Macy’s to Close 14 More Stores in Early 2026 as It Pushes Ahead With Turnaround Plans
Macy’s will close 14 additional stores in early 2026 as part of its ‘Bold New Chapter’ plan, aiming to shutter about 150 underperforming locations by year-end while refocusing investment on stronger stores and digital enhancements.
Key takeaways
- Liquidations: Clearance sales begin mid-January and will run roughly 10 weeks — reported by The Daily Record and Axios.
- Scale back: The closures are part of a plan to shutter about 150 stores by end of 2026 (after 66 closed in 2025) as Macy’s trims to roughly 350 U.S. locations — detailed in Macy’s investor materials and reported by Macy’s Inc. newsroom and Business Insider.
- Confirmed sites: Named 2026 closures include Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie, Md. and Crossroads Center in St. Cloud, Minn., with additional stores across multiple states.
- Management view: CEO Tony Spring called the moves “targeted changes” to support a turnaround focused on reimagined flagship stores, service, luxury and supply chain improvements (reported by The Daily Record and Fox Business).
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Why Macy’s is cutting stores now
Macy’s says the latest wave is part of its Bold New Chapter turnaround, a strategy to concentrate capital and staffing on higher-performing formats as shoppers increasingly favor online, off-price and experiential retail. Executives told employees and investors the goal is to redirect resources to bigger, reimagined flagship stores, select mall locations and digital shopping and fulfillment capabilities (Axios, Fox Business).
CEO Tony Spring’s memo
“These are targeted changes,” Tony Spring wrote in an internal memo dated Jan. 8, 2026, noting decisions were not made lightly and pointing to improved performance at renovated, better-staffed locations.
Spring highlighted investments in store reimagination, customer service and luxury assortments as central to the turnaround. Reporting on the memo and corporate context is available from The Daily Record, Fox Business, and Axios.
Details of the 2026 closures
Macy’s confirmed that 14 stores will close mostly in the first fiscal quarter of 2026, with liquidation sales beginning in mid-January and lasting about 10 weeks. At least two locations were named publicly: Marley Station Mall (Glen Burnie, Md.) and Crossroads Center (St. Cloud, Minn.), with other closures reported across Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington (The Daily Record, Bring Me The News, Axios).
Macy’s has previously published full lists of store actions in investor materials, including the 66 closures in 2025 and other phase targets as the company evaluates which locations to keep, remodel, shrink or close (Macy’s Inc. newsroom).
Financial and operational context
Macy’s Q3 2025 data showed mixed results: comparable sales growth of 2% overall, with 2.3% growth at “go-forward” stores and 2.7% at remodeled locations — the company’s strongest Q3 in three years — even as net sales fell to $4.7 billion due to prior closures and traffic headwinds. The company is investing in staffing, store design and customer experience at roughly 125 go-forward locations (The Daily Record, Macy’s Inc. newsroom).
How the company is trying to turn around
Macy’s strategy pairs closures with investment: remaking large stores into modern experiences, boosting staffing, improving design and expanding luxury and curated brands. The retailer is also piloting much smaller, experience-focused formats roughly one-fifth the size of a traditional Macy’s; since 2021 it has opened about 21 smaller-format locations, beginning with a test in Texas (Macy’s Inc. newsroom, The Daily Record).
Industry context: a wider wave of closures
Macy’s moves align with a broader retail trend: major chains have announced hundreds of store closures for 2026 as companies pare inefficient locations and accelerate online investments. Analysts attribute this to changing shopping habits, higher mall rents and the shift toward smaller, more profitable footprints (Business Insider, TheStreet).
What communities face when a Macy’s leaves
- Job losses: Store staff and part-time workers may lose employment or face transfers.
- Foot traffic: Reduced mall traffic can hurt smaller tenants and local retail ecosystems.
- Real estate impact: Landlords may subdivide or repurpose anchor spaces — a lengthy, uncertain process.
- Short-term bargains: Liquidation sales bring discounts but not the stable payroll or services a full Macy’s provides.
These local impacts are documented in coverage of recent Macy’s closures and broader retail reporting (The Daily Record, Axios).
Implications for The Inland Empire, California
Economic impact: While Macy’s did not list any Inland Empire closures in this 14-store round, the region remains vulnerable to national footprint reductions. Store-level layoffs would reduce household income and local consumer spending (Macy’s Inc. newsroom).
Local malls & policy: Reduced foot traffic can challenge mall viability and municipal budgets that rely on sales tax; local leaders may increase efforts on workforce retraining and repurposing vacant spaces (The Daily Record, TheStreet).
Social & cultural effects: Closures can reduce access to goods for shoppers without reliable transport and diminish the informal community functions department stores sometimes provide, while accelerating a shift toward online, outlet and experiential formats (Axios).
Practical applications for residents
- Watch local Macy’s notices for severance, transfer options and liquidation details (The Daily Record, Axios).
- Shop alternatives: outlet centers, online marketplaces or remodeled Macy’s locations that remain open and emphasize service and curated assortments.
- For policymakers: consider workforce retraining programs and incentives to fill large vacant retail spaces with mixed uses.
Reporting and sources
This article draws on reporting and corporate releases. Key sources include:
- The Daily Record
- Fox Business
- Axios
- Bring Me The News
- Macy’s Inc. newsroom / investor relations
- Business Insider
- TheStreet
- AOL
Further reporting will monitor whether any Inland Empire Macy’s locations are added to closure lists as Macy’s continues its store-closure program and turnaround strategy.
