The list of 2009 U.S. retail industry store closings in 2009 got longer this week with the addition of retailers like American Greetings and Phillips-Van Heusen. It was the job cuts at Williams-Sonoma, however, and the continuation of the nationwide Circuit City going out of business sales that filled the retail headlines. While major U.S. downsizings are stealing focus, some other retailers are stealing market share by quietly opening stores and establishing a strong foothold in a shifting retail landscape.
There will be 175 fewer places to purchase ties and 60 fewer places to purchase greeting cards before Christmas rolls around again after Philips-Van Heusen and American Greetings complete the store closings they announced this week. However, there will be 35 more places where you can get payday loans and 70 more places to eat and drink your troubles away after EZ Money and Darden expand their U.S. chains this year.
The 1,400 pink-slipped Williams-Sonoma distribution employees may want to put in applications at Aldi Supermarkets, which is planning to open 75 new stores in 2009. The employees displaced from the 11 Filene’s Basement might find gainful employment at Kohl’s 19 new stores, and the 350 laid off Liz Claiborne employees can go to the 14 new American Apparel stores. There will be plenty of room for 330 laid off Yankee Candle employees at Family Dollar, which will be a good fit because the 200 new Family Dollar stores that open in 2009 will probably be selling Yankee Candles for $1.00 by the end of the year.
Forty Ruby Tuesday restaurants will leave, 25 Taco Maker restaurants will arrive. Say good-bye to 24 Blue Tulip Gift Shops, and hello to 25 Apple stores.
While the list of store closings is much longer than the list of store openings, it’s comforting to know that there are boardroom executives who still think that there will be enough spending happening this year to justify new locations for the spending to happen. It’s also got to be encouraging for downsized employees who truly love the retail industry to know that there might be a nametag waiting for them someplace else.
Looking at today’s retail headlines is more about seeing the past than it is about looking at the present. Spending time with the list of 2009 store openings will reveal the U.S. retailing future. The good news this week is that U.S. retailing still does have a future.
There will be 175 fewer places to purchase ties and 60 fewer places to purchase greeting cards before Christmas rolls around again after Philips-Van Heusen and American Greetings complete the store closings they announced this week. However, there will be 35 more places where you can get payday loans and 70 more places to eat and drink your troubles away after EZ Money and Darden expand their U.S. chains this year.
The 1,400 pink-slipped Williams-Sonoma distribution employees may want to put in applications at Aldi Supermarkets, which is planning to open 75 new stores in 2009. The employees displaced from the 11 Filene’s Basement might find gainful employment at Kohl’s 19 new stores, and the 350 laid off Liz Claiborne employees can go to the 14 new American Apparel stores. There will be plenty of room for 330 laid off Yankee Candle employees at Family Dollar, which will be a good fit because the 200 new Family Dollar stores that open in 2009 will probably be selling Yankee Candles for $1.00 by the end of the year.
Forty Ruby Tuesday restaurants will leave, 25 Taco Maker restaurants will arrive. Say good-bye to 24 Blue Tulip Gift Shops, and hello to 25 Apple stores.
While the list of store closings is much longer than the list of store openings, it’s comforting to know that there are boardroom executives who still think that there will be enough spending happening this year to justify new locations for the spending to happen. It’s also got to be encouraging for downsized employees who truly love the retail industry to know that there might be a nametag waiting for them someplace else.
Looking at today’s retail headlines is more about seeing the past than it is about looking at the present. Spending time with the list of 2009 store openings will reveal the U.S. retailing future. The good news this week is that U.S. retailing still does have a future.
Comments