The Chain Stores Leaving Connecticut By 2019

CONNECTICUT — The brick-and-mortar business landscape in Connecticut continues to change. Several national retailers announced store closings this summer, with plans to carry out those closings by the end of the year.

Some, like Kmart, are adding to a list of stores already slated for closure. Others, like Bed Bath & Beyond, say they're scaling back retail operations and reinventing themselves as a brand.

Unsuccessful stores will be closed as part of the new strategy, according to company officials.
By the time the holiday shopping season arrives, Nutmeggers can expect fewer chain stores to choose from.

Here's a look at the national retailers that announced store closings this summer:

Kmart, Sears
Kmart has announced another round of store closings. This time, Kmart’s last remaining Connecticut store in Watertown will close. Sears closed its Meriden location earlier this year. Other Sears locations that have closed within the past year include Milford, Waterbury and Waterford. Last August K-Mart announced it would close its Milford location.

Read more: Iconic Retailer Closing Last CT Store

Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond, the popular home store with 17 locations in Connecticut, has a few changes coming to a chunk of its stores before Christmas, while underperforming locations might close or be relocated in the near future. Read more: Bed Bath & Beyond Changes, Closures; Can CT's 17 Stores Survive?

Dressbarn
All Dressbarn stores will be closing by the end of the year, the company announced this summer. The chain’s Southbury and Mansfield locations have already closed.

"We have received overwhelming landlord support for our plan, which will allow us to implement our wind down in a manner that provides the best recovery for our landlords. Further, we are current, and expect to remain so, with our vendors and suppliers," Steven Taylor, Dressbarn CFO, said in a statement over the summer.

Overall, 19 stores in Connecticut will close. Read more: Dressbarn Closings in CT

Walgreens

The national pharmacy chain will be closing 200 stores in 2019, the company said in an August SEC filing. A list of locations to close was not released by the company.

Pier 1

The homewares and furnishings chain has plans to close 57 stores by the end of 2019, USA Today reported. A list of locations was not released by the company.

Charming Charlie

Women's fashion accessory retailer Charming Charlie filed for bankruptcy and closed its roughly 260 stores across the country, including four in Connecticut. The company’s final day was Aug. 30. Charming Charlie had locations in Guilford, West Hartford, Plainville and South Windsor.

Brookstone closed its locations in Danbury, Waterford and at the Mohegan Sun casino.

Charlotte Russe announced earlier in 2019 that it would close all of its stores including five locations in Connecticut.

With reporting by Kara Seymour, Patch Staff