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These 7 Retail Chains Are Shrinking Fast - Here’s What That Means for the People Who Depended on Them

When a store closes, shoppers lose more than a place to spend money.

By Paige Cerulli , Edited by Andrea Basse

Updated Oct. 9, 2026

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When a retailer closes, shoppers often lose a convenient source of low-cost clothing, pet supplies, groceries, or other everyday needs. Nationwide, communities are experiencing this as retailers close hundreds of locations, liquidate entire store fleets, and rethink the role of physical stores in 2026.

Coresight Research tracked 3,321 U.S. store closures, either completed or planned, through the first half of 2026 and estimates the year could end with as many as 6,428 closures.

However, those numbers don't tell you what happens to the person who used to shop in these stores to keep more cash in their pocket. Here are some of the chains undergoing the biggest physical changes, and what those changes mean for those who depend on them.

Eddie Bauer closes its North American stores

Eddie Bauer is winding down its North American brick-and-mortar operation. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February after beginning the year with roughly 200 stores.

However, the company's e-commerce and wholesale operations are separate from the bankrupt store operator and continue to sell Eddie Bauer merchandise.

Still, customers have lost in-person shopping. It's hard to properly assess a jacket or pair of hiking pants from a product photo.

REI, Columbia, and sporting-goods stores sell similar clothing. Eddie Bauer's website also remains an option, but a one-for-one replacement in every community doesn't exist.

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Francesca's liquidates its physical stores

Francesca's, a women's apparel and accessories retailer, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2026 and began liquidating its stores.

Francesca's niche included women's clothing, jewelry, gifts, and accessories in a boutique-style setting. A physical store allows shoppers to browse merchandise, see colors and materials in person, and find a gift without waiting for delivery.

Department stores and online clothing and accessory shops could replace some of Francesca's individual products. TJ Maxx and Marshalls may offer a similar treasure-hunt-style shopping experience, although their merchandise varies considerably by location.

Scrubs & Beyond closes stores and goes digital-only

If you're a health care worker, you may not care about boutique apparel, but you may have heard of Scrubs & Beyond's abrupt changes.

The specialty retailer announced in September that it plans to close all of its physical stores across 30 states and shift to a digital-only model.

Without physical stores, nurses and medical assistants lose the convenience of walking into a nearby location to try on several brands or pick up a replacement uniform before a shift.

Online medical-uniform retailers remain available, as do local uniform shops and some medical-supply stores. Hospital systems and medical schools sometimes also have designated uniform suppliers.

Saks OFF 5TH closes most of its stores

The Saks OFF 5TH changes mainly affect bargain shoppers.

In January, Saks Global announced it would close 57 Saks OFF 5TH stores and only keep 12 locations as part of its restructuring. The company also plans to wind down the Saks OFF 5TH online business.

The remaining stores would sell residual merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bergdorf Goodman rather than continuing the previous OFF 5TH business model.

People who shopped at Saks OFF 5TH for discounted designer and premium brands have one less major off-price shopping option. TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Nordstrom Rack offer similar off-price shopping, but inventory varies considerably.

Petsense closes more than a third of its stores

Pet owners in smaller communities aren't immune to the retail shake-up.

Tractor Supply announced in July that it would close 75 Petsense stores, representing more than a third of the chain's 209 locations, because the stores were underperforming.

A customer who loses a nearby Petsense doesn't just lose another place to buy dog food. They also lose a convenient local grooming provider or have to drive farther for specialty pet products.

Tractor Supply itself remains an option for many pet-supply purchases, as do independent pet stores, farm-and-feed stores, and national chains such as PetSmart and Petco.

7-Eleven closes hundreds of U.S. stores

Convenience stores may be easy to overlook. For some neighborhoods, though, they're an important source of everyday necessities.

7-Eleven is undergoing a substantial North American footprint reduction in 2026. Coresight estimated in August that the chain was on track to close about 601 U.S. stores, with 63 already confirmed at that point.

A convenience store may function as a miniature grocery store for people who need milk, snacks, drinks, prepared food, or household basics without making a full supermarket trip. When one closes, the nearest alternative may be another convenience store, or a supermarket several miles away.

That difference matters particularly for people without reliable transportation.

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Walgreens continues shrinking its pharmacy footprint

Pharmacy closures deserve separate attention because of their specialized offerings.

Walgreens has been closing stores since 2024. In 2026, it expects fewer than 100 U.S. store closures, according to an August report.

For someone buying shampoo or snacks, a Walgreens closure may be an annoyance. For an older adult who gets regular prescriptions there, it may involve changing pharmacies, traveling farther, or arranging prescription delivery.

CVS, grocery-store pharmacies, Walmart, and independent pharmacies may provide alternatives, depending on the community and a retiree's insurance or prescription plan.

Bottom line

While the number of stores closing their doors is alarming, the biggest problem is what these stores provided to their communities. A shopper losing an Eddie Bauer, Francesca's, or Saks OFF 5TH may have to find another place to buy clothing. A health care worker losing Scrubs & Beyond may have to order uniforms online. A pet owner losing a Petsense may have to drive farther for supplies or grooming.

People trying to get ahead financially in communities with fewer retail options may need to take longer trips, accept fewer choices, and spend more money on the same everyday necessities.

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