If you need tangible proof that the American consumer is feeling the pinch of the economy, look to the retail landscape. JOANN is completely going out of business, Big Lots is closing most of its stores, and Macy's and Kohl's have also announced dozens of stores on the chopping block. Even Dollar General unveiled this week that it will close 141 stores amid slumping sales. But other discount retailers seem to be faring better, as Five Below and three other affordable stores say they'll open new locations this year.
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1. Daiso
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If you haven't yet heard of Daiso, you likely soon will. The Japanese dollar store (most items are $2 or less) sells a wide range of fun merchandise, including Japanese-inspired home decor, housewares, stationery, snacks and candy, beauty products, and more. There are currently more than 6,000 Daiso locations around the world, 150 of which are in the U.S. But this year, 44 new stores are set to open:
Arkansas- Fayetteville: Market Court (Summer 2025)
- Jonesboro-Caraway Plaza (Summer 2025)
- Tucson: Old Spanish Trail Marketplace (Spring 2025)
- Aliso Viejo: Commons at Aliso Viejo (Spring 2025)
- Reseda: Victory & Tampa (Spring 2025)
- San Ysidro: San Ysidro Village (Summer 2025)
- La Quinta: One Eleven (Summer 2025)
- Redding: Churn Creek Marketplace (Summer 2025)
- Palm Springs: The Springs (Fall 2025)
- Salinas: Harden Ranch Plaza (Fall 2025)
- Modesto: Central Valley Plaza (Fall 2025)
- Arroyo Grande: Five Cities Center (Fall 2025)
- Fort Collins: The Pavilions (Spring 2025)
- Aurora: Village on the Park (Spring 2025)
- Centennial: Cherry Knolls (Spring 2025)
- Aurora: Southlands Shopping Center (Summer 2025)
- Miami Gardens: Gardens Promenade (Summer 2025)
- Clearwater: Countryside Centre (Summer 2025)
- Miami: Flagler Park Plaza (Fall 2025)
- Alpharetta: Saddlebrook (Spring 2025)
- Fayetteville: Fayette Pavilion (Summer 2025)
- Niles: Civic Center Plaza (Spring 2025)
- Niles: Pointe Plaza (Spring 2025)
- Bloomingdale: Bloomingdale Court (Spring 2025)
- Crystal Lake: Bohl Farm Marketplace (Spring 2025)
- Olathe: Olathe Pointe (Summer 2025)
- Shawnee: 10 Quivira Plaza (Summer 2025)
- Crystal: Crystal Town Center (Spring 2025)
- Maplewood: Birch Run Station (Summer 2025)
- Woodbury: Woodbury Village (Summer 2025)
- Brentwood: Brentwood Pointe (Summer 2025)
- Chesterfield: Chesterfield Commons (Summer 2025)
- Albuquerque: Cottonwood Commons (Spring 2025)
- Edmond: Shoppes at Edmond University (Spring 2025)
- Tulsa: South Roads (Spring 2025)
- Gresham: Oregon Trail (Spring 2025)
- Corvallis: Corvallis Crossing (Fall 2025)
- North Richland Hills: The Crossing (Spring 2025)
- Mont Belvieu: Mont Belvieu Crossing (Summer 2025)
- Laredo: Rio Norte (Fall 2025)
- Midvale: Fort Union (Spring 2025)
- Clinton: Park Plaza (Summer 2025)
- Provo: Riverside Plaza (Summer 2025)
- Kenosha: Southport Plaza (Spring 2025)
2. Five Below
The 6 Best Household Items to Buy at Five Below, Experts SayShutterstockFive Below is like the $5 version of the dollar store, selling everything from workout equipment to lawn decor to candy to makeup, all marketed to tweens and teens. And something about their model is working, as Fast Company reports that its Q4 2024 financial results showed a four percent net sales increase year over year, beating Wall Street estimates.
As part of Five Below's 2025 outlook, they announced that they'll be adding 150 U.S. locations to their current roster of 1,771 stores. However, as Fast Company notes, they've yet to share where these new outposts will be located.
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3. Ocean State Job Lot
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As Best Life recently reported, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet acquired 40 former Big Lots locations to open new stores. Now, Ocean State Job Lot, a discount retailer not dissimilar from Big Lots, announced that it's acquired 15 of these locations.
Rhode Island-based Ocean State Job Lot currently operates 159 stores across the Northeast. Previously, the retailer acquired storefronts from Toys R Us and Christmas Tree Shops. They sell household goods, seasonal items, pet supplies, food, and more.
According to a company press release, the 15 newly acquired stores will join an additional 7 for a total of 22 new stores to open in 2025, including the first in Maryland and Delaware. Those taking the place of Big Lots are located as follows:
Delaware- Dover
- Seaford
- Auburn
- Chester
- Easton
- Elkton
- Webster
- Barneget
- Cape May
- Somers Point
- Dansville
- Liverpool
- Harrisburg
- Trexlertown
- Morrisville
4. PayMore
PayMore / Instagram
PayMore is a buy-sell-trade electronics retailer with locations in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. According to Chain Store Age, the company currently has 71 locations in the U.S. and plans to add 150 new ones in 2025, thanks to a slew of new franchise agreements. Currently, only the stores set to open this month have been announced:
California- South San Francisco
- Temecula
- Alafaya
- Melbourne
- Pembroke Pines
- Sand Lake
- Algonquin
- Clinton
- Matawan
- Mechanicsburg
- Seven Oaks
- Summerville
- Burlington
