Retailers You Won’t Be Seeing In Virginia In 2019

VIRGINIA — 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. And while 2018 may have seemed like the year of closures, the number of stores shuttering was not as high as in 2017.

According to Coresight Research, U.S. retailers have announced 5,436 store closures in 2018 as of Dec. 19.

Coresight’s analysis also shows there were 8,139 store closures and 4,231 openings in 2017.

We’ve compiled a list of major store closures announced in 2018. Stores may have already closed or will shutter in 2019. In some cases, chains are staying in business but closing individual stores nationwide, including in Virginia.

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 locations in the U.S. by late June, including 21 Virginia.

The closures came months after Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2017 as it struggled to compete with retail giant Amazon and stores like Walmart.

Sears

The Illinois-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October, announcing it would close 142 unprofitable locations by the end of 2018, including the Fairfax store in Virginia. The Richmond Sears will shutter in February 2019, the company announced in November as part of a set of 40 store closings nationwide.

Mattress Firm

The Houston-based retailer Mattress Firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October, announcing it planned 200 immediate store closures and up to 700 closures total going forward. Nine Mattress Firm locations closed in Virginia.

In November, the company said it was moving forward with an optimized store footprint of approximately 2,600 stores.

Brookstone

Brookstone also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018. The company said it was hiring liquidators to close its roughly 100 mall locations due to declining mall traffic.

Brookstone said it hopes to keep open 35 remaining airport stores.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s announced in November that it planned to close 20 stores in the U.S. by the end of February as well as 31 in Canada. Four of the closures were in California; two were in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and New York; and these states contained one store closing: Alabama, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Texas.

None of the Virginia stores was among the closures.

Bon-Ton Stores

The Wisconsin company, which operated department stores under names like Bergner’s, Carson’s and Boston Store, closed all of its stores in 2018, including Herberger's in Virginia.

SEE MORE:

• One Virginia Sears Store On New Closure List
• 9 Virginia Mattress Firms To Close As Brand Files For Bankruptcy
• 21 Toys R Us Locations In Virginia Get Final Closing Day
• Virginia Sears Store Closing In Latest Round

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Pictured, the Sears store in Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax closed at the end of November. Image via kapalua7/YouTube.