News & Trending Shopping & Deals News

7 Mall Favorites Are Most Likely To Go Bankrupt and Close In 2024

Your mall could get a little lonelier if these shops close their doors for good.

crowd in the mall
Updated Nov. 6, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Malls are struggling to keep customers, which might be evident when you look at all the mall retailers closing up and declaring bankruptcy.

Stores like rue21 and The Body Shop have already declared bankruptcy this year and shuttered all their locations. Other retailers like Express have also declared bankruptcy, but some locations are still operating.

Store closings and bankruptcies are becoming a trend and more retailers could follow. Here are a few where you may be able to save money shopping when they announce they're going out of business sales.

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!1

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

The Container Store

Jillian Cain/Adobe Container Store Hallandale Beach

The Container Store continues to struggle with sales and could be on the path to bankruptcy if things don’t turn around.

The company's debt is maturing in 2025 and will have to be paid, or the retailer will face serious consequences. However, a lack of strong revenue could make paying back those debts a real
problem. 

Fossil

Terang Bulan Gallery/Adobe Fossil store in Bandung Indonesia

Watchmaker Fossil said goodbye to its longtime CEO this year, partially due to the company’s ongoing financial issues.

The retailer posted less-than-stellar earnings reports this year, and S&P Global Ratings downgraded its credit rating due to its continuing financial problems.

JCPenney

jetcityimage/Adobe J C Penney store

JCPenney declared bankruptcy in 2020, but there are signs that issues are worsening, and it may have to make even more changes to close locations.

The company recently closed four anchor store locations, including stores in Alabama, Maine, Maryland, and Texas, with little announcement. It also continues to see declines in income, which could lead to more bankruptcy issues and closures.

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.

Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.

For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.

Get a free quote

Sleep Number

MelissaMN/Adobe Maple Grove Minnesota Sleep Number mattress store

You might have a Sleep Number mattress company in your local mall but it won’t be there for long.

The company continues to struggle with revenue, making it likely to disappear from your local mall or shopping area. One potential reason for the issue was the lack of home sales in recent years when shoppers are more likely to buy a new mattress.

Macy’s

Robert/Adobe San Francisco California Macys store

Macy’s might be a big anchor store at your local mall, but its financial struggles could lead to trouble ahead.

The company’s most recent quarter of earnings were lackluster, causing its stock price to tumble on the news.

The decline came after Macy’s announced earlier this year that it plans to shut down 150 stores over the next three years to address some of the financial problems.

Foot Locker

Solarisys/Adobe Dresden Germany Foot Locker store

Foot Locker has struggled the past few years with issues related to fewer customers going to malls, which has caused its income to decline.

It also didn’t pivot to e-commerce in a timely fashion, while other mall retailers started to rely more on online sales to stem the loss of in-person sales.

Foot Locker has seen a turnaround in sales in recent months, but it remains to be seen whether this will lead to the company seeing more success or sinking into possible bankruptcy.

Kohl’s

Sundry Photography/Adobe Kohl's South San Francisco bay area mall

Kohl’s has added store-in-store options to attract new customers, such as Sephora for makeup and Babies R Us for extra children’s needs.

But the company is still having financial issues, as revenue continues to decline. If the retailer can’t pull itself out of its hole, it could file for bankruptcy.

Bottom line

Great Brut Here/Adobe People visiting Dubai shopping mall

Malls are already struggling, so it can be tough when more retailers close their doors due to lagging sales or other economic struggles.

However, those closings could help you save money if you find ways to keep cash in your pocket to prepare yourself financially for saving cash that you can use for other financial goals.

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0
info

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details