Here's What RI Retail Stores Closed In 2019 Or Will Close In 2020

The brick-and-mortar retail landscape continued its decline in Rhode Island in 2019, with several national chains announcing dozens of store closings by 2020.

Some, such as A.C. Moore, are adding to a list of stores already slated for closure. Others, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, said they're scaling back retail operations.

That doesn't take into account restaurant closures like Friendly's, maybe the most painful loss in New England. Nearly two dozen closed in April, some so suddenly it prompted the U.S. Senate to introduce legislation that would protect employees.

Here's a look some of the national retailers that either have announced Rhode Island store closings by 2020 or closed locations in 2019:

Bed Bath & Beyond

Bed Bath & Beyond, the popular home store with 3 locations in Rhode Island, announced that underperforming locations may close or be relocated in the near future. The Providence Place Mall store is in the process of liquidation ahead of its closure, while Warwick and Middletown remain open.

A.C. Moore
A.C. Moore will close all stores, the company announced in November. The chain, owned by Nicole Crafts, said it has decided to "exit its retail operations" by closing all A.C. Moore stores "as part of a broader strategic plan." Rhode Island's single store in Warwick closed its doors over the summer.

Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe announced in March it would shutter all of its stores, including both in Rhode Island. While the Warwick Mall location liquidated its merchandise and closed, another store has since reopened under the same name.

Forever 21
Forever 21 announced this fall it would close 178 stores across the country. The announcement came after the company, a staple of the teen retail scene since 1984, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. There are no locations left in Rhode Island after the Providence Place Mall store closed its doors earlier this year.

Payless ShoeSource
Payless ShoeSource closed all of its U.S. stores, including all of its locations in Rhode Island, as part of a bankruptcy filing.

Dressbarn
All Dressbarn stores, including 2 in Rhode Island, will be closing by the end of the year, the company announced. Some 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.

Olympia Sports
Olympia Sports started shuttering 2 locations in Rhode Island right as the holiday shopping season ramped up. The closings came as the company worked to shut down 76 stores across the country.

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 home wares 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. So far, Rhode Island's two locations in Warwick and Westerly have been spared.

Patch Editor Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.