These Chains Have Announced a Ton of Store Closings in 2019

If you keep noticing more going-out-of-business sales, there's a simple reason.

Forever 21, Dressbarn, Walgreens, GameStop, Gap and other chains have announced nearly 9,000 store closings in 2019 – way more than we saw during all of 2018.

That's according to Coresight Research, which predicts the number could hit 12,000 by the end of the year. You think that's bad? As online shopping continues to grow, another 75,000 stores could be lost by 2026, says investment bank UBS.

These chains are shutting down the most U.S. stores this year.

44. Charming Charlie

BRIGHTON, MI - AUGUST 22: Charming Charlie, whose Brighton, MI store is shown August 22, 2015, has stores in over 40 states. — Susan Montgomery / Shutterstock

Stores closing in 2019: 261

The charm wore off for this seller of colorful handbags, fashionable sunglasses, flashy jewelry and other women's accessories and clothing.

Charming Charlie filed for bankruptcy for the second time in less than two years, and this time it was fatal. In the summer of 2019, the retailer closed all of its stores in 38 states and put itself out of business.

In the new bankruptcy filing, the company said its costs — including "onerous leases" on its stores — just became too much to handle.

But we may not have seen the end of Charming Charlie. Founder Charlie Chanaratsopon hopes to bring the company back to life and paid $1.1 million for the chain's name (well, it is his name, after all), mailing list and other intellectual property.

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