As the weather grows warmer, many of us are excitedly getting ready to shop for our spring and summer wardrobes. But before you head out on your next spree, you'll want to make sure that your go-to store is still standing. Several popular clothing chains are getting ready to shut down locations in the coming weeks. Read on to find out which brands are closing stores, and where these closures are taking place.
READ THIS NEXT: Target Is Closing Multiple Locations, Starting May 13.
Gap just announced a new store closure.
Alex Millauer / ShutterstockGap announced this week that it would be shuttering a location in Providence, Rhode Island, GoLocal reported on March 24. Located at the Providence Place Mall, the store has a sign in the window informing shoppers of the impending shutdown.
"Get it before it's gone—this location is closing," the sign states.
An exact closure date for this Gap store in Providence has not been disclosed. Best Life reached out to Gap to get more information, but has not yet heard back.
The individual closure is likely part of a larger initiative. Gap, Inc. previously revealed plans to close approximately 350 Gap and Banana Republic store across North America by the end of 2023. In an effort to create a "smaller and healthier fleet of stores," the company has already closed over 170 Gap locations since 2020.
J.Crew is shuttering one location this Sunday.
ShutterstockJ.Crew is set to close a store in Sacramento, California, this weekend, the Sacramento Business Journal reported. Located on the first level of the Arden Fair mall, this store will hold its last day of operation on March 26.
"Due to a neighboring retailer’s need to expand into a portion of the J. Crew space, J. Crew elected to vacate," Nathan Spradlin, Arden Fair's marketing director, told the outlet. "They did well at Arden Fair and are a brand we’d like to see as part of our retailer mix in the future."
When asked about the closure, a J.Crew Group spokesperson told Best Life that the company is "always evaluating" its retail footprint.
"After careful consideration, we have made the decision to close certain stores to better support our broader omnichannel strategy," the spokesperson said. "We’re proud to have served our customers here and look forward to continuing to do so online."
A different clothing chain is shuttering a store that same day.
ShutterstockBuckle announced that it is shuttering a location in Charlotte, North Carolina, also on Sunday, local NBC-affiliate WCNC reported. The fashion retailer confirmed that its store at the Northlake Mall will shut down through a statement on its website.
"We are closing this location at the end of day March 26," Buckle wrote. "We invite you to visit us at one of our nearby locations."
Best Life reached out to Buckle to get more information on why it's closing this Charlotte store, but has not yet heard back.
As WCNC explained, this is not the only retailer leaving the mall this month: Apple abruptly closed its store at the Northlake Mall on March 1, just one day after shots were fired outside the shopping center. WCNC reported that the Charlotte mall has experienced three shootings since Dec. 2022, drawing concerns about the safety of shoppers and employees.
Another major retailer has an upcoming closure, too.
damann / ShutterstockAlongside Gap, J.Crew, and Buckle, the beloved clothing retailer Dillard's is also gearing up to close one of its stores. The department store chain is shuttering a location in Grand Island, Nebraska, before the end of the month, The Grand Island Independent reported.
Located at the Conestoga Mall, this Dillard's will close its doors for good on March 28, according to the newspaper.
Best Life reached out to Dillard's to get more information about the Nebraska closure, but has not yet heard back. However, a store manager (who declined to give her name) told The Grand Island Independent that "it all has to do with the new development of the new owners," as this is just one of many anchor store closures for the Conestoga Mall.
For its part, Dillard's spokeswoman Julie Guymon told the newspaper that the store is closing for strategic reasons.
