Store closure lists tend to blur together after a while. The numbers are big, the names are familiar, and it’s easy to stop reading. Still, some of these chains have reached the point where driving to a location is a gamble.
Analysts estimate that almost 7,900 U.S. stores will close in 2026. Several of the retailers below have already shut their doors for good, while others are mostly gone or are working through bankruptcy. Here’s where each one stands, so you don’t make a trip for nothing.
Rite Aid
Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a second time on May 5, 2025. The drugstore chain then wound down its remaining footprint, which was about 1,240 locations. Coresight Research tracking showed it closed nearly 1,300 locations while going out of business.
If you’re looking for a prescription pickup, the trip is pointless now. Some files were sold off, and CVS secured the largest share, acquiring 625 Rite Aid stores across 15 states. Those locations are now operating under a different banner, so check with your pharmacy before heading out.
Joann
Joann was a go-to for fabric, yarn and sewing supplies for generations. After a second bankruptcy, all roughly 800 stores were liquidated, with the process completed by May 2025. The chain’s intellectual property was acquired by Michaels.
There’s no store left to visit. What remains are the empty buildings, and a good number of them have found second lives. For example, Joann accounts for 137 of Spirit Halloween’s locations in 2026, according to one tally of the seasonal chain’s store locator.
Party City
Party City filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late December 2024 with a liquidation plan to wind down its entire U.S. store base. That meant roughly 700 locations. By early 2025, the corporate-owned stores were closed.
Balloons and decorations haven’t vanished entirely, since the brand is re-entering through a Staples partnership. A standalone Party City store, though, is no longer something you can count on finding. Many old sites now house Halloween pop ups instead, with 85 Spirit Halloween stores opening this season in former Party City buildings.
Forever 21
Forever 21 was a mall staple for years, and its U.S. retail presence is now finished. The company’s liquidation covered all 354 U.S. locations. Reported causes include mall traffic decline, competition from Shein and Temu, and an oversized store footprint.
The liquidation also left a lot of space behind. In one landlord’s case, Forever 21’s liquidation unloaded 570,000 square feet across Macerich centers. If you were hoping to use an old gift card, that’s likely a lost cause too.
Francesca’s
Francesca’s was a boutique chain known for affordable jewelry, accessories and women’s clothing. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2026, the company’s second in just six years. Reports say it is closing all of its approximately 400 stores, with no physical locations expected to survive the process.
Some accounts differ on the exact store count, with one list putting it closer to 450. Either way, the direction is the same. Liquidation sales may be running at a few remaining sites, yet there’s little reason to expect anything new on the shelves.
Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer, the outdoor apparel brand, has also filed for bankruptcy. Reports say all roughly 174 U.S. and Canadian stores are slated to close. One report noted the closures were set for April 30, 2026, unless a buyer steps in.
I couldn’t confirm whether any individual store is still open today, so a quick call or a look at the store locator is wise. The company’s corporate headquarters in Seattle was also shuttered. Online shopping may be your more dependable option with this one.
Saks Off 5th
Saks Off 5th is the discount arm of Saks Global, which entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The off price chain closed 57 locations in early 2026. Another report says the parent company is also closing eight Saks Fifth Avenue department stores.
Some stores continue to operate, but it’s a thin list. Web sales were suspended, while a handful of brick and mortar locations remain open. Before you plan an outing around a clearance haul, confirm your closest store is still trading and check what it’s still selling.
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