Walmart and 8 Other Major Stores That Are Closing Locations in August

It's never comforting to watch big brand names that have been around our whole lives suddenly wink out of existence. In today's retail landscape, restaurants, stores, and even bank branches are taking a hit, fighting to stay viable in a volatile economy.

As a result, consumers are learning every trick in the book to save more on everyday essentials, as businesses declare bankruptcy or close locations to avoid a similar fate.

So, how is your favorite chain doing? Find out which major stores are closing locations across the country this month, so you can plan appropriately.

The price of basic food has been skyrocketing, so one might think grocery stores would be safe from closures. But Kroger announced in June that they would be closing 60 unprofitable locations over the next year and a half.

Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia are all seeing closures this summer and into the autumn.

According to local news sources, the following locations have closed already or will close in August:

• Alpharetta, Georgia: 11877 Douglas Road (Aug. 16)
• Peoria, Illinois: 3311 N. Sterling Ave (Aug. 2)
• Bloomingdale, Illinois: 144 S Gary Ave. (Aug. 15)
• Northbrook, Illinois: 2323 Capital Dr. (Aug. 22)
• South Bend, Indiana: 4526 W. Western Ave. (Early August)
• Elkhart, Indiana: 901 Johnson St. (Early August)
• Charlottesville, Virginia: 1904 Emmett St. (Aug. 22)
• Arlington, Virginia: 600 S. Glebe Rd., Suite W100 (Aug. 4)
• Gassaway, West Virginia: 2908 State St. (Aug. 22)

The news of Rite Aid's bankruptcy sent shockwaves through the pharmaceutical industry and consumers alike when it was announced in May. 

The pharmacy giant immediately began winding down business operations and is expected to close the last of the remaining locations by the middle of August, prompting fears of "pharmacy deserts" in more rural areas.

The luxury department store chain is set to close two locations in August. One will close by Aug. 26 in Santa Monica, California (220 Broadway), and another by Aug. 24 in St. Louis, Missouri (1453 Saint Louis Galleria).

Despite the two closures, a new location in San Francisco is being planned. The new store will also have a new and smaller retail model that focuses on online orders, tailoring, and personal styling appointments.

Rite Aid isn't the only pharmacy disappearing. Walgreens is also set to retract its store footprint. The company announced back in May that 500 stores across the U.S. would shutter by August. This comes as part of the 1,200 locations that Walgreens plans to shutter overall.

The well-known pharmacy chain currently has over 8,000 stores throughout the country, and finalized a deal with a private equity firm this March that took it off the public market.

Harris Teeter is operating under the parent company of Kroger, and is included in the closures taking place this summer. 

No official list of closing locations has been released yet, but there was at least one that closed in Arlington, Virginia, on Aug. 4 at 3600 S. Glebe Rd., Suite W100.

Department stores are struggling and still blaming the COVID-19 pandemic. JCPenney was already suffering under a bankruptcy declaration, and in July, finally solidified a deal to sell to Copper Property CTL Pass Through Trust and an affiliate of Onyx Partners, Ltd.

The chain has already shuttered more than 200 locations, and will be closing an additional 119 stores after Labor Day, according to Best Life.

The home decor big-box chain announced earlier this summer that it would be closing stores as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in June and efforts to help eliminate $2 billion in debt.

Originally, 26 stores were slated for shutdown. But an announcement on Aug. 1 brings that number to 30 locations. Many At Home stores have already initiated closing sales to offload inventory, and the discounts can be expected to continue through August until Sept. 30, when they will close permanently.

While Walmart plans to open over 100 new stores in 2025, some locations will also be closing in order to optimize store performance. One of these includes the store in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, which is closing on Aug. 29, according to a Facebook post from the store.

According to local news reports, approximately 176 people will be permanently laid off as a result. But despite some shutdowns in various states, Walmart says that the company's overall health and profitability are in a good place.

If you live in Clinton Township, Michigan, you'll be losing your Apple store by mid-August. The U.K. is also slated to lose an Apple store this month in Bristol.

The good news is that the tech giant doesn't appear to be in any kind of financial duress, so much as they are adjusting to consumers shifting away from shopping malls.

The first half of the year saw potentially record-breaking closures throughout the retail environment, with many major brands closing locations. Jo-Ann's, Party City, Macy's, Big Lots, Dollar General, GameStop, Foot Locker, Best Buy, CVS, and Advance Auto Parts all shut down large numbers of stores this year.

The closings are likely to continue through the year for retail stores, so grab your best cash back credit cards and take advantage of closing sales.