Retail Store Closures in 2025: Kohl’s Leads the Pack as More Big-Name Brands Shutter Locations

The retail landscape in the United States is rapidly shifting, with another major chain making significant cuts. As of today, March 29, 2025, Kohl’s has officially closed 27 stores across 15 states. This move is part of a broader trend that has seen several well-known retailers struggle to maintain brick-and-mortar locations in the face of changing consumer habits, e-commerce dominance, and financial challenges.

Kohl’s Shutdowns—Which Locations Are Closing?

Kohl’s, a Wisconsin-based department store chain, first announced these closures in January, citing a decline in sales and an effort to optimize its real estate footprint. The company saw a 7.2% decrease in sales in 2024 and is forecasting a 2% net decline in 2025.

California was hit the hardest by Kohl’s downsizing, with 10 locations closing. Despite these losses, the company still operates over 1,120 stores nationwide.

Full List of Kohl’s Closures by State:

• Alabama: Spanish Fort – 21000 Town Center Ave.
• Arkansas: Little Rock West – 13909 Chenal Pkwy.
• California: Balboa (San Diego), Encinitas, Fremont, Mountain View, Napa, Pleasanton, Point West (Sacramento), San Rafael, San Luis Obispo, Westchester.
• Colorado: Aurora – Arapahoe Crossing.
• Georgia: Duluth – 2050 W Liddell Rd.
• Idaho: Boise – 400 N Milwaukee St.
• Illinois: Plainfield – 11860 S Route 59, Spring Hill (West Dundee).
• Massachusetts: Stoughton – 501 Technology Center Dr.
• New Jersey: East Windsor – 72 Princeton Hightstown Rd.
• Ohio: Blue Ash – 4150 Hunt Rd., Forest Park (Cincinnati).
• Oregon: Portland Gateway – 10010 NE Halsey St.
• Pennsylvania: Pottstown – 351 W Schuylkill Rd.
• Texas: North Dallas – 18224 Preston Rd.
• Utah: Riverton – 13319 S 3600 W Ste 13LOT.
• Virginia: Herndon – 2100 Centreville Rd., Williamsburg – 100 Gristmill Plz.

The Bigger Picture: Kohl’s Isn’t the Only Retailer Struggling

Kohl’s isn’t alone in its battle to stay profitable. A growing number of national retailers have been forced to downsize or completely shut down operations due to shifting shopping habits and rising costs. Here’s a look at other major chains facing closures in 2025:

Party City – Saying Goodbye After Nearly 40 Years

Once a go-to destination for party supplies and Halloween costumes, Party City has officially filed for bankruptcy and is in the process of closing around 700 stores. With increasing competition from online retailers and declining foot traffic, the company struggled to recover from the financial hit of the pandemic.

📖 Read More: Party City Closes Its Doors After Nearly 40 Years

Macy’s – 66 Stores Shutting Down in 2025

Department store giant Macy’s is also making cuts, planning to close 66 locations this year as part of a broader effort to shut down 150 underperforming stores by 2026. Macy’s executives say the focus is shifting to a digital-first strategy, reflecting a growing trend in the retail industry.

Forever 21 – The End of an Era for Fast Fashion?

Forever 21, once a dominant force in fast fashion, is set to close all 350 of its U.S. stores by the end of 2025. The brand’s financial troubles, compounded by the rise of secondhand shopping and sustainable fashion trends, have led to this drastic decision.

Advance Auto Parts – A Glimmer of Hope in the Retail Sector?

In contrast to other struggling brands, Advance Auto Parts is attempting a turnaround. After closing 700 stores in 2024, the company has announced plans to reopen new locations under a revamped strategy. CEO Shane O’Kelly aims for a 7% adjusted operating margin by 2027, showing that not all closures are permanent.

What’s Next for Retail?

As consumer behavior continues to evolve, retailers must adapt to stay relevant. Many businesses are investing heavily in online sales, cutting back on physical stores, and experimenting with new business models to compete with e-commerce giants like Amazon.

