Avalanche Of Retail Store Closures Continues

Last year’s well-documented retail meltdown not only hasn’t slowed in 2019, it’s accelerating. Nationwide, more store closures have been announced this year than in all of 2018 and Pittsburgh-area bricks-and-mortar retailers have been hit hard.

Chains shuttering for good include shoe and clothing stores, while department stores and other retailers continue their dramatic downsizing. Coresight Research, which tracks store openings, closing and bankruptcies across the country, reports U.S. retailers already plan more than 6,105 store closures this year. That compares to 5,864 for all of 2018.

Here are more than a dozen chains with Pittsburgh-area locations that have either closed completely or are downsizing in 2019. You can click on each retailer’s link to read more about their financial woes.

• Payless ShoeSource: Went belly-up in bankruptcy and closed its 2,300 stores.

• Gymobree: The children's clothing retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January and closed its more than 900 Gymboree and Crazy 8 stores.

• .Charlotte Russe: The women’s clothing store folded and closed 500 stores.

• Family Dollar: The discount retailer is shuttering more than 400 locations. Another 200 will be converted to Dollar Tree, which purchased the rival chain in 2015. Some Family Dollars will keep their name will be stocked with $1 Dollar Tree merchandise and alcohol sections.

• Foot Locker: The shoe store is closing 165 stores.

• Gap: The clothing and accessories retailer will shutter more than 200 stores this year and in 2020.

• Victoria’s Secret: The women’s lingerie store closing more than 50 underperforming stores.

• Bed Bath & Beyond: The domestic merchandiser is closing 40 stores, although opening 15 experimental “lab” location.

• Pat Catan’s:: The crafts stores closed all 36 of its craft and floral stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Michigan, although some are reopening as Michaels locations.

• Pier One: The home goods retailer will close as many as 145 locations this fiscal year:

• J.C. Penney: The department store will close 18 locations and nine home and furniture stores this year.

• Office Depot: The office supply store will shutter 40 Office Max and Office Depot stores this year.

• Sears: In January, the bankrupt chain announced the closure of 80 additional stores in addition to a previously announced 40.

• Foot Locker: The shoe store is closing 165 stores.