Every week there are new reports of stores closing up shop across the country—and even the biggest names in retail aren't immune. Walmart confirmed plans to shutter roughly 20 stores this year, while other long-standing businesses, like Tuesday Morning and Bed Bath & Beyond, have been forced to call it quits entirely. Now, clothing chains are facing closures, too, including major department stores like Nordstrom. Read on to find out more about the latest clothing retailer closures, which start May 13.
READ THIS NEXT: Tuesday Morning Is Going Out of Business and Closing All Stores.
Banana Republic is shutting down a store.
ShutterstockFans of Banana Republic will be sad to learn that a location in Syracuse, New York, is closing for good at the end of the month. According to Syracuse.com, the store in the Destiny USA shopping complex will see its final day in business on Wednesday, May 24.
During a March 9 earning call, Katrina O'Connell, chief financial officer for Gap Inc., confirmed that the company is closing "50 to 55 Gap and Banana Republic stores" in North America this year, Best Life previously reported. The plans are part of a larger initiative announced in Oct. 2020, which involves shutting down 350 "non-strategic" locations by the end of 2023.
A spokesperson for Banana Republic confirmed to Best Life that the Syracuse closure "is in support of the efforts" to optimize its fleet of stores.
H&M is closing a store in Minnesota.
ShutterstockH&M is an affordable mainstay in many shopping centers, but it'll soon be exiting the Apache Mall in Rochester, Minnesota, the Post Bulletin reported. The store's final day in business will be June 3, an H&M spokesperson told Best Life.
"Assessing and reviewing our store portfolio to adapt to changing customer behavior is something that we have done ever since we opened our first store," the spokesperson said. "While physical stores will always remain important to us and something we continue to invest in, having the right stores in the right locations is vital to ensure our long-term and sustainable growth."
The spokesperson told the Post Bulletin that the other five H&M stores in Minnesota will remain open, and customers can also shop online.
READ THIS NEXT: Target Is Closing Multiple Locations, Starting May 13.
Anthropologie is also closing a location.
JHVEPhoto / ShutterstockAhead of both Banana Republic and H&M, Anthropologie is closing a store in San Francisco on May 13, Fox-affiliate KTVU reported.
According to the California Globe, the store has been in the city's Union Square for over 20 years, but it's just one of many stores now exiting the downtown San Francisco area.
Best Life reached out to Anthropologie for comment, but has yet to hear back.
Nordstrom is closing two stores in the city.
iStockNordstrom is closing up shop in the San Francisco area as well, per The San Francisco Standard. The Nordstrom department store in the Westfield Mall is exiting at the end of August, while the discount store, Nordstrom Rack, is shutting down on July 1.
In a statement to KTVU, Jamie Nordstrom, chief stores officer, said that the decision to close in San Francisco "has been especially difficult."
"I want to be really clear that this decision had nothing to do with our teams’ hard work," said Nordstrom. "They should be proud of everything they’ve achieved together and the way they’ve shown up and served the community."
Speaking with The San Francisco Standard, Nordstrom added that "the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past several years, impacting customer foot traffic to our stores and our ability to operate successfully."
Best Life reached out to Nordstrom for comment, and will update the story when we hear back.
Saks OFF 5TH rounds of the list of upcoming San Francisco closures.
JHVEPhoto / ShutterstockA Saks OFF 5TH discount store is also closing in downtown San Francisco, SFGATE reported. Shoppers will have a bit more time to score deals at this location, as a spokesperson told Best Life that the store won't close until the fall.
“Through the regular course of business we continually evaluate store performance and other factors, and, from time to time, may determine it necessary to close a store,” the spokesperson said. “We expect this store to remain open to the public until the fall of 2023 and look forward to continuing to serve the community.”
The discount retailer operates locations nearby in Petaluma, Livermore, and Milpitas, the spokesperson said, and customers can also shop online at SaksOFF5TH.com. As for employees, the total number affected by the closure is unclear, per SFGATE, but the spokesperson confirmed that they will provide other opportunities for associates.
"We are committed to offering support and assistance to our team impacted by the closing,” the spokesperson said. “Eligible associates will receive appropriate employment separation packages and transfer opportunities will be explored where feasible.”
Retailers and business owners say there's a bigger issue in San Francisco.
4kclips / ShutterstockThe latest closures aren't necessarily surprising, as retailers have been exiting San Francisco for some time now. Whole Foods was the latest to vacate the area last month, with the grocery chain citing safety as the primary reason.
Speaking to this, other business owners say there's a "deteriorating situation" in the city.
"A growing number of retailers and businesses are leaving the area due to the unsafe conditions for customers, retailers, and employees, coupled with the fact that these significant issues are preventing an economic recovery of the area," the Westfield Mall (which houses Nordstrom) and its owner Unibail-Rodamaco-Westfield, said in a statement to The San Francisco Standard.
The owner further called on the city to address growing concerns and address "rampant criminal activity."
