Shoppers who prefer visiting physical stores in Maryland will face a reduced selection before the end of 2026, as indicated by recent retail analysis.
Numerous retail, grocery, and restaurant chains are set to close hundreds of their locations in 2026. This trend is part of a larger transition away from struggling brick-and-mortar establishments towards e-commerce and more streamlined operations, as reported by Business Insider.
By the end of this year, over 1,400 stores are anticipated to shut down, including well-known brands such as Kroger and Walgreens, along with mall favorites like Francesca’s, Carter’s, and Yankee Candle.
Here’s a look at some of the stores that may close:
Carter’s is planning to close around 100 of its children’s and baby apparel stores by the end of 2026. The retailer announced in October that it would shut down 150 stores over the next three years as leases expire. Maryland currently has 20 Carter’s locations.
Eddie Bauer is set to close its stores after failing to secure a buyer during Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. Liquidation sales are now in progress at the 175 Eddie Bauer locations across the U.S. and Canada. Maryland has four Eddie Bauer stores.
Francesca’s has begun going-out-of-business sales at approximately 400 stores following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on February 5. In Maryland, Francesca’s has 10 locations in various malls, including Annapolis, Bethesda, Towson, and Columbia.
Grocery Outlet is closing 36 underperforming stores, with two-thirds located in the eastern U.S. CEO Jason Potter mentioned during a March 4 earnings call that these stores no longer have a “viable path to sustained profitability.” Grocery Outlet, based in California, operates around 500 stores across 16 states and has eight locations in Maryland.
Kroger announced in June that it would close 60 “unprofitable” stores nationwide over the next year and a half, a process that has already begun. This closure plan affects Kroger’s flagship brand as well as other chains like Fred Meyer, Fry’s Food and Drug, and Harris Teeter. While there are no Kroger stores in Maryland, the state does have 17 Harris Teeter locations.
Macy’s is set to close an additional 80 stores by the end of 2026, focusing instead on its 350 remaining stores and enhancing the online shopping experience. In 2025, Macy’s closed about 65 stores. The closures will include 14 stores across 12 states, including Maryland, which currently has 11 Macy’s locations in Annapolis, Bethesda, Bowie, Columbia, and Towson.
Pizza Hut parent company Yum! Brands announced in February that it will close around 250 underperforming stores as part of its “Hut Forward” turnaround strategy. The chain operates approximately 20,000 stores worldwide, with over 90 locations in Maryland.
REI, which has three stores in Maryland, plans to close three locations in New Jersey, New York City’s SoHo, and Boston.
Saks Fifth Avenue will reduce its number of luxury stores to 13 following a bankruptcy filing by its parent company, Saks Global, in January. The company initially announced the closure of eight stores, later adding another 12 to the list. Saks Fifth Avenue has one store in Maryland, located in Chevy Chase.
Saks Off 5th, the outlet division of Saks Global, plans to close its remaining 57 stores in early 2026. The outlet’s website, a separate legal entity, will also cease operations. Saks Off 5th operates two stores in Maryland, located in Arundel Mills and Clarksburg malls.
Neiman Marcus, another brand under Saks Global, is closing four stores in various locations including Boston, Honolulu, Canyon Park/Topanga in California, and White Plains, New York.
Wendy’s interim CEO Ken Cook mentioned during a February 13 earnings call that the company plans to close about 5 percent of its 6,000 restaurants, which translates to roughly 300 locations. Most closures are expected in the first half of 2026, although specific locations have not been disclosed. Wendy’s currently has 91 stores in Maryland.