For shoppers, this means fewer department stores and specialty chains in malls, but potentially better online experiences and more personalized shopping options. While brick-and-mortar retail isn’t dead, it’s clear that the industry is undergoing one of its biggest transformations in decades.

Retail’s Downfall: How Outdated Marketing Doomed Kohl’s and Other Major Chains

By Ana Lefebvre

Another day, another round of store closures. Today, Kohl’s is shutting down 27 locations across 15 states, adding to the growing list of major retailers struggling to stay afloat. As someone with degrees in Women’s Studies, Sociology, and Mass Communications (Marketing), I see the same pattern play out time and time again—companies refuse to adapt to the modern marketing landscape, and they pay the price.

COVID-19 changed everything. It permanently altered consumer behavior, but many brands, including Kohl’s, failed to make the necessary changes in their marketing and sales departments. Instead of evolving, they clung to outdated strategies, ignored digital trends, and ultimately made themselves irrelevant.

The Problem? Stuck in the Past

Kohl’s had every opportunity to modernize its approach. They had strong name recognition, massive retail spaces, and even celebrity-backed fashion lines. But they made fatal mistakes:

1. They didn’t embrace influencer marketing. Instead of leveraging the power of social media stars to drive sales, they stuck to traditional advertising that no longer converts at the same rate.
2. They failed to capitalize on what they were known for. Kohl’s has always been about affordable fashion and home goods. But instead of dominating that space post-COVID, they let fast-fashion brands and digital-first retailers take over.
3. They relied on outdated systems and a non-versatile staff. The way people shop changed dramatically. Consumers expect convenience, fast shipping, and a seamless online-to-offline experience. Kohl’s didn’t prioritize these shifts.
4. They ignored their own celebrity partnerships.

Kohl’s had a golden opportunity with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Instead of using these partnerships to their advantage, they let them fade into the background.

Celebrities Kohl’s Wasted

Kohl’s had Jennifer Lopez, Vera Wang, Lauren Conrad, Britney Spears, and Daisy Fuentes attached to their brand—huge names with built-in audiences. But what did they do with them? Almost nothing.

• Jennifer Lopez had a fashion and lifestyle line, but instead of tapping into her 250+ million Instagram followers and viral influence, they kept their campaigns stuck in department store ads.
• Vera Wang had the Simply Vera collection, but Kohl’s never positioned it effectively in the “quiet luxury” wave that took over post-pandemic fashion.
• Lauren Conrad’s collection was primed for Instagram and TikTok shoppers, yet Kohl’s barely used her for influencer-style marketing.
• Britney Spears’ fragrance line could have been a viral moment—especially when #FreeBritney was trending worldwide—but Kohl’s failed to react.
• Daisy Fuentes’ fashion line was an early success in bringing Latina representation into department stores, but Kohl’s ignored the rapidly growing Hispanic market.

These were all wasted opportunities to dominate social media and build an engaged customer base.

The Retail Industry is Evolving—They Didn’t

Other brands are failing for the same reason. Party City, Macy’s, Forever 21, and Advance Auto Parts are all closing stores because they didn’t adjust to new consumer expectations. They should have been:

✅ Prioritizing digital-first marketing strategies
✅ Creating viral, shareable content with influencers
✅ Using their celebrity partnerships to drive engagement
✅ Making their in-store experience something people actually want to visit

Instead, they stuck to the old ways, and now they’re paying the price.

Retail isn’t dead, but the era of ignoring digital marketing and e-commerce dominance is over. Those who don’t adapt won’t survive.

📚 Sources:

• Axios
• Business Insider
• Newsweek
• The Sun
• The Sun – Auto
• hattiesburgmemory, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

🚀 10,000+ Players Are Hooked on Sky Jumper! Are You In?

Join the hype and test your reflexes in Sky Jumper! See how far you can go—players can’t stop trying to beat their high scores!

Play Now & Join the Fun!