plans to close underperforming U.S. restaurants representing about 5% to 6% of its domestic network. Based on its store count, this comes to roughly 300 restaurants. Much of the work was expected during the first half of 2026.

Pizza Hut’s parent company also announced the closure of around 250 underperforming U.S. restaurants. This is part of a wider effort to improve the brand’s remaining locations.

Neither announcement means all Wendy’s or Pizza Hut restaurants are closing. Since many restaurants are run by franchisees, individual dates and local decisions may differ.

Kroger

Kroger announced plans in June 2025 to close approximately 60 underperforming stores over the following 18 months. That schedule extends part of the closure program into 2026.

The company operates stores under several regional names, so an affected location may not always display the Kroger name. Kroger said employees at closing stores would be offered jobs at other locations where possible.

An official national list of every affected address has not always been available. Customers should check local announcements rather than assuming their nearest Kroger-owned supermarket is closing.

Macy’s

Macy’s began a multiyear plan to close around 150 underproductive stores while investing in approximately 350 stronger locations. The strategy was expected to continue through 2026.

Some of the 150 stores closed during earlier parts of the plan, so headlines shouldn’t present all of them as new 2026 closures. Macy’s remains in business and continues operating its selected “go-forward” stores.

Saks, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Off 5th

Saks Global has closed selected Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Off 5th locations while working through financial restructuring. The number of affected stores has changed as the company reviewed locations and made new decisions.

Some announced closures have been adjusted or reversed. Anyone checking one of these luxury stores should use the latest local announcement rather than an older national list.

Why Are Retailers Closing So Many Locations?

There isn’t one reason behind every 2026 store closure. A chain can have strong national sales while still losing money at certain addresses. Keeping an unprofitable location open can make the wider company weaker.

Common reasons include:

  • Weak sales at individual stores: A location may not attract enough customers to cover its expenses.
  • Higher operating costs: Rent, wages, insurance, electricity, shipping, and maintenance have become more expensive in many markets.
  • Company debt: Retailers carrying heavy debt may close stores to reduce expenses or satisfy bankruptcy requirements.
  • Online ordering and delivery: Some customers now shop online or use delivery instead of visiting physical locations.
  • Ending leases: A company may leave when a lease expires rather than agree to higher rent or another long contract.
  • Changing local demand: Population shifts, new competitors, crime concerns, and lower shopping-center traffic can hurt an individual store.

Closures don’t always show that a company is failing. Some businesses close smaller or weaker locations while opening modern stores elsewhere. Others replace traditional stores with pickup centers, smaller formats, or online services.

How Can You Find Stores Closing Near You?

National announcements don’t always include every address. Even when a company confirms hundreds of closures, it may release location details slowly.

Use these steps to check your area:

  • Visit the company’s official newsroom Search for closure, restructuring, bankruptcy, or store-network announcements. Investor pages often provide more accurate details than social posts.
  • Check the official store locator Search the exact address. A missing location can suggest a closure, but call before assuming it has permanently shut down. Store locators can also have temporary errors.
  • Look for notices at the store Closing stores often display final-day notices, clearance signs, updated return rules, or information about a nearby replacement location.
  • Read trusted local news Local reporters may confirm addresses, closing dates, employee transfers, and future plans for the property before a national list is updated.
  • Call the store or customer service Contact the location directly when different websites show conflicting information. Ask for the final operating date rather than only asking whether it is closing.

Be careful with social media lists that claim an entire chain is disappearing. Many reuse old reports from 2024 or 2025 and present multiyear plans as new information.

What Should You Do When a Store Is Closing?

A closing sale can offer useful discounts, but shoppers should protect any money already tied to the retailer. Policies can change quickly after a bankruptcy filing.

  • Use gift cards early: Gift cards may stop being accepted before the final day, especially during bankruptcy.
  • Check the return policy: Liquidation purchases are often final sale. Normal returns may also receive shorter deadlines.
  • Save receipts and warranty records: The closing store may not handle future claims. You could need the manufacturer or another company location.
  • Collect pickup and repair orders: Don’t wait until the final week to collect merchandise, repaired products, or paid orders.
  • Redeem loyalty points: Points and rewards can lose value if the program ends or changes ownership.
  • Compare prices before buying: A large “store closing” sign doesn’t always mean the product is cheaper than it is online or at another retailer.

Third-party liquidation companies sometimes run the final sale. Their discounts, coupons, and return policies may differ from the retailer’s old rules, so read the signs and receipt carefully.

Final Thoughts

Several major retailers and restaurant chains are closing locations in 2026. Francesca’s, Eddie Bauer, and Wren Kitchens face broad physical-store shutdowns, while 7-Eleven, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Kroger, Macy’s, REI, and others are reducing selected locations.

A national announcement doesn’t prove that your local store is closing. Check the exact address, closing date, and source before making plans or using a gift card. Which retailer and city would you like checked for a confirmed 2026 closure?