Kohl’s Is Shuttering 27 Stores Nationwide as Sales Plummet

Find out which Kohl’s locations are shutting down

The exterior of a Kohl's store | ©Image Credit: Kohl's
The exterior of a Kohl's store | ©Image Credit: Kohl's

Kohl’s is closing 27 stores across more than a dozen states in a desperate bid to stay afloat. Is your local Kohl’s on the chopping block? Read on to find out.

Which Kohl’s locations are closing?

The closure of 27 Kohl’s stores is set to be completed by April this year. According to a company press release, these locations are considered ‘underperforming,’ and their closures are not expected to significantly impact the retailer’s overall performance, as they represent only a small fraction of Kohl’s 1,150 stores.

This round of store closures marks one of the final actions taken by outgoing CEO Tom Kingsbury, who will step down on Wednesday, January 15th. He is set to be succeeded by Ashley Buchanan, the current CEO of Michaels, next week. Kingsbury will continue to serve as an advisor to Buchanan and remain on Kohl’s board until his retirement in May.

“We always take these decisions very seriously,” Kingsbury said in the press release. “As we continue to build on our long-term growth strategy, it is important that we also take difficult but necessary actions to support the health and future of our business for our customers and our teams.”

All affected associates have been notified and given the option to receive a competitive severance package or apply for other available positions within Kohl’s. The company expresses gratitude to its employees for their contributions and is committed to supporting them throughout this transition period

Here are the 27 stores Kohl’s is set to close:

Alabama

  • Spanish Fort – 21000 Town Center Ave.

Arkansas

  • Little Rock West – 13909 Chenal Pkwy.

California

  • Balboa (San Diego) – 5505 Balboa Ave.
  • Encinitas – 134 N El Camino Real
  • Fremont – 43782 Christy St.
  • Mountain View – 350 Showers Dr.
  • Napa – 1116 1st St.
  • Pleasanton – 4525 Rosewood Dr.
  • Point West (Sacramento) – 1896 Arden Way
  • San Rafael – 5010 Northgate Dr.
  • San Luis Obispo – 205 Madonna Rd.
  • Westchester – 8739 S Sepulveda Blvd.

Colorado

  • Arapahoe Crossing (Aurora) – 6584 S Parker Rd.

Georgia

  • Duluth – 2050 W Liddell Rd.

Idaho

  • Boise – 400 N Milwaukee St.

Illinois

  • Plainfield – 11860 S Route 59
  • Spring Hill (West Dundee) – 3000 Spring Hill Ring Rd.

Massachusetts

  • Stoughton – 501 Technology Center Dr.

New Jersey

  • East Windsor – 72 Princeton Hightstown Rd.

Ohio

  • Blue Ash – 4150 Hunt Rd.
  • Forest Park (Cincinnati) – 100 Cincinnati Mills Dr.

Oregon

  • Portland Gateway – 10010 NE Halsey St.

Pennsylvania

  • Pottstown – 351 W Schuylkill Rd.

Texas

  • North Dallas – 18224 Preston Rd.

Utah

  • Riverton – 13319 S 3600 W Ste 13LOT

Virginia

  • Herndon – 2100 Centreville Rd.
  • Williamsburg – 100 Gristmill Plz

In addition to the 27 store closures, Kohl’s is also closing its San Bernardino E-commerce Fulfillment Center (EFC} in May when its lease expires. The facility, which has been operating since 2010, is one of 15 EFCs and Distribution Centers in Kohl’s national supply chain. Due to advancements in technology at newer facilities and the expanded ability to fulfill orders from store locations, the company no longer requires the San Bernardino facility to meet customer demands.

Why is Kohl’s closing stores?

Kohl’s is closing stores amid a challenging retail landscape, facing declining sales and increased competition. Like many department stores, Kohl’s has struggled to adapt to evolving consumer preferences, including the rise of e-commerce and the shift toward online shopping. The retailer recently lowered its sales expectations for the holiday season, indicating a weaker-than-anticipated performance.

In 2022, Kohl’s faced significant pressure from activist investors, leading to internal turmoil and ultimately abandoning plans for a potential sale.

It’s also worth noting that Kohl’s stock has dropped nearly 40% over the past six months, reflecting the company’s ongoing struggles.

These Kohl’s closures come as the retail industry faces headwinds, with Macy’s recently announcing the closure of 66 stores due to declining foot traffic and inflationary pressures.

Source: CNN