18 NoVA, DC Chain Retailers That Closed In 2020
VIRGINIA — Businesses across the United States faced unprecedented challenges amid the coronavirus pandemic, especially brick-and-mortar stores.
Even before boutiques and malls were shut down by the coronavirus outbreak, traditional brick-and-mortar establishments saw a nosedive in revenue and popularity with the emergence of e-commerce companies such as Amazon and Walmart.
Other chains that closed some or all of their Virginia stores in 2020 include Pier 1 Imports, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sears, Kmart, Motherhood Maternity, and Dressbarn.
The parent company of clothing retailers including Justice, Lane Bryant, Ann Taylor, LOFT, Catherine's and Cacique filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 and announced plans to close about half its 2,800 stores, including 76 Ann Taylor, LOFT and Lou & Grey stores, more than 600 Justice stores and all Catherine's plus-size clothing store locations.
A record 9,300-plus store closings were announced in 2019, and that number could be even higher by the end of 2020, according to a report by Business Insider.
Here are several companies that closed their doors in 2020 due to economic fallout from the public health crisis:
Papyrus
The greeting card and gift chain's 260 stores (down from 450) entered liquidation in January 2020 to close all of its stores across the country, according to Fortune. The chain operated three Washington, D.C., stores and six Virginia stores, including shops in McLean, Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax.
Macy's
The department store chain in early February announced plans to close 125 stores over the next three years, around a fifth of its brick-and-mortar footprint. Macy's said it plans to close 125 stores over the next three years. While it was unknown which locations will be shuttered, the news could impact some of the 17 Macy's stores in Washington, D.C., and Virginia. READ MORE
Pier 1
The home furnishings chain in May 2020 announced plans to shutter all of its 541 stores. The company said it would reopen its stores after the pandemic but only long enough to sell off its inventory. In January 2020 the company took a first step toward closure saying it would likely close half of its stores to "better align its business with the current operating environment." A dozen Virginia stores, including one each in Manassas, Falls Church, Arlington and Alexandria, were removed from the chain's website.
J. Crew
The preppy clothier was the first major retailer in the U.S. to file for bankruptcy last May after the pandemic started. J. Crew has 10 stores in the District of Columbia and northern Virginia and filed in May 2020 for bankruptcy protection — the first major retailer to do so since the coronavirus pandemic began and caused businesses to close their doors.
Catherine's
The affordable plus-sized clothing retailer for women is shuttering nine stores in Virginia. Parent company Ascena filed for bankruptcy in July.
H&M
H&M, a low-cost fashion retailer based in Sweden with stores in many northern Virginia malls and the District of Columbia, said in October it plans to close up to 250 stores next year because of decreased foot traffic. Specific stores set for closure were not released. READ MORE
LOFT
Two Ann Taylor's LOFT outlet stores closed, including a location at 662 W. Diversey Ave. in Chicago and one in Gurnee Mills. The Lou & Grey store at 3442 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago also shuttered. Disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, parent company Ascena blamed the pandemic for negatively impacting "meaningful progress" toward getting the company back on track financially. Ascena filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July.
Men's Wearhouse
Citing a lack of demand for men's business attire during the coronavirus shutdown, parent Joseph A. Bank filed for bankruptcy in August. The chain has 19 stores in Virginia, according to its website.
Regal Cinemas
The second-largest cinema chain announced in October that it was suspending operations in the United States due to the pandemic. Regal Cinemas closed 543 movie theaters, including 29 in Virginia. READ MORE
Justice
The parent company of clothing retailers including Justice, Lane Bryant, Ann Taylor, LOFT, Catherine's, Lou & Grey and Cacique filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2020. Ascena Retail Group announced plans to close about half its 2,800 stores. In Virginia, 17 Justice stores will reportedly close, along with nine Catherine's stores and LOFT Outlet will close in Potomac Mills Mall. READ MORE
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond closed one northern Virginia store this fall; it was among 200 locations nationwide the housewares chain shuttered by the end of 2020. The store in Virginia scheduled to close by Dec. 31 was at 900 Army Navy Drive in Arlington. Company officials said in May that the stores "no longer meet the standards our customers expect from us."
Gap
Two Gap clothing stores in Virginia closed in January 2020. The store closure was part of a plan announced in 2019 to close 230 stores across the country. The two stores that closed were located at 1534 Rio Road E. in Charlottesville and 21100 Dulles Town Circle in Dulles, the company said. Gap management said the stores that closed were either underperforming or no longer fit the vision for the future of the company. READ MORE
Lord & Taylor
Lord & Taylor closed its remaining stores earlier in 2020 after owner Le Tote filed for bankruptcy. The closings included stores in Northern Virginia, its Tysons Corner Center store and its Dulles Town Center store in Sterling. While the chain had hoped to weather the storm, by August all stores across the country were shuttered.
Nordstrom
Nordstrom closed some stores across the country in 2020, but Nordstrom Rack stores in Arlington and Fairfax reopened in mid-June as coronavirus restrictions eased. READ MORE
Sears
Sears closed four locations in Virginia while owner Transformco also closed K-Mart stores in multiple states. READ MORE
Stein Mart
The 112-year-old company announced in mid-August it was closing its Virginia stores, and all others, due to changing consumer spending habits exacerbated by the global pandemic. After temporarily closing its stores due to the pandemic in March, the company had reopened all its stores by June 15, then announced its bankruptcy filing.
Sur La Table
Sur La Table closed 50 stores, including one in northern Virginia. It said it is thriving in the e-commerce market, and "believes that it is exceptionally well-positioned to thrive in the post-COVID-19 world, as food, cooking and in-home entertainment continue to capture increasing mind share of consumers." READ MORE
JC Penney
Department store giant JCPenney will close 242 of its 846 stores over the next two years. The 118-year-old chain based in Plano, Texas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020. The company said its financial restructuring is due to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on retailers. READ MORE
Related:
Women's Clothing Chain Closing, Including 20 Virginia Stores
J.Crew, Which Has 10 Stores In VA And DC, Files For Bankruptcy
This article originally appeared on the Fredericksburg Patch
