Retail bombshell rocks America as a major U.S. store chain shutters locations nationwide—sparking whispers, worry, and wild speculation over what’s really going on.

Kohl’s has rocked its loyal customer base

by announcing the closure of

27 “underperforming” stores

by April 2025 in a

dramatic move

to streamline operations. Among the hardest hit?

Duluth, Georgia

;

San Luis Obispo, California

; and

Pottstown, Pennsylvania

—all now facing shuttered storefronts.

According to the company’s website, these stores will

officially close by March 29

. All three display the

same unsettling message

:

“This store will be closing soon. Our last day of business at this location will be Saturday, March 29th.”

Stores on life support—reduced hours, final days, and fading services

In a

grim countdown to closure

, all three locations have

slashed hours

—

open only Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

, and

shuttered the rest of the week

.

Yet, for now,

core services

such as

Amazon returns, EV charging, used clothing drop-offs, and pickups

continue—

ghosts of normalcy in stores already winding down

.

Behind-the-scenes shakeup: Fulfillment center shut down as closures escalate

As the store shutdowns unfold,

Kohl’s dropped another bombshell

—confirming on January 9 it will

close its San Bernardino, California


E-commerce Fulfillment Center

in May when the lease expires. The site, active since 2010, is being phased out for improved efficiencies.

“While Kohl’s continues to believe in the health and strength of its profitable store base, these specific locations were underperforming stores,”

the company

stated

.

‘Tough decisions’ and tearful goodbyes—CEO speaks as employees face uncertain future

Meanwhile,

CEO Tom Kingsbury attempted to strike a solemn tone

,

stating

:

“We always take these decisions very seriously.”

He called the move vital to the company’s

“long-term growth strategy”

, saying it was necessary to protect both customers and staff.

Kohl’s confirmed that all employees at impacted stores have been notified. They’ve been offered

severance or reassignment

, with the company

thanking them for their service

and pledging support during the transition.

The dominoes fall—Kohl’s closures ripple across 12 states, leaving towns bracing for impact

The

remaining


24 stores

targeted in this sweeping shutdown span

12 U.S. states

, sparking

local devastation

from coast to coast.

In

Alabama

, Spanish Fort is saying goodbye.

Arkansas

loses Little Rock West.

California

is hit the hardest—with shutdowns in

Balboa (San Diego), Encinitas, Fremont, Mountain View, Napa, Pleasanton, Point West (Sacramento), San Rafael, and Westchester

.

Colorado’s

Arapahoe Crossing store in Aurora is on the chopping block.

Idaho

will lose its Boise branch.

Illinois

faces the closure of Plainfield and Spring Hill (West Dundee).

Massachusetts

says farewell to Stoughton.

New Jersey’s

East Windsor store is out.

Ohio’s

Blue Ash and Forest Park (Cincinnati) are done.

Oregon’s

Portland Gateway,

Texas’s

North Dallas, and

Utah’s

Riverton will also shut down. Finally,

Virginia

will see closures in

Herndon and Williamsburg

.

Retail apocalypse? Joann joins the collapse with mass closures across 49 states

Kohl’s isn’t alone in pulling back.

On February 12, yet another iconic chain revealed grim news.

Joann

, the beloved fabric and craft store of

eight decades

, is reportedly shuttering

hundreds of locations


across 49 states

—following its

second bankruptcy filing

in early 2025 after going private, just one year after

its initial 2024 bankruptcy

.

End of an era: Joann shutters 500+ stores after 80 years—communities left reeling

Founded in

Cleveland, Ohio

,

Joann blossomed from a single shop

into a powerhouse in the fabric, sewing, and craft world. But now, the chain is in freefall—

closing around 500


of its 850 stores

, a stunning blow for customers and employees alike.

In a

statement

to

USA TODAY

, the company said it aims to

“right-size its store footprint,”

adding:

“This was a very difficult decision to make, given the major impact we know it will have on our Team Members, our customers and all of the communities we serve.”

Closures were based on performance and potential:

“A careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the Company determined which stores should remain operating as usual at this time,”

the statement further

read

.

An official list wasn’t released publicly, but court filings reveal

533 stores


will close

, leaving

Hawaii as the only state untouched

.

Which states are hit hardest? Joann closures leave a trail of heartbreak coast to coast

California is the biggest casualty

, losing

61 stores

.

Florida

follows with

36

, while

Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania

each face

33 closures

.

Illinois

will lose

26

,

New York

drops

24

,

Washington

says goodbye to

21

,

Indiana

loses

20

, and

Massachusetts

is left reeling from

19 shutdowns

.

Bankruptcy bombshell: Joann files Chapter 11, launches desperate bid to survive as iconic brand teeters on the edge

The sweeping closures are part of

Joann’s


Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings

, which the company

voluntarily filed on January 15, 2025

, in the

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware

.

Joann

said

the move is designed to

“facilitate a sale process to maximize the value of its business.”

Despite the filing,

Joann stores and Joann.com remain open

, and workers are still receiving

wages and benefits

.

Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, LLC

has

stepped in

as a

“stalking horse” bidder

, setting a baseline for Joann’s assets—though

higher and better bids

are still being sought. An auction may follow if qualifying offers are submitted.

Interim CEO Michael Prendergast


cited


“significant and lasting challenges in the retail environment,”

along with financial woes and supply chain struggles.

“After carefully reviewing all available strategic paths, we have determined that initiating a court-supervised sale process is the best course of action to maximize the value of the business,”

he

said

.

“We hope that this process enables us to find a path that would allow JOANN to continue operating as a going concern.”

‘Committed through chaos’—Joann vows to stand by its crafters and workers amid financial freefall

Prendergast praised the unwavering dedication

of Joann employees, commending their efforts in serving customers and staying true to the company’s mission—even through years of

relentless hardship

.

He offered reassurance to

sewists, quilters, crocheters, and crafters

, promising that

Joann remains committed to its creative community

, just as it has been for

more than 80 years

.

To back that promise, the company has filed motions to continue paying

wages and benefits

, and is seeking

court approval to use cash collateral

to keep stores running and maintain

desperately needed liquidity

during restructuring.

What Chapter 11 really means—and where customers and creditors can go for answers

Joann’s bankruptcy falls under


Chapter 11

of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code—commonly known as

“reorganization.”

According to the

IRS

, Chapter 11 is typically used by businesses but also applies to individuals whose debts exceed Chapter 13 limits.

Debtors must create a repayment plan—and if that plan isn’t approved, the case may shift to

Chapter 7 liquidation

. The IRS warns:

avoid new debt

, meet financial obligations, and adjust taxes if necessary.

Joann has

launched

JOANNRestructuring.com


for customers and creditors seeking information. Full court filings are also available at

cases.ra.kroll.com/Joann2025

or by calling

Kroll

toll-free at

(844) 712-2239

or internationally at

(646) 863-7121

, or emailing

[email protected]

.

Guiding the retailer through the chaos

: Kirkland & Ellis (legal), Centerview Partners LLC (financial), and Alvarez & Marsal (

restructuring

).