Retailers You Won't Be Seeing In New Jersey In 2019

The beloved chain Toys R Us was likely the most high-profile retail closure in 2018, but it’s one of just many stores that you won’t be seeing in 2019.

According to Coresight Research, U.S. retailers have announced 5,436 store closures in 2018, as of Dec. 19. Coresight’s research shows that the number of store closures in 2018 is far lower than the closures in 2017. In 2017, there were 8,139 store closures and 4,231 openings, according to Coresight.

We’ve compiled a list of major store closures announced in 2018. Stores may have already closed or will shutter in 2019.

Barnes & Noble

The retail shuffle is continuing in Howell Township: Barnes & Noble is closing, but the township is gaining a different kind of business, as ClimbZone, an indoor rock climbing facility.The Goldstein Group, a commercial real estate firm, has the property that currently houses Barnes & Noble in the Lanes Mill Marketplace at 4807 Route 9 as available "immediately." The national bookseller is not renewing its lease, which expires at the end of the year, according to a Jersey Shore Online report.

Best Buy

Best Buy shoppers no longer have the option of going to Howell: the store was set to close in November, a spokesman confirmed.
"We've made the decision to not renew the lease on the Howell Best Buy store and the last day of business is November 3," Kevin Flanagan, a spokesman for Best Buy, said via email Thursday evening.

Bon-Ton

After initially surviving a round of closures announced earlier this year, Bon-Ton in Brick Plaza announced it would be closing, as the department store closed all of its stores across the country.

Brookstone

Brookstone has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and planned to close all of its remaining mall locations, including Princeton, Garden State Plaza Paramus Park mall and at the Riverside Square Mall in Hackensack. The company, facing declining foot traffic and sales, announced it is hiring liquidators to close its roughly 100 remaining mall locations. It hopes to keep open its 35 remaining airport stores.

Crazy 8

Parent company Gymboree Group Inc. said intends to close all Crazy 8 stores, which advertises that it sells "cool clothes" for kids. New Jersey has seven Crazy 8 stores: East Brunswick, Livingston, Jersey City, Moorestown, Paramus, Vineland and Woodbridge.

"These strategic initiatives are an important next step as we continue to look for ways to unlock additional value in our brands," said Shaz Kahng, Gymboree Group CEO "We are optimistic about our future as a more streamlined organization that can deliver enhanced, long-term value to its stakeholders.

"Our team remains focused on delivering the quality children's clothing and accessories and exceptional service that our customers have come to expect from us."

Modell's

The Parsippany Modell's was set to be closing for good in the coming months, a store employee confirmed.
Located in the Arlington Shopping Plaza, the store is expected to close in January. It is the only sore in the area that will be closing.

Lord & Taylor

Lord & Taylor in Eatontown will also close by Jan. 31. There are 108 employees at the store and a majority of them will be offered relocation packages to other locations, according to the company.

SAMS Fine Men's Clothing

A fixture of the Livingston community was set to shut its doors at the end of October: SAMS Fine Men's Clothing. The local business, which began as a pushcart in Newark before finding its permanent home on the corner of South Livingston Avenue in 1967, was supposed to be holding a "Retirement Sale" beginning Sept. 5

Sam's Club

Sam's Club closed at least three New Jersey locations in January. Stores in Mount Olive, Princeton and Linden were shuttered.

"I was just informed that as of today, SAMS CLUB, Mount Olive is closed for good due to a business decision of the company," Mount Olive Mayor Rob Greenbaum said.

Sears and Kmart

The Illinois-based chains filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October, announcing the closure of 142 unprofitable locations. The 142 stores slated for closure when Sears filed for bankruptcy aren’t the only Sears/Kmart locations the company is shuttering. At least 46 locations were already set to close by the end of November.

Yet another round of closings announced by the company in November included 40 stores set to close in February 2019, according to USA Today.Here are the stores set to close in New Jersey by Jan. 1: Sears, 1500 Highway 35, Middletown; Sears, 1750 Deptford Center Rd., Deptford; and Kmart, 779 Delsea Dr North, Glassboro.

Toys R Us

After much speculation about the company’s future, Toys R Us announced in March 2018 that it would be shutting down its operations in the U.S., closing 735 stores. The iconic toy store closed all of its U.S. locations over the summer, including Bridgewater, Burlington, Cherry Hill, Deptford, East Brunswick, Elizabeth, East Hanover, Eatontown, Freehold, Hazlet, Iselin, Jersey City, Lawrenceville, Livingston, Manalapan, Mays Landing, Mount Olive, North Brunswick, Paramus, Raritan, Rockaway, Secaucus, Toms River, Totowa, Union, Vineland, Wayne, Watchung and West Windsor.

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