Major Retailers Announce Dozens Of NoVA Store Closings In 2019

VIRGINIA — Brick and mortar retailers in Virginia continue to announce closings in 2019 with some citing poor holiday 2018 sales figures and others blaming debt loads for the shutdowns. We're less than three months into the year, and already several big-name retailers have announced their plans to shutter dozens of locations in the Commonwealth and District of Columbia.

Chains closing up shop include clothing retailers, shoe stores, department stores and more.
The bleak outlook for many chain retailers isn't new — in 2018 dozens of chains closed stores, including, most notably, Toys R Us and Sears, as the retail apocalypse gained steam.

Coresight Research, which tracks store closures, says so far in 2019, retailers in the United States have announced 4,287 closings.

Here's a look at the chains with DC and Virginia locations that have either closed in 2019 or have announced plans to do so:

GYMBOREE
Children's clothing retailer Gymboree filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. Under the bankruptcy plan, the retail chain will close more than 800 Gymboree and Crazy 8 stores. The company is working to save its 140 upscale Janie and Jack stores. READ MORE.

PAYLESS SHOESOURCE
Payless ShoeSource plans to close all of its U.S. stores as part of a bankruptcy filing. The closings would affect about 2,300 U.S. stores. The company is preparing for going-out-of-business sales at the locations. Northern Virginia sites include Alexandria, Woodbridge, Reston, Falls Church, Fairfax and Manassas. READ MORE.

FAMILY DOLLAR
Nearly 400 Family Dollar stores will close nationwide this year, while another 200 will be converted to Dollar Tree, which purchased the rival chain in 2015. There are more than 150 Family Dollar stores in Virginia; which ones will close has not yet been released. Other Family Dollars will keep their name will be stocked with $1 Dollar Tree merchandise and alcohol sections. READ MORE.

JCPENNEY
JCPenney announced in February it will close 15 department stores and nine home and furniture stores this year in addition to three store closures announced in January. The JCPenney location at Lake Forest Mall in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is one of the stores targeted for closure. The stores that will be shuttered "either require significant capital, are minimally cash-flow positive...or represent a real estate monetization opportunity," the retailer said in a statement. READ MORE.

VICTORIA'S SECRET
Victoria's Secret will shutter 53 underperforming stores in North America this year, the owner of the lingerie chain said. L Brands Inc., which also owns the more successful Bath & Body Works chain, made the announcement as it reported disappointing holiday season sales. Specific locations have not been made public yet by the company. READ MORE.

CHARLOTTE RUSSE
Only a month after filing for bankruptcy, the women's clothing company Charlotte Russe has decided to shutter all of its stores and is reportedly in talks to sell its intellectual property. The company said it is partnering with a buyer who has expressed interest in keeping physical "brick and mortar" stores. Stores marked for closing including ones at Fair Oaks Mall, Dulles Town Center, and Manassas Mall. READ MORE.

SEARS
The gasping retail giant is trying to "streamline" operations, improve its capital position and focus on the most successful stores, according to Sears Holdings. Multiple Sears and Kmart stores have closed in the past two years. Under the current restructuring, three Sears stores will shutter. READ MORE.

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With reporting by Kara Seymour

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