Familiar stores across the United States are shutting down quickly. These closures wipe out jobs, change neighborhoods, and show big shifts in shopping habits. Party supply shops, pharmacies, discount chains, and more face tough times from online rivals, higher costs, and new buyer preferences. In 2025, experts predict 15,000 store closures, far more than new ones opening. Empty shops hurt local property values and economies, while workers and customers struggle to adapt.
Party City Closes All Doors
Party City led the party supply market for almost 40 years. In December 2024, the chain filed for bankruptcy and shut all 700 stores. This move cut more than 10,000 jobs, with no severance pay for employees. People once turned to Party City for balloons, decorations, and party needs. The sudden end revealed weak spots in specialty retail, where online sellers grab more sales.
Pharmacies Leave Gaps in Care
Big pharmacy chains are pulling back hard. CVS closed 900 stores from 2021 to 2024, with 271 more set for 2025. Many of these hit rural spots, creating “pharmacy deserts” where people struggle to get medicines. Walgreens, the number-two chain, plans to close 1,200 stores over three years. By late 2025, over 450 had shut, often leaving older and disabled folks in far-off areas without easy access.
Rite Aid filed for its second bankruptcy in May 2024. It expects to close more than 1,000 stores by year’s end, hit by opioid lawsuit costs, pandemic losses, and online competition. Doctors warn this splits healthcare: rich city areas keep services, but poor rural places face real barriers. Patients now drive longer for prescriptions, raising health risks.
Home Goods Stores Shut Down
Home improvement and discount retailers crumbled under pressure. LL Flooring, formerly Lumber Liquidators, went bankrupt in August 2024. It sold off all 400 stores by September, costing over 5,000 jobs. Too much stock, stiff competition, and less spending from buyers left contractors and homeowners hunting for options elsewhere.
Big Lots, known for cheap home goods, filed for bankruptcy in September 2024. Despite a failed deal with Hilco Capital, it closed all 963 stores by December. This slashed $4.7 billion from yearly retail sales. Budget shoppers lost a key spot for deals, shaking up discount shopping.
Fashion and Crafts Chains Fade Away
Long-time crafts seller Joann filed for bankruptcy again in January 2025, just after a shaky recovery from 2023. The 82-year-old chain ended all 800 stores, wiping out 19,000 jobs. Economic woes cut interest in home crafts, as families tightened belts.
Teen clothing brand Rue21 went bankrupt quietly in 2024 and liquidated its 543 stores. This showed dangers for smaller brands losing investor cash. Shoppers saw fewer cheap fashion picks, especially for young buyers.
Big Names Pull Back Further
Iconic Macy’s launched its “Bold New Chapter” plan, closing 150 stores over two years. That included 66 in 2025 alone. These shutdowns speed up decline in city centers, already hit by changing shopping trends.
Convenience chain 7-Eleven closed 444 U.S. stores by late 2024 to streamline. Urban areas lost quick stops for snacks and drinks, sparking concerns over convenience.
Why Stores Are Closing and What Comes Next
Online shopping dominates, with costs rising and habits changed by the pandemic. Retailers who skip digital tools fail fast. Thousands of workers now face job hunts, and rural folks travel far for basics. Analysts push for mixes of in-store and online sales, using tech to draw customers.
Survival means quick change. Stores must blend physical spots with apps and fast delivery. Communities adapt to fewer options, leaning on digital markets. Those who innovate on access and fresh ideas will last in this slimmer retail world.
Sources:
CNN “Why it seems like all of America’s chains are closing”
USA Today “CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid are all set to close stores”
Retail TouchPoints “CVS Plans to Close 271 Stores in 2025”
Business Insider “More Than 3700 US Stores Are Closing This Year”
CNBC “Store closures rise, led by Party City, Big Lots, Walgreens”
CoStar “Rising US store closings on pace for record year”
Retail Dive “US store closures to again outpace openings this year”