retail apocalypse

BartShore

More Retailers Are Actually Surviving Bankruptcy, Saving Jobs And Stores

This year, there have been a record number of retail bankruptcies, but there’s also been a change in the industry. While some of the largest recent retail bankruptcies were preludes to liquidation, lenders and landlords are now working to keep as many stores open as possible after bankruptcy. [More]

Ben Schumin

Get Ready For More Sketchy Seasonal Stores As Retail Vacancies Rise

If you’re a fan of those stores that come out of nowhere to sell a lot of Halloween costumes and Christmas ornaments only to be gone without a trace once a holiday passes, we’ve got great news for you! A decade-high level of retail bankruptcies and store closures means there’s still plenty of spaces at your local shopping centers for all manner of seasonal pop-up stores. [More]

Nicholas DiMaio

Toys ‘R’ Us Expected To File For Bankruptcy This Week

UPDATE: The reports were true — Toys ‘R’ Us has indeed filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and says it hopes to keep its stores running through this holiday season. [More]

Aerosoles

Aerosoles Files For Bankruptcy Protection, Plans To Close Most Of Its Stores

Aerosoles, maker of comfy women’s shoes, has the same troubles as other mall retailers: more physical stores than it needs, and not enough customers spending money in those stores. And so the company is joining 2017’s most unfortunate corporate club, and filing for bankruptcy. [More]

Nicholas Eckhart

Here Are The 28 Kmart Stores Closing Later This Year

Sears Holdings, the parent company of Kmart and Sears, shared in its most recent quarterly earnings report that it plans to close 28 more Kmart stores. The company saved the closures list for later in the day, and now we have it for you. [More]

Nicholas Eckhart

Kmart Closing 28 More Stores, Cites Ongoing ‘Transformation’

The news in Sears Holdings’ report to investors isn’t as bad as it could be, but it’s devastating if you’re one of the employees or customers of the 28 Kmart stores that are part of a new round of closures that the company announced today. [More]

Steven Swain

JCPenney’s Turnaround Has Gone 360 Degrees

JCPenney has tried so many turnarounds during this decade, it’s difficult to remember which direction the classic American department store brand is even supposed to be facing. As of now, it’s not headed in the direction of profitability, or paying down its debts. [More]

Karen Chappell

Why Are New Malls Being Built During A Retail Apocalypse?

With a record number of recent retail bankruptcies, and national waves of store closings, how is it that there are more malls being built or expanded? Construction on shopping centers and even on enclosed malls is at its highest level since the summer of 2008. Are real estate developers in denial? [More]

Nicholas Eckhart

Report: Sears Closing 20 More Stores, Opening One

Sears Holdings Corporation, parent company of Sears and Kmart, has recently been on a store-closing spree, seeking to lower its expenses to escape a looming retail death spiral. Today, the company announced the opening of a new appliances and mattresses concept store, while also informing employees that the company plans to close another 20 Sears department stores. [More]

Ben Schumin

Retail Apocalypse Is Not All Bad News For Surviving Mall Stores

With retail chains going bankrupt or closing stores at a record pace, mall landlords have empty slots that need filling. That’s good news for the retailers who remain and are able to negotiate better deals for their mall stores. [More]

Phillip Pessar

Gymboree Files For Bankruptcy, To Close Hundreds Of Stores

Retail-watchers have predicted the impending bankruptcy of children’s clothing store Gymboree, and the filing has finally arrived. The chain, which has 1,281 stores between its Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack, and Crazy 8 chains, said in a bankruptcy court filing that it plans to close as many as 450 of its stores, but stay in business while cutting its substantial debt. [More]

Mike Mozart

BCBG Max Azria Avoids Death Sentence, Saved By Owners Of Juicy Couture, Body Glove

After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closing 120 stores, apparel retailer BCBG Max Azria had hopes that some bigger company would swoop in and save them from oblivion. Turns out there were actually two companies willing to rescue BCBG. [More]

Otavio

Owner of Ann Taylor, dressbarn, Lane Bryant, Maurices Could Close Up To 650 Stores

You may not know the name Ascena Retail Group, but you know the stores it owns, like Ann Taylor, dressbarn, Lane Bryant, Maurices, among others. Many of these stores could soon be closing if Ascena follows through on its proposal to shutter as many as 650 locations. [More]

WCPO

hhgregg Stores Are Down To Mangled Stoves And Fixtures

We are in the final days of hhgregg, the bankrupt appliance, electronics, and furniture retailer, conjuring that mixture of sadness and aggressive bargain-hunting that happens at the end of any retail operation. What’s left in the stores? If the one in Cincinnati is any indication, there’s nothing left but appliances that are dented or even mangled. [More]

Phillip Pessar

Report: Gymboree Could Close 350 Stores, Bankruptcy May Come Next Week

Kids’ clothing chain Gymboree isn’t failing, exactly, but it’s doing business under a massive debt load. Now “people familiar with the matter” say that the chain is planning to close up to 350 of its 1,300 stores, and that its bankruptcy filing could come as soon as next week. [More]

Phillip Pessar

Gymboree Rumored To Be Prepping For Bankruptcy, So Use Your Gift Cards Now

Do you have a Gymboree gift card, or items to return or exchange? Stop putting that shopping trip off, because there are reports that the debt-laden children’s clothing retailer and enrichment class provider might be preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy soon. [More]

WKYT

hhgregg Stores Are Closing After Bankrupt Retailer Can’t Find Buyer

Up until 5 P.M. on Friday, appliance retailer hhgregg was waiting for a buyer to swoop in and save it from liquidation. The appliance, electronics, and furniture retailer could find someone to buy its business as a going concern, keeping at least some of its stores open, or it could liquidate and close. Store closing sales began on Saturday. [More]

(Nicholas Eckhart)

Who Do Sears And JCPenney Closures Really Hurt? Malls

Back in 1959, Sears started the Homart Development Company. What did Homart develop? Malls! It built and ran malls across the country, malls that were home to Sears stores. Today, Sears is no longer in the mall business, and in many towns, Sears has left the mall as well. That’s terrible news for other mall tenants and for the mall business as a whole. [More]