When we talk about the top 10 victims of the retail apocalypse, the list reads like a walk down memory lane of once‑mighty retailers that have vanished under the pressure of e‑commerce, shifting consumer habits, and the pandemic.
10 Department Stores
Department stores have traditionally been the backbone of shopping malls, occupying the largest footprints in suburban strip malls and downtown retail corridors. Yet they’re marching toward oblivion.
Marshall Field’s, a 19th‑century icon, and Hecht’s, founded in 1957, were both absorbed by Macy’s in 2005, which either rebranded or shuttered every location. A year later, Macy’s retired the Kaufmann’s name. Even Macy’s itself, established in 1929, is on shaky ground, planning to close 125 stores over the next three years.
The Bon‑Ton family—including Bergner’s, Boston Store, Carson’s, Elder‑Beerman, Herberger’s, and Younkers—was liquidated in 2018, resulting in 256 closed doors. Filene’s, a Boston staple launched in 1881, went bankrupt in 2009, erasing all its brick‑and‑mortar presence. California’s Mervyn’s, founded in 1949 and once boasting nearly 200 locations, declared bankruptcy in 2008 and vanished entirely.
Two historic names, Sears and JCPenney, linger but are severely weakened. Sears (alongside K‑Mart) has shuttered more than 3,500 stores and slashed roughly 250,000 jobs over the past 15 years. After filing Chapter 11 in October 2018, it was bought by Transformco in February 2019, which announced fewer than 200 Sears and K‑Mart outlets would survive.
JCPenney, which peaked at over 1,100 stores in 2010, has been forced to close a large portion of its network due to declining sales. The retailer hasn’t posted a quarterly sales gain since the 2017 holiday season (2019 holiday same‑store sales fell 7.5%). Six locations closed in early 2020, and the coronavirus ultimately pushed the chain into bankruptcy.
9 Clothing Stores
Clothing retailers serve every demographic—from whole‑family chains to niche boutiques. Yet many have been swept away alongside the department giants.
Filene’s Basement, an off‑price offshoot of the original Filene’s department store, closed all 20 of its locations in 2011. The Limited abruptly shuttered its 250 stores in 2017. In January 2019, after 123 years of operation, Henri Bendel closed its 23‑store empire.
Charlotte Russe, a women’s fashion chain founded in the mid‑1970s, eliminated more than 500 stores in April 2019. Plus‑size retailer Avenue closed 222 stores in August 2019, and the same month saw San Antonio’s A’Gaci shut all 54 locations. Luxury flagship Barneys New York, established in 1923, ceased operations in February 2020. DressBarn announced the closure of its entire 650‑store network, citing unprofitable performance in today’s retail climate.
Teen‑focused brands also fell victim. Steve & Barry’s, known for cheap sportswear, vanished in 2009. Gadzooks, launched in 1983, filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and was later absorbed by Forever 21, which subsequently closed all its stores. Wet Seal, another teen apparel name, permanently closed in 2017 and now exists only online.
Gymboree, a children’s clothing chain, closed 400 stores under Chapter 11 protection in 2017. By January 2019, it filed again and shuttered over 800 Gymboree and Crazy 8 locations. The brand’s merchandise now lives on through The Children’s Place. Premium children’s label Peek Kids folded when parent Charlotte Russe went under; it is now sold by Mamiye Brothers Inc.
The retail apocalypse, combined with a historic low in birth rates (2018), forced Destination Maternity to file for bankruptcy in 2019, leaving only a handful of its 458 stores open. Remaining clothing chains that continue to trim locations include Forever 21, Gap, Chico’s, Victoria’s Secret, Christopher & Banks, Francesca’s, Abercrombie & Fitch, and J. Crew.
8 Shoe Stores
Footwear‑focused brick‑and‑mortar shops are feeling the same squeeze as apparel retailers, battling online powerhouses like Zappos, Shoe.com, and Amazon.
Take Kinney Shoes, which opened its doors in 1894 and once boasted 467 locations. All of them vanished by 1998. In the 1960s, Thom McAn ran more than 1,400 stores before closing the chain in 1996; the name persists only through other retailers. In February 2019, Payless ShoeSource filed for bankruptcy and liquidated its entire 2,500‑store footprint, marking one of the largest retail closures in history.
7 Toy Stores
Imagine kids peering into a bright, colorful downtown toy shop. That nostalgic scene is fading fast as gaming and electronic entertainment dominate the younger generation’s preferences.
The iconic FAO Schwarz, once a Fifth Avenue landmark, closed its original location in 2015 but reopened three years later in a new Manhattan spot. Other toy retailers weren’t as lucky.
Imaginarium, an educational toy chain from the 1980s, began shuttering in the 1990s and was fully closed by its parent Toys R Us in 2003. Zany Brainy filed for bankruptcy in 2001. K·B Toys eliminated all 1,300 of its stores in 2009. The titan Toys R Us, the quintessential toy store, closed its doors in 2018.
6 Electronics and Computers
Even the tech‑savvy shoppers who love gadgets haven’t spared the brick‑and‑mortar outlets that sell them. Media Play, a big‑box spin‑off of Sam Goody, closed permanently in 2006. Tweeter, launched in 1972, shuttered all stores in 2008. Circuit City closed 567 locations in 2009, and CompUSA, founded in 1984, lost its final store by 2012.
Sharper Image now sells exclusively online, catalog, and through third‑party retailers, having abandoned its physical stores. Video‑game retail giant GameStop, with more than 5,700 locations across 14 countries, has seen steep sales declines, prompting the closure of nearly 200 stores in 2019. CFO James Bell warned of a “much larger tranche of closures” over the next 12‑24 months.
5 Music and Video Stores
Before streaming took over, music lovers and movie fans roamed aisles of physical stores. Younger generations now rarely experience that analog era.
Tower Records, a 1990s heavyweight, closed all U.S. stores in 2006. The original Sam Goody, opened in the 1940s, either vanished or morphed into FYE by 2010. Hastings Entertainment shuttered its 123 stores in 2017, and Virgin Megastores, the CD‑store king, closed all U.S. locations that same year.
Blockbuster, once the video‑rental behemoth with over 9,000 stores, filed for bankruptcy in 2010. Today, only a single Blockbuster remains in Bend, Oregon.
4 Furniture and Home Goods
Even with HGTV’s influence boosting home improvement interest, furniture and home‑goods retailers haven’t escaped the apocalypse.
Levitz Furniture, founded in 1910, closed all stores in 2008. Linens ’n Things, which boasted over 500 locations in 2006, vanished by 2008, persisting only online.
In October 2019, Hamilton Beach Brands announced the shutdown of all 160 Kitchen Collection stores, which sold small appliances and cooking tools. Craft‑store chain A.C. Moore closed all 145 of its locations, with parent Nicole Crafts converting roughly 40 sites into Michaels stores.
Bed, Bath & Beyond trimmed 60 stores in 2019, Pier 1 Imports announced the closure of 57 stores in 2020, and Z Gallerie planned to close 17 of its 76 stores as part of a Chapter 11 restructuring.
3 Book Stores
Chain bookstores have dented the market for independent shops, while e‑readers and audio apps have added pressure. Yet e‑book sales have leveled off, and physical books remain popular—just purchased online rather than in‑store.
In 1987, Barnes & Noble acquired B. Dalton Books, closing that outlet in January 2010. Though still the largest chain, Barnes & Noble has closed roughly 10 % of its stores since 2011.
Waldenbooks, founded in 1933, merged with Borders in 1994; both brands liquidated in 2011, erasing all locations. Family Christian Stores, with 240 outlets selling books and religious items, closed in 2017, while LifeWay Christian Stores shut down 170 stores across 30 states.
Book World, a 45‑store chain launched in 1976, announced liquidation in December 2017. Owner Bill Steur told the New York Times that mall sales were down 30‑60 %, stating, “The internet is killing retail. Bookstores are just the first to go.” Amazon now eclipses Book World as the fourth‑largest bookstore chain.
2 Sporting Goods
Even in the world of sports, competition is fierce, and many legacy retailers have been swept away.
Oshman’s Sporting Goods, founded in 1933, was acquired by Gart Sports in 2001 and rebranded as Sports Authority. The latter, with over 200 U.S. locations, filed for bankruptcy in 2016, closing all stores and selling its e‑commerce site to Dick’s Sporting Goods, which also acquired Galyan’s Trading Post (2004), Joe’s (2009), and Golfsmith (2016).
Sport Chalet, opened in 1959, abruptly closed all stores in 2016. MC Sports shuttered in 2017. In 2019, Advanced Sports Enterprises filed for bankruptcy, announcing the closure of 102 Performance Bicycle locations. JackRabbit purchased Olympia Sports and announced plans to close all 76 of its stores.
Modell’s Sporting Goods, the oldest chain founded in 1889, announced in March 2020 that it would close all 115 stores.
1 Discount Chains
Saving money never goes out of style, yet the methods shoppers use to snag bargains have evolved dramatically.
Ames Department Store, once boasting more than 700 locations, struggled with debt and dwindling sales before closing all stores in 2002. Dollar Tree converted 200 Family Dollar stores into its own brand and shuttered nearly 400 other Family Dollar sites.
In 2019, Fred’s discount chain closed 159 stores in May, 104 in June, and 49 in July, ultimately shutting down all 520 locations by year‑end.
Shopko, founded in 1962 and known for “quality service and low prices,” could not compete with Amazon’s convenience, leading to the closure of all 371 stores in 2019.
Why These Are the Top 10 Victims
Each of the retailers listed above illustrates how the convergence of digital disruption, changing consumer preferences, and economic shocks—most notably the COVID‑19 pandemic—have reshaped the retail landscape. Their stories serve as cautionary tales for any business navigating today’s fast‑paced market.